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Bokes

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 4, 2008
467
14
My 4 year old enjoys using the ipad for games, learning apps, etc.
His hands are not always the cleanest.

Is it safe to use an alcohol rub on the screen to sanitize it?
 

blevins321

macrumors 68030
Dec 24, 2010
2,768
96
Detroit, MI
I'd use some dedicated LCD cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Be careful to not let any get in the microphone hole or home button.
 

Munkypoo7

macrumors 6502
Oct 24, 2011
449
71
Hanover, MD
I've used 70% and even 91% rubbing alcohol without any issues. Not really sure if that would wear the oleophobic coating on the screen though... more reason my OCDness forces me to use a screen protector :p

Though just as ChrisMan said, spray car wax actually helps a bit on top of a screen protector if you're using one :)
 

wrkactjob

macrumors 65816
Feb 29, 2008
1,357
0
London
The alcohol content would concern me.

Our cat would play a pet game on the ipad and we used alcohol rubs to clean it down. After licking its paws it later seemed unsteady on its feet and much later that night turned up with a stray, its fur was all messed up.

True story.
 

Hpye

macrumors 6502
Oct 11, 2011
365
0
One of the best I ever used
 

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N04h

macrumors newbie
Dec 6, 2012
16
0
Do not use alcohol to clean the screen, it will mess up the coating and scratch it.
 

shenan1982

macrumors 68040
Nov 23, 2011
3,641
80
Costco sells an LCD\LED screen cleaner package with 4 bottles (two BIG and two travel sizes) for $15 ... best deal in town.
 

corvus32

macrumors 6502a
Sep 4, 2009
761
0
USA
A microfiber cloth moisten with distilled water is all you need.

You can get a gallon of it at the grocery for $1.
 

shenan1982

macrumors 68040
Nov 23, 2011
3,641
80
A microfiber cloth moisten with distilled water is all you need.

You can get a gallon of it at the grocery for $1.

Water does nothing for finger grease (oil)... duhh. Hence why a cleaning solution is necessary. Do you bathe without soap?
 

corvus32

macrumors 6502a
Sep 4, 2009
761
0
USA
Water does nothing for finger grease (oil)... duhh. Hence why a cleaning solution is necessary. Do you bathe without soap?

Why are you using chemicals?

Removing oil from a oleophobic surface is no different than removing water from a hydrophobic surface.

Let me guess. Instead of toweling off after a shower, you probably dowse yourself with oil and vinegar to remove the water.
 

shenan1982

macrumors 68040
Nov 23, 2011
3,641
80
Why are you using chemicals?

Removing oil from a oleophobic surface is no different than removing water from a hydrophobic surface.

Let me guess. Instead of toweling off after a shower, you probably dowse yourself with oil and vinegar to remove the water.

Your analogy makes no sense. You're confusing a fingerprint resistant surface to a fingerprint proof surface.

The oil gets on the screen. You can either use a chemical that will break down the oil and allow it to be wiped up, or use water\towel... but water\towel just relocates the oil... some to the towel, some just pushed around the screen.

Your analogy would have made more sense if you suggested using a squeegee to towel off as that's essentially similar, just pushing the water around on the body, and removing the bulk of it. The reason they use squeegees on water\glass is because water will dry. If you bathed in oil a squeegee wouldn't remove the oil, but the oil would eventually soak into your skin... unlike the coating on the ipad, where it won't, so the same technique of pushing the grime around won't suffice.

Tell ya what, drop a tablespoon of oil in the center of your screen, wipe it with cloth and water, then take a picture for us. Then go wash your dishes with water and no soap, and see how that turns out for ya. There's a reason people have been using detergents to clean their laundry, dishes, LCD screens, and bodies since the beginning of their existence... LOL, you're that guy who was raised to not shower with soap, ehh?
 

corvus32

macrumors 6502a
Sep 4, 2009
761
0
USA
Your analogy makes no sense. You're confusing a fingerprint resistant surface to a fingerprint proof surface.

The oil gets on the screen. You can either use a chemical that will break down the oil and allow it to be wiped up, or use water\towel... but water\towel just relocates the oil... some to the towel, some just pushed around the screen.

Your analogy would have made more sense if you suggested using a squeegee to towel off as that's essentially similar, just pushing the water around on the body, and removing the bulk of it. The reason they use squeegees on water\glass is because water will dry. If you bathed in oil a squeegee wouldn't remove the oil, but the oil would eventually soak into your skin... unlike the coating on the ipad, where it won't, so the same technique of pushing the grime around won't suffice.

Tell ya what, drop a tablespoon of oil in the center of your screen, wipe it with cloth and water, then take a picture for us. Then go wash your dishes with water and no soap, and see how that turns out for ya. There's a reason people have been using detergents to clean their laundry, dishes, LCD screens, and bodies since the beginning of their existence... LOL, you're that guy who was raised to not shower with soap, ehh?

A tablespoon of oil? lol

I hear its even harder to clean after its been dunked in the fryer at McDonald's.

What's next? Run it through the car wash. Ha
 

ixodes

macrumors 601
Jan 11, 2012
4,429
3
Pacific Coast, USA
A microfiber cloth moisten with distilled water is all you need.

You can get a gallon of it at the grocery for $1.
This is the _only_ way. The only problem is some people don't feel right unless they're spending lots of money on "special" cleaners. There's nothing you can't remove with a moistened microfiber cloth. Unless something very acidic is allowed to sit on it for a month or two.
 

ixodes

macrumors 601
Jan 11, 2012
4,429
3
Pacific Coast, USA
The oil gets on the screen. You can either use a chemical that will break down the oil and allow it to be wiped up, or use water\towel... but water\towel just relocates the oil... some to the towel, some just pushed around the screen.
Your skin must ooze motor oil like the black stuff from engines.

The proper way to remove skin oil is to use a dry microfiber cloth. It lifts the oil off easily.

One uses a water moistened cloth on other surfaces like the aluminum.

The microfiber cloth is washable & reusable. The reason microfiber is being specified, is it's designed for this kind of usage.

It sounds like you have no clue as to what microfiber is. It's impossible to scratch any surface with it dry. That's the beauty of these inexpensive cloths sold nearly everywhere.
 

shenan1982

macrumors 68040
Nov 23, 2011
3,641
80
Your skin must ooze motor oil like the black stuff from engines.

The proper way to remove skin oil is to use a dry microfiber cloth. It lifts the oil off easily.

One uses a water moistened cloth on other surfaces like the aluminum.

The microfiber cloth is washable & reusable. The reason microfiber is being specified, is it's designed for this kind of usage.

It sounds like you have no clue as to what microfiber is. It's impossible to scratch any surface with it dry. That's the beauty of these inexpensive cloths sold nearly everywhere.

So why bother bathing with soap? Why bother washing your face with anything aside from water? Clearly you have no concept of cleanliness.

----------

This is the _only_ way. The only problem is some people don't feel right unless they're spending lots of money on "special" cleaners.

Right ... people love spending money on cleaners when they could just use tap water. LOL. What a marvel concept, why hasn't anyone thought of this?!?!

----------

One uses a water moistened cloth on other surfaces like the aluminum.

Did you ever think Apple's prominent marketing of their oleophobic coating on their iPad and iPhone is designed to entice people like you to think that it's the solution to all physics and competitors product flaws, thus adding a psychological value-add to the product to justify the higher price? If not, grab a Galaxy Tab, or an old Galaxy S II, you'll find that the smudges are just as noticeable as the most current iPhone\iPad, and clean up just the same.
 
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