How to remove surface stains on the screen?

[Moonjumper]

I picked up my iPad and there were some little bits of black crumbly stuff on the screen that might have been mascara (not from me). I wiped them off but they have left slight stains on the glass surface, which I can see when the area is displaying a pale colour. I have tried cleaning the screen multiple times, but the marks are still there. Do you have any suggestions for removing the marks?

 

[akash.nu]

Alcohol?!

 

[DougFNJ]

Alcohol?!

Never alcohol, that removes the oleophobic coating from the screen. I would use a towel and dab a little water in small areas, that should remove it, and then use a microfiber cloth to dry the whole screen off. Make sure to do your best to remove all dust from the screen before you do this.

 

[akash.nu]

Never alcohol, that removes the oleophobic coating from the screen. I would use a towel and dab a little water in small areas, that should remove it, and then use a microfiber cloth to dry the whole screen off. Make sure to do your best to remove all dust from the screen before you do this.

The oleophobic coating wears off after a few months anyway. Plus I don’t think every model of iPad have it. Pretty sure my 9.7 didn’t.

 

[Rok73]

Pretty sure my 9.7 didn’t.

Pretty sure it did.

 

[akash.nu]

Pretty sure it did.

9.7 2017 iPad I mean.

 

[Farsider]

It does - it just doesn’t have a laminated display like the iPad Air 2 / iPad Pros

 

[Moonjumper]

Never alcohol, that removes the oleophobic coating from the screen. I would use a towel and dab a little water in small areas, that should remove it, and then use a microfiber cloth to dry the whole screen off. Make sure to do your best to remove all dust from the screen before you do this.

Thank you. I have already tried water, spectacle cleaning spray, and Brasso Gadget Care gel which is for screens, each using a microfibre cloth. I think it may have dyed the oleophobic coating.

 

[Farsider]

All you need is a damp clean microfibre cloth. No products necessary

 

[Rok73]

I take a standard kitchen wiping cloth with a drop of washing-up liquid, with the cloth properly rinsed & wrung out of course. Works for me since 2011 on every iPad I owned. Washing-up liquid is the best smudge and oil killer.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

The oleophobic coating wears off after a few months anyway. Plus I don’t think every model of iPad have it. Pretty sure my 9.7 didn’t.

And that’s a good coating! Most tempered screen protectors coatings wear off in a month..

 

[Moonjumper]

All you need is a damp clean microfibre cloth. No products necessary

I take a standard kitchen wiping cloth with a drop of washing-up liquid, with the cloth properly rinsed & wrung out of course. Works for me since 2011 on every iPad I owned. Washing-up liquid is the best smudge and oil killer.

It isn't dirt, oil, or a smudge on the screen. I can get the screen perfectly clean, but the mark remains. It increasingly looks like the screen has been tinted by the material being left on the screen until I saw it. The marks are only small, but annoying, and would make the iPad difficult to sell when the time comes.

 

[Richard8655]

I was thinking Goo Gone or Dawn, but I’d actually take it down to the local Apple Store and ask the Genius Bar if they have any advice. They shouldn’t charge for their thoughts. They may have run into similar situations from other customers, or have some special solution they use.

It was anti-reflective coating that the Pro models have and 9.7 doesn’t.

 

[Rok73]

It isn't dirt, oil, or a smudge on the screen. I can get the screen perfectly clean, but the mark remains. It increasingly looks like the screen has been tinted by the material being left on the screen until I saw it. The marks are only small, but annoying, and would make the iPad difficult to sell when the time comes.

It was just a general tip from me. In your case though, your display seems to have gotten in contact with a liquid or something that has absolutely no place there. Maybe something acidic or whatever.

 

[ZMacintosh]

Isopropyl is recommended by Apple for their displays. They sell a mix at electronic shops that are electronics safe as well.

 

[44267547]

I picked up my iPad and there were some little bits of black crumbly stuff on the screen that might have been mascara (not from me). I wiped them off but they have left slight stains on the glass surface, which I can see when the area is displaying a pale colour. I have tried cleaning the screen multiple times, but the marks are still there. Do you have any suggestions for removing the marks?

Something else to try is a product called Whoosh. Apple stores use this as well. Otherwise a microfiber cloth slightly dampened with warm water.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Sounds to me like the stain is in the coating itself and probably NEEDS to be removed.

 

[ActionableMango]

I picked up my iPad and there were some little bits of black crumbly stuff on the screen that might have been mascara (not from me). I wiped them off but they have left slight stains on the glass surface, which I can see when the area is displaying a pale colour. I have tried cleaning the screen multiple times, but the marks are still there. Do you have any suggestions for removing the marks?

It sounds like you've already tried the normal methods. The harsher methods may cause more damage. I'd just go back to the store and exchange it.