How to clean dusts and debris on the screen of 2021 MBPs?

[GoztepeEge]

Hi all!
I am worrying due to a weird thing, dusts and some debris on my MBP screen.
Until this time, I have been using screen protectors so I was not so much worried for scratching my display while cleaning it.

But now this MBP has no screen protector, so I have to be careful while cleaning it. I want it not to be scratched, and also I am afraid of having a staingate issue like 2015 MBPs had.

Do you have some tips or advises, how to clean the screen and dusts/debris from it with no damage and no scratch?
(Please except Apple's expensive cloth, I am looking for home-made alternatives etc.) ?

 

[jabbr]

I use a couple of Zeiss lens wipes and a microfiber cloth, seems to work wonderfully.

 

[GoztepeEge]

I use a couple of Zeiss lens wipes and a microfiber cloth, seems to work wonderfully.

Have you had any scratch or staingate issue by using those?
And, do you use it dry or wet?

 

[bill-p]

Have you had any scratch or staingate issue by using those?
And, do you use it dry or wet?

Zeiss lens wipes are wet. They are alcohol wipes.

In general, they are used for camera lenses and shouldn't leave any scratch or issues behind. I have used them for years without issues.

But be aware that the same keyboard clearance issue exists with this generation of MacBook. If you close the lid and leave your MacBook in a bag that's too tight, your keyboard may press on to the screen and leave indentations. That may or may not cause permanent damage eventually.

 

[Furfural]

For small dust/debris on the screens I dust them off with a blower bulb and a lens brush intended for cameras.

For simple spot cleaning (saliva, etc.) I use distilled water and a piece of kimwipe I embezzled from my lab (Kimberly Klark 34155) and lightly dab the screen with the wipe folded. I also put a piece of the same wipe on top of the space bar area to prevent screen contact.

More difficult smudges/accidental fingerprints, I use a 2 inch piece of translucent scotch tape with great success. I haven't delaminated my screens this way in 8 years of experience with 3 retina MBPs.

 

[GoztepeEge]

Zeiss lens wipes are wet. They are alcohol wipes.

In general, they are used for camera lenses and shouldn't leave any scratch or issues behind. I have used them for years without issues.

But be aware that the same keyboard clearance issue exists with this generation of MacBook. If you close the lid and leave your MacBook in a bag that's too tight, your keyboard may press on to the screen and leave indentations. That may or may not cause permanent damage eventually.

Actually I did not have any issue with my 2015 device, which always had a screen protector and a keyboard cover too, there was no clearance issue once I close the lid. But this 2021 14” felt a bit different, hence I took the screen protector off. Now it is naked and I should clean it periodically.

I will check the zeiss wet wipes you suggested.

For small dust/debris on the screens I dust them off with a blower bulb and a lens brush intended for cameras.

For simple spot cleaning (saliva, etc.) I use distilled water and a piece of kimwipe I embezzled from my lab (Kimberly Klark 34155) and lightly dab the screen with the wipe folded. I also put a piece of the same wipe on top of the space bar area to prevent screen contact.

More difficult smudges/accidental fingerprints, I use a 2 inch piece of translucent scotch tape with great success. I haven't delaminated my screens this way in 8 years of experience with 3 retina MBPs.

I do not have a blower but it seems I should get one. And it seems I am not able to buy a Kimberly Klark, as I can not find online.

By the way how do you utilize scoth tape as a clener? I could not understand it well ?

 

[Furfural]

Actually I did not have any issue with my 2015 device, which always had a screen protector and a keyboard cover too, there was no clearance issue once I close the lid. But this 2021 14” felt a bit different, hence I took the screen protector off. Now it is naked and I should clean it periodically.

I will check the zeiss wet wipes you suggested.


I do not have a blower but it seems I should get one. And it seems I am not able to buy a Kimberly Klark, as I can not find online.

By the way how do you utilize scoth tape as a clener? I could not understand it well ?

I imagine a soft piece of paper napkin can replace the kimwipe. For the scotch tape piece, I stick the tape over the smudge/fingerprint and lightly peel it off. The smudge should come off within a few tries. I can't say much about other tapes though.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Get a quality feather duster that is super soft. That is what i use. I haven’t had to clean my M1` MBA since i got it a year ago today, just the feather duster.

 

[wilberforce]

Follow Apple's instructions.
Oh, Apple has instructions?
Yes, on their website.

 

[mi7chy]

With consideration for hard debris that could scratch the screen I prefer a two step process of using scotch shipping tape to lift potential hard debris then follow up with soft material with moisture.

 

[wilberforce]

using scotch shipping tape to lift potential hard debris

Yikes. Hope your anti-reflective coating survives that OK.
Sounds like an ASTM adhesion by tape test:

https://www.galvanizeit.com/uploads/resources/ASTM-D-3359-yr-2010.pdf

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Apple Polishing Cloth will do its magic.

 

[marinersaptcomplex]

Apple Polishing Cloth will do its magic.

View attachment 1933594

Just placed my order for one of these (I was hoping they would come in stock at my local Apple Store, but after 1 week, no such luck).

For now, OP, I use the glasses cleaning cloth that came with my Tom Ford eyeglasses. Seems to work fine. Just shake it out so there's not any tiny particles that can cause scratches on the screen.

I will also say, thankfully these laptop screens do not have Apple's ceramic shield technology--which makes the glass more crack resistant, but more prone to scratches.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Just placed my order for one of these (I was hoping they would come in stock at my local Apple Store, but after 1 week, no such luck).

For now, OP, I use the glasses cleaning cloth that came with my Tom Ford eyeglasses. Seems to work fine. Just shake it out so there's not any tiny particles that can cause scratches on the screen.

