I decided to clean my screen with 64% isopropyl alcohol on a microfibre cloth and now the screen isn't as smooth as it was before. When I drag my fingers across the screen I get friction burn. The apple website says it's okay to use 70% to clean your Apple device's screen so I'm not sure what I did wrong. I've heard that the oleophobic coating can wear off and if you want to replace that coating you have to get your screen replaced. But according to a source isopropyl will not wear the coating. Anyone know what could be the problem?
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iPad Air iPad Air 4 screen damaged due to 64% isopropyl alcohol
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I don't know what you used but not all isopropyl alcohol is the same: that is there are different grades of it
When you say it was 64% I presume it's something that says it's 64% on it as I can't image you diluting it to 64% What is the other 36% do you know?
I think the best stuff to use is the purest you can get- which is quite expensive- and dilute it with water to 70%
To solve your problem start with just water and see if that helps. Then get some really pure isopropyl alcohol and try that. Even pure it shouldn't damage the screen.
When you say it was 64% I presume it's something that says it's 64% on it as I can't image you diluting it to 64% What is the other 36% do you know?
I think the best stuff to use is the purest you can get- which is quite expensive- and dilute it with water to 70%
To solve your problem start with just water and see if that helps. Then get some really pure isopropyl alcohol and try that. Even pure it shouldn't damage the screen.
I used this isopropyl alcohol: https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/40678/isocol-rubbing-alcohol-345ml
while there might be some additional components in this (fragrance? they reference the smell…) try to clean it again with a microfibre cloth. Wet a corner of it in water - not dripping wet, wring it - clean the whole surface with the wet part then dry with the dry section of the cloth. If you do not have a microfibre cloth a clean tea towel will serve too.
Hi I'm the op just forgot my password so I had to create a new account. I sent an email to the company hopefully they will respond. I cleaned my screen with just water on a cloth and the screen is exactly the same as it was before. It seems like the oleophobic coating doesn't exist anymore on my screen. My options now are to send it to apple for repair, put a glass screen protector on it, or add a coating myself.
the lable says " Anti Bacterial Lotion " that usually means there is more then just alcohol in the mix,
that probably damaged the screen.
that probably damaged the screen.
Future tip, I find a microfiber cloth alone is all you need, no reason to use solutions. The iPad surface is so polished to begin with, fingerprint and gunk come off pretty easy with just a cloth.
Alcohol definitely strips off the oleophobic coating. Apple does not promise otherwise. For iPads, Apple only recommends isopropyl alcohol for disinfecting, and does not say it will not remove the oleophobic coating, which Apple is clear will diminish in time and by use of cleaning products.
Just seeing what alcohol did to the pin pads at grocery stores was enough for me not to use it on my iPhone/iPad.
kits for restoring the oleophobic coating are available. The procedure is quite easy but includes normally a ”resting”/reconstitution-interval of at least 12 hours.
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Does the screen look blotchy or mottled? I have a hard time believing that Alcohol will fully remove the oleophobic coating 100% across the entire screen. If it is feel only and not visually degraded, I would put a glass screen cover on it and use it until it stops working or you are ready for a new one.
That doesn't clean it from bacteria. Kinda important these days if anyone could potentially touch your device.
Products for skin desinfection like the one the OP referenced are including fragrance and maybe even skin moisturiser compounds. Additionally the fabric of the cloth you are using might be dissolve/change when exposed to alcohol and rubb off and stick to a surface.
If any or both of this happens you will end up with a changed surface of any screen actually.
The OP should try get <=70% isopropyl alcohol from a pharmacy (with no additives, just the isoprop in aqua dest.) and use a clean cotton cloth (like a tea towel) and try to clean the surface and then recondition it.
If any or both of this happens you will end up with a changed surface of any screen actually.
The OP should try get <=70% isopropyl alcohol from a pharmacy (with no additives, just the isoprop in aqua dest.) and use a clean cotton cloth (like a tea towel) and try to clean the surface and then recondition it.
Yes but they say a clean microfibres cloth can pick up most bacteria I believe. That said I’ve become a bit OCD with my phone and actually washed it under the tap with anti bac hand soap if someone’s touched my phone.. and then dried with a micro fibre
The company that makes the Isocol responded. Correction: it's a spray not a lotion. The name of it is Isocol Multipurpose spray. The ingredients are 64% isopropyl alcohol, distilled water and linen fragrance. I tend to keep my devices for a long time. In the case of my iPad I upgraded from the original iPad Air to the iPad Air 4. So that's 8 years give or take. For reference my screen feels like sandpaper and it's painful to slide my fingers across the screen. If I wipe it with pure isopropyl 70% the coating which is left on the screen will be completely gone. And I could void my warranty if I attempt the repair myself. Do you guys know whether Apple repairs damaged oleophobic coatings?
Pretty sure it’s a coating that goes on the screens when they are made so Apple would just replace the screen. Best bet is to get a screen protector with a good oleophobic coating. A YouTuber called ‘MobilereviewsEh’ does a lot of screen protector review comparisons and their coatings. Find a good one for iPhone then see if that company makes one for iPads. Belkin and Spigen have pretty good coatings.
During Covid over the last year my local Vons grocery store covered their pay pin pads with a soft plastic film and would wipe it down with alcohol every use for awhile. The alcohol ate through the soft plastic then ate through the pin pad keys and made the screen unreadable. They had to replace all their pin pads within months of doing that.
didn’t expect that!
I use hot soapy water with a kitchen sponge (well wrung-out to remove excess water) on my iPad screen, as well as my phone. Works beautifully. No water damage to either phone or iPad, and I’ve been doing this for over 2 years now. Actually, for the phone, I soap both front, back, and sides. Since the device is highly water-resistant, I didn’t expect any problems, and I haven’t had any.
Anti-bacterial soap—of any kind—is bad for YOU as well as for our health/environment. It’s using triclosan, an actual antibiotic, and is encouraging the growth and evolution of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. You don’t actually NEED anti-bacterial soap…just plain old soap and water will kill bacteria, viruses, etc. Since iPhones are basically highly water-resistant at this point, you can fully wash them under the faucet with soap and water, if so inclined. I use a hot (hot) sponge with dish soap and water, and then a final wipe with just very hot water to remove any residue. I do this with my iPad as well (though not under a faucet!), just the sponge + soap + water.
There’s absolutely no reason to use alcohol wipes on your iPad. Just water and a microfiber cloth. Any concerns about “bacteria these days” is also irrelevant. COVID isn’t bacteria and spread through touching infected surfaces is one of the least likely means of transmission. COVID is primarily respiratory driven. Plus, bacteria is everywhere. And lots of it is good. Your body doesn’t want or need a sterile environment.
Are you working in an ebola ward or something?