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kindashoulda

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 2, 2009
9
0
I take my macbook everywhere. It's a pretty rugged and solid piece, but the screen is getting pretty dirty. I'm afraid to use windex or anything like that. What are your suggestions?
 
I use Monster Screen Clean (I think that's the name, definitely Monster is the brand) as sold by Apple.

I started using this with my matte Mac's but now also the glossy, which I presume are less fussy anyway. I also use it on all my LCD tv's, picture frames etc.

Works brilliantly, no smears. Looks pretty smeary when you start but suddenly evaporates, leaving everything clean and lovely.
 
Personally I follow the instructions in the user handbook that came with the macbook pro.

"Clean with a damp micro fiber cloth with water"

Do not use windex as it contains Ammonia which is acidic (not good if it leaks past the glass, and would kill the LCD screen behind it).


If you don't want to use water, which I don't see why you wouldn't as Apple says to use water, then make an Isopropyl solution with water:

50% isopropyl (rubbing alcohol)
50% water

Spray that solution (once mixed well) onto a micro fiber cloth and wipe the screen, this is exactly what is in all commercial screen cleaners only without the expensive price tag.
 
Spit and my left sock. (The right sock is for the keyboard).

Of course if I'm barefoot I'll use "Glass Plus" and a cotton towel. It's like windex without the ammonia.
 
If I'm lazy, I'll hose it off, if I want to really clean it, I'll put it in the dishwasher

:p
 
Water. The best solvent in the whole wide world! I mean, I don't see why you would need anything more unless you're eating greasy food and then wiping it on the screen but for just fingerprints here and there, water and a soft cloth works fine!
 
Personally I follow the instructions in the user handbook that came with the macbook pro.

"Clean with a damp micro fiber cloth with water"

Do not use windex as it contains Ammonia which is acidic (not good if it leaks past the glass, and would kill the LCD screen behind it).


If you don't want to use water, which I don't see why you wouldn't as Apple says to use water, then make an Isopropyl solution with water:

50% isopropyl (rubbing alcohol)
50% water

Spray that solution (once mixed well) onto a micro fiber cloth and wipe the screen, this is exactly what is in all commercial screen cleaners only without the expensive price tag.

I too opt for the damp microfiber method for my matte screen. Works great.
 
Ammonia builds up, you will eventually get a hazy layer of gunk that is a pain to remove.

Distilled water or LCD cleaner should work fine.

A microfiber cloth between your keyboard and screen when you close your notebook helps keep the finger-grease off the screen.
 
THanks for the tip on this! A friend actually had a bottle of it, but i didn't know what it was until i read your post. I'm with you 100%. No smears, and my iphone looks brand new everytime i use it. CHeaply priced too so I went out and bought a few bottles.

I use Monster Screen Clean (I think that's the name, definitely Monster is the brand) as sold by Apple.

I started using this with my matte Mac's but now also the glossy, which I presume are less fussy anyway. I also use it on all my LCD tv's, picture frames etc.

Works brilliantly, no smears. Looks pretty smeary when you start but suddenly evaporates, leaving everything clean and lovely.
 
I use a cheaper alternative I got from my local Mac store (not an official Apple store, just a little 20sq.f building) that was only AUD10, instead of the AUD45 iKlear costs. It's got only one bottle of solution and one cloth though, so it's obvious why iKlear costs extra, but also does everything I need, and it came with this awesome little dust brush that I LOVE. So yeah, just shop around, any LCD screen cleaner will work. Like the others mentioned, Windex is a bad idea because it has Ammonia :)
 
I use Monster Screen Clean (I think that's the name, definitely Monster is the brand) as sold by Apple.

I started using this with my matte Mac's but now also the glossy, which I presume are less fussy anyway. I also use it on all my LCD tv's, picture frames etc.

Works brilliantly, no smears. Looks pretty smeary when you start but suddenly evaporates, leaving everything clean and lovely.

Checked out that stuff and it looks pretty legit.. I'll give it a shot :D

http://www.monstercable.com/screenclean/monster_screenclean.asp
 
A Cotton Cloth and Water ;).

Best thing you can do without the expansive price tag!
 
Water. The best solvent in the whole wide world! I mean, I don't see why you would need anything more unless you're eating greasy food and then wiping it on the screen but for just fingerprints here and there, water and a soft cloth works fine!

Personally, the best way to clean LCD monitors is to use the same stuff to clean eyeglasses with (spraying it onto, say a kimwipe). I've always had to many problems with water, resulting in streaking....

 
I just use water, then when it's dry I go over it with the cloth that came with the MBP. I don't want to use any chemicals because the glass is acrylic glass, not silica glass.
 
the monster screen cleaner works really well on my iphone as well. i used to use water, but i'm realizing how it doesn't really do much.
 
Apologies if this is kind of off-topic, but it's cleaning product related. Is it just me, or does the IKlear Apple Polish cleaning stuff sold at every Apple store... Just suck?

I know it says polish, and the instructions say to spray it on and buff it until it disappears completely, but I've never been completely happy cleaning my mac or iPod with it. It always seems to leave a bunch of residue no matter what I do.

You'd think Apple would sell a better general purpose cleaner, even if it's just purified water in a spray bottle.
 
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