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Cleaning your iPad screen?

RowellE

RowellE

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 5, 2012
450
856
I just got my iPad and case today and was wondering about getting a screen protector. I've heard some of the members of this forum saying that they don't use screen protectors and that they don't want to cover up the beautiful retina display.

For those who don't use a screen protector, how do you clean your screen from smudges and fingerprints? I have a screen protector on my phone and I Purell it once in a while, lol. I read somewhere that if you use anything with alcohol on the iPad screen you'll ruin the finish and you'll be stuck with white smudges.

I'm really trying to go with not using a screen protector and wanted to know how you guys keep your screens looking clean and fresh.

Thanks in advance!

P.S. This is my first iPad
 
I use Monster's iClean. Works wonders albeit expensive. I used a screen protector for my iPad2 to protect it from scratches. Dusts and fingerprint marks can be removed easily. I am now debating whether to put a screen protector for the new iPad. Doing so will downgrade the Retina Display but will protect the screen. There are trade-offs either way
 
it's glass - been using windex or whatever glass cleaner for years with no problems - don't overthink this....best way to keep it clean is get a stylus..keep your fingers off the screen...mine is clean all the time with a faraday artist stylus...
 
I use iklear. My last bottle lasted over 5 years so it goes along way. I wouldn't recommended windex and the like as it has ammonia in it.
 
Dust-Off brand "LCD Plasma Screen Care" which consists of a 50ml spray bottle and a large Dust-Off screen shammy. I was impressed with the quality of the shammy and the spray does it's job well. I spent something like $11 for the little box. I also use it on the iPad. All you need is one squirt for the iPad so I would think it would last a long time.
 
I use my eye glasses cloth, I shake the cloth to make sure there is no dust particles on it that I may scratch the screen with. I just give the iPad a quick gentle wipe to remove any loose particles and dust, shake the cloth and then gently wipe the fingerprints off.

If the iPad has to many spots on the glass that I can't wipe of with my finger or the cloth, I just give it a tiny spray from my glasses cleaner after I have removed the dust particles as this solution is designed for multi coated lenses so it doesn't harm the iPad coatings.

Takes me around 20 secs. Have done this on my previous iPad 1 & 2 and not a single hairline scratch even when held at an angle at an extreme light source.
 
I can feel a huge difference in my iPad 2 screen and my new iPad.

I cleaned my iPad 2 regularly with a various sprays and an old iMac microfiber cloth. Not so long ago I learned (on apple's site i believe) I shouldn't be using anything but plain water to wipe down the iPad screen because alchohol will eat up the coating on the screen.

Now, I received my iPad 2 on launch day and the difference in feeling could also just be from using it daily for a year. But I think I will stick with just using water this time around.

From the iPad user guide page 23:

To clean iPad, unplug all cables and turn off iPad (press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the red slider appears, then slide the onscreen slider). Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. Avoid getting moisture in openings. Don’t use window cleaners, household cleaners, aerosol sprays, solvents, alcohol, ammonia, or abrasives to clean iPad. The iPad screen has an oleophobic coating; simply wipe the screen with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove oil left by your hands. The ability of this coating to repel oil will diminish over time with normal usage, and rubbing the screen with an abrasive material will further diminish its effect and may scratch your screen.
 
puckhead193 said:
I use iklear. My last bottle lasted over 5 years so it goes along way. I wouldn't recommended windex and the like as it has ammonia in it.
Click to expand...

yup, Iklear is great and so is the blue cloth that comes with whatever bottle you get.

In between cleaning the iPad with the liquid cleaner, you can actually just use the cloth to remove fingerprints. works great.

I wouldn't use hand sanitizer, thats nuts. damn near pure alcohol and whatever else is in it. I wouldn't use a paper towel either. that could scratch the screen.
 
I don't bother cleaning finger prints anymore, I find it to be a fairly useless pursuit since they'll be right back on it minutes later. My iPad's is either in use or has the smart cover on anyway, and they aren't very noticeable in either case.

I'm more anal over making sure my hands are clean.
 
So far I just use a clean soft cloth, (paper towels are probably too rough).

I've had my iphone4 for about a year now and never had to really clean it. I just wipe the screen with a soft cloth when I can see something on the screen and continue using it. I made the mistake of wasting money on a couple of screen protectors and after taking great pains to get them on just right, I ripped them off because I hated how they felt and looked. All I've been using is a Speck bumper case (great case btw) that I got for free from Apple over the whole Antenna thing. Phone still looks brand new.

I'm not about to put some rubbery feeling film on my ipad that also gave my phone screen an orange peel look. Not making that mistake again. All I want is some kind of folding case with corner protection. Still waiting on Speck to come out with their new cases.

If you are going to be packing it around for school or whatever, you are going to need a case instead of a screen protector. Both is overkill imho. If you are in some kind of hostle environment that could scatch up the screen, you probably would not even want to open the case, with or without a screen protector.
 
I like to use a steel wool brillo pad to clean my scratches off. Unfortunately, I keep noticing more and more. I think it's some kind of defect, I need to take it to a Guinness bar
 
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