Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Probably best to read the entire page first. There's a whole section specifically on how to clean the display.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2022-01-02 at 02.00.06.png
    Screenshot 2022-01-02 at 02.00.06.png
    200.7 KB · Views: 856
Probably best to read the entire page first. There's a whole section specifically on how to clean the display.
I posted that on Reddit yesterday. As someone got marks on their new 16" from using that 70%... now looking at it I interpret it to mean the alcohol is for "nano glass".

Either way I'd not use anything but water and GOOD micro-fiber cloths as they differ widely. I like the Amazon Basics I buy in a 20 pack and rinse then dry before using. I've detailed enough cars to see what scratches and what doesn't. Plus had enough MBP's to know our screens are different and get scratched and/or stained easily.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: stevec618
Seriously? I started looking into this after I noticed that my tried and true iKlear screen cleaner acts completely different on a 2021 screen as opposed to being applied to a 2007 matte LCD screen. The iKlear spreads in effortlessly on the old matte screen, but on the 2021 screen, the iKlear smears around and feels sticky. It's a night/day difference while using the same exact cleaner on both screens. The towel is iKlear's own proprietary blue microfiber cloth. I have to admit, the 2021 screen feels like glass as I'm wiping on it. The 2007 screen feels like plastic.
Check iKlear blue chamois and the finish is like Apples $20 chamois but like with 2 pcs bonded together but seems like same finish. iKlear cleaner has streaked for me always. Back with my first iPhone 3GS I used it and not since but their blue chamois that are large I have used on all my iPhones forever.
 
I dont know what it is but I keep getting micro scratches on my 2020 M1 Air and 2021 M1 14' Pro. I shake my microfiber cloth out before wiping and I still get scratches....
its likely the type of microfiber used as they are not all the same some are 60-70-80 and even 90% polyester... ive always had good luck with 70/30 and 60/40 and not flat woven ones but the ones similar to a towel so you don't drag across screen dust and dirt you are cleaning off as it pulls up into fibers.
 
I ordered the Microfiber from Apple back in October. I should received it at the end of this month. Do we know what type of material it is? I know it is kind of overpriced :/
Did someone tried it already?
 
six wrote in reply 20 above:
"I dont know what it is but I keep getting micro scratches on my 2020 M1 Air and 2021 M1 14' Pro. I shake my microfiber cloth out before wiping and I still get scratches...."

Really, I think the solution to your problem might be to stop "cleaning" the display so much...
 
six wrote in reply 20 above:
"I dont know what it is but I keep getting micro scratches on my 2020 M1 Air and 2021 M1 14' Pro. I shake my microfiber cloth out before wiping and I still get scratches...."

Really, I think the solution to your problem might be to stop "cleaning" the display so much...
A good microfiber cloth should not scratch your screen no matter how much you use it. It possibly could rub some of the coating off over a long period of time if done frequently (considering Apple's poor coating application on some devices) but it should not scratch it.
 
Really, I think the solution to your problem might be to stop "cleaning" the display so much...
This ^^^

I very gently clean the screens on my iMac and MBP and iPad about once a month, and in between just ignore the various minor marks that accumulate. You only see them when the screen is off. Just have to retrain yourself to get over it, and on iMac/MBP resist the temptation to touch the screen for any reason.
 
There is a link in the first word of the OP's post that goes to Apple's recommendation. Here is the relevant portion

"To clean the screen on your MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air, first shut down the computer and unplug the power adapter. Dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with water only, then use it to clean the computer's screen. To clean hard-to-remove smudges, you can moisten the cloth with a 70-percent isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solution."

It seems pretty clear to me, and is in line with how I clean just about anything with a screen. First a damp microfiber and then step it up with dampening with IPA if a little more oomph is needed. I think adding alcohol is a better option than rubbing harder with a cloth on stubborn smudges.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KaliYoni
its likely the type of microfiber used as they are not all the same some are 60-70-80 and even 90% polyester... ive always had good luck with 70/30 and 60/40 and not flat woven ones but the ones similar to a towel so you don't drag across screen dust and dirt you are cleaning off as it pulls up into fibers.

would you have any amazon links to ones you recommend?
 
would you have any amazon links to ones you recommend?
They were 12 x 16 microfiber and from amazon basics reading the tag which I remove prior to first rinse and dry before use. Bought small amount to try and then got large order about 2 years back. But pretty sure they were Amazon Basics.
I use for about a month or two on MBP then use for iPhone and rotate another into service.
They are cheap enough and i've used my sensor lighted magnifying glass search screen and have yet to find a mark anywhere.
Yea I am anal about it I also use one for Laptop body but that gets used for all eats twice as long if not more before going on to other uses and putting a new one in service.

They call lots of things microfiber but without towel like fibers to allow anything picked up to migrate into fibers it won't touch my screens. The eyeglass type microfiber I wouldn't rub on my screens as anything picked up stays on surface with nowhere to go so they stay for sunglasses only. YMMV.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Eyeglasses cleaner here. Well over a decade on both plastic and glass displays of Apple products or anything else electronic. Yes, eyeglasses cleaner can contain alcohol, but varying levels of it depending on brand.

If it's safe enough for eyeglasses and the coatings they have, it should be safe enough for Apple devices. And I've had had over 40 Macbooks pass through my hands over the past 10 years, and not a single one has had any delamination of coatings.

I wouldn't dream of using rubbing alcohol alone on a display.
 
Last edited:
I was told to only use the apple polishing cloth and water blessed by the pope.

Seriously, I use a Zeiss microfibre cloth made for camera lenses (the microfibre cloth is from a Zeiss lens cleaning kit which I bought for my camera lenses and rifle optics). Works very well, sometimes I have to use a bit of tap-water to clean off the keyboard impressions that I sometimes have on the screen.
But I have a Apple polishing cloth on order just to have in my laptop backpack. ;)
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.