These days, a flat-screen TV is more affordable than ever. Keeping your TV clean can help it last. When cared for properly, they can last for many years before needing to be replaced or repaired. From time to time, it may become necessary to clean your TV screen as it accumulates dust (or kids’ fingerprints!). It’s important to exercise some special precautions when cleaning a TV screen. After all, while flat-screen TVs have come down significantly in price, you still don’t want to shell out your hard-earned money to replace your TV prematurely.
The Importance of Cleaning Your Flat Screen TV
Why is it so important to clean your flat-screen TV, anyway? For starters, it’s easy for dust and other debris to collect on television screens due to static electricity. Over time, dust build-up can affect your image quality, causing colors on the screen to appear dull or distorted. Keeping your television screen clean can also help to prolong the life of your TV. Cleaning will reduce the risk of an airborne particle (such as a clump of dust) damaging the screen. Cleaning will also protect other delicate components of your television.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning a Flat Screen TV
Stop and think before you wipe down your flat-screen TV with just any old rag and cleaning product you have lying around. Electronics, by their very nature, are delicate. Televisions are no exception. Most television screens are comprised of many layers of relatively thin and delicate material. The wrong chemical or even too rough of cloth can cause irreversible damage, scuffs, or scratches.
One of the most common mistakes people make when cleaning flat-screen TVs is using a regular dishcloth. Another mistake is to use a paper towel to wipe the screen down. Paper towels, napkins, and standard dishcloths are all made of slightly abrasive materials. These materials will create surface scratches on your screen as you wipe.
Another common mistake to avoid is using a cleaning chemical that is not specifically designed for use on electronics. Glass cleaner is not safe to use on a flat-screen TV because television screens are not made of standard glass.
Step-By-Step: How to Clean a Flat Screen TV
We have now covered what not to do when cleaning your flat-screen TV. Learn the basic steps of cleaning your television properly. Start by making sure you have some essential supplies on hand, including:
- two or more clean microfiber cloths
- a mild dish soap or TV screen cleaner
Check Out Your Owner’s Manual
It’s always best to check out the owner’s manual. Read the manual TV before you begin any type of cleaning. The manual should have a specific section on cleaning and wiping down the screen properly. Follow the instructions from the manual before any instructions here. The TV manufacturer will know how to best clean their product.
If you can’t locate your owner’s manual, a quick Google search of your TV’s brand and model number should help you find a copy.
Unplug Your Television
If you’ll be using any liquid to clean your television screen, whether it be a small amount of water or even a cleaning product specifically designed for use on TV screens, be sure to completely unplug the television from the wall before you get started. Otherwise, you could be putting yourself at risk of electric shock or damaging your TV.
Start With a Microfiber Cloth
A quick wipe-down of the screen and body of the television may be all that’s needed to remove dust and other debris. Just be sure to always use a soft and clean microfiber cloth on your screen. Any other type of cloth can cause small surface scratches to form.
Only Use Water if Necessary
Dry microfiber alone will not get off smudges or other types of build-up on your screen. You can try using a small amount of water (unless your owner’s manual warns against this). Be sure to apply any water to the cloth and not directly on the TV. Any time you use liquid on the screen, you should also dry it immediately with another clean microfiber cloth.
Clean With a Little Dish Soap
You should create a solution of water of a couple of drops of mild dish soap to break up grease and grime for especially stubborn smudges. This will come in handy with fingerprints and smudges left by children. The best way to do this is to mix the water and soap in a spray bottle. Next, spray the solution onto a microfiber cloth before gently rubbing away at problem areas. Always wipe clean and dry the area with a clean cloth once you’re finished.
Ready to Hire a Professional Cleaning Company?
Properly and safely cleaning your flat-screen TV doesn’t take a lot of time, but it does take a little special care. You may be able to prolong the time between needing to clean your televisions by hiring a professional cleaning company for routine dusting and another light cleaning. Valet Maids offers all the cleaning services you need to keep your place looking its best. Give us a call at (214) 438-4804 today to get started. You can also easily book online at ValetMaids.com.