I will also say, thankfully these laptop screens do not have Apple's ceramic shield technology--which makes the glass more crack resistant, but more prone to scratches.

I wish I could give you one of mine. 😵‍💫

 

[aevan]

I will check the zeiss wet wipes you suggested.

I would not experiment with alcohol-based wipes, as Apple does not recommend them. Of course, doing it from time to time is ok, but alcohol may damage the coating on the screen. I use distilled water which I spray on a micro-fiber cloth. That's it.

 

[Fishrrman]

My standard advice:

The MacBook Pro's have a "sprayed-on" antiglare coating that is VERY fragile.
It is quite easily damaged... hence, the problems of "StainGate" with the coating flaking off.

You should try to AVOID touching the surface of the display, particularly when opening or closing the lid. This takes a little extra caution, but is easy once you're used to it.

DO NOT apply pressure to the screen to wipe away dust particles on the surface.
Instead, use a soft cloth to gently "dust" across the surface of the display.

If something won't come off that way, use a soft cloth moistened with water.
DO NOT USE ALCOHOL, or any cleaner with alcohol in it.
Use only a small amount of "pressure" -- just enough to get the offending item removed.
Then... "dust dry" with a soft cloth.

This should give you the best chance of keeping the screen looking good for the longest time.

 

[SalisburySam]

For my devices, I think the best guidance so far is using a blower of some kind (compressed air can, turkey baster, etc.) to get the larger chunks off the screen first. After that, whatever non-alcoholic stuff you like should work. On my iPhones, iPads, and iMac screens I use a short spray of glass cleaner and a clean microfiber cloth. And spray the cloth, not the screen directly. That said, I actually do this pretty rarely, like twice in the 4 years I’ve had my 2017 27” iMac. Yeah, it’s better right after cleaning, but for my uses which do not include video/photo editing, it almost doesn’t matter that much. Even on the touchscreens of the iPhone and iPad I don’t really notice the scrunge build up.

 

[MuckyDuck]

Been using this sparingly Swoosh but even they say

If you’re concerned about your MacBook, try using our microfiber cloth without the Screen Shine spray.

 

[loby]

Apple Polishing Cloth will do its magic.

View attachment 1933594

For how expensive MacBook Pro is it should have come with it like it use too...Tim Nick-picking at the supply chain level..

So we have to order one and it takes a few months for it to come...sheesh.

A good fiber cloth made specifically for laptop screens will work well. I use one right now with no issues.

Until..my expensive Apple cloth comes in...

 

[aevan]

For how expensive MacBook Pro is it should have come with it like it use too...Tim Nick-picking at the supply chain level.

They are not going to put a bunch of extras that will end up in waste for 90% of the people. And they are not cheaping out, everything inside that box is premium. Even the MagSafe cable is something else.

Same as the extension power cable from another thread: if you’re buying a $2000-$6000 computer and you want these $10-$20 extras, you buy them separately.

Also, almost any micro-fiber cloth will do the job just fine.

 

[Big Jobs]

i use these and a touch of water, simple

 

[loby]

They are not going to put a bunch of extras that will end up in waste for 90% of the people. And they are not cheaping out, everything inside that box is premium. Even the MagSafe cable is something else.

Same as the extension power cable from another thread: if you’re buying a $2000-$6000 computer and you want these $10-$20 extras, you buy them separately.

Also, almost any micro-fiber cloth will do the job just fine.

Yes I thought about that at first and "maybe" that would be the reason...but we will never really know unless there is a poll done to see if people used the cloth when they use to include it or just disregarded it. Apple includes their Apple "stickers" in the box that probably many don't use...and probably costs less than a U.S. penny to produce due to mass quantities. I don't see people buying the stickers as an accessory item if they did not include it, but you never know now-a-days. Apple probably did not think people would buy a $20 micro-fiber cloth...but it looks like many are from what I have read..

Apple still included the micro-fiber cloth with my 21" Intel iMac 2019, so why not also include it with the MacBook Pro?

It REALLY needs it more since you have to open it and you still touch the screen a little just enough to irritate you (better than before, but still leaves a few smudges regardless).

Probably here on the website many used the micro-fiber cloth that came with the old MacBook Pros, but again we will not really know. I used my old MacBook Pro 2010 Apple Micro-Fiber Cloth until I lost it last year..so it was a good run with it. The best micro-fiber cloth I had ever used and still lasted all of those years. That is why I paid the high cost in hopes it will last just as long with the latest cloth (and will try not to loose it).

 

[aevan]

Yes I thought about that at first and "maybe" that would be the reason...but we will never really know unless there is a poll done to see if people used the cloth when they use to include it or just disregarded it. Apple includes their Apple "stickers" in the box that probably many don't use...and probably costs less than a U.S. penny to produce due to mass quantities. I don't see people buying the stickers as an accessory item if they did not include it, but you never know now-a-days. Apple probably did not think people would buy a $20 micro-fiber cloth...but it looks like many are from what I have read..

Apple still included the micro-fiber cloth with my 21" Intel iMac 2019, so why not also include it with the MacBook Pro?

It REALLY needs it more since you have to open it and you still touch the screen a little just enough to irritate you (better than before, but still leaves a few smudges regardless).

Probably here on the website many used the micro-fiber cloth that came with the old MacBook Pros, but again we will not really know. I used my old MacBook Pro 2010 Apple Micro-Fiber Cloth until I lost it last year..so it was a good run with it. The best micro-fiber cloth I had ever used and still lasted all of those years. That is why I paid the high cost in hopes it will last just as long with the latest cloth (and will try not to loose it).

Heh, yeah, I'm waiting on it to become available again here, I'm getting one ?

As for the stickers, I believe they are bio-degradable. Not sure, but since everything else made out of paper in the package is - I guess the same goes for stickers, too. Don't know about the cloth.