MBP screen cleaning gone awry - any help?

[konqerror]

My only guess is maybe the cloth picked up some skin oil from when I wiped my smartphone screen with it. Other than that, it was clean, nothing on it. I don't use those cloths on anything else.

Existing contamination of the cloth, laundry additives/softener, being around cooking, fingerprints around the edge of the screen, the screen touching keys with skin oils on them...

This is why when cleaning optics professionally, they always use disposable tissues or wipers. Fingerprints can be dissolved, but worse is if you get sand or similar particles on the cloth, that's permanent damage.

Even after using a separate cloth and some water, I couldn't get smudges/smears off the screen. It got to a point there I was probably rubbing it too much to get it clean.

Rubbing is how you ruin the display coating. That's far worse than using an appropriate solvent.

 

[hky740]

Existing contamination of the cloth, laundry additives/softener, being around cooking, fingerprints around the edge of the screen, the screen touching keys with skin oils on them...

This is why when cleaning optics professionally, they always use disposable tissues or wipers. Fingerprints can be dissolved, but worse is if you get sand or similar particles on the cloth, that's permanent damage.



Rubbing is how you ruin the display coating. That's far worse than using an appropriate solvent.

What do you use to clean the keyboard with, a Clorox type wipe and let it dry before putting the lid down? I had been using canned air and a wet microfiber cloth.

 

[konqerror]

What do you use to clean the keyboard with, a Clorox type wipe and let it dry before putting the lid down? I had been using canned air and a wet microfiber cloth.

I use the same disposable lens wipes on the keyboard. I find that they do a very good job of removing oils from the keys.

 

[Hawaiian Starman]

Call Apple Support. Explain the problem. Tell them Apple has a special screen replacement program for MBP. You want the screen replaced. After the rep checks your serial number, they’ll set up a FedEx pick up. I sent my machine (refurbished 2015 Retina purchased in 2017) on a Monday to Houston (from Philadelphia area). It was returned to me the following Friday with a new screen. Going forward I’ll make sure to use a different cleaning cloth as suggested in this thread.

Staingate

 

[hky740]

Call Apple Support. Explain the problem. Tell them Apple has a special screen replacement program for MBP. You want the screen replaced. After the rep checks your serial number, they’ll set up a FedEx pick up. I sent my machine (refurbished 2015 Retina purchased in 2017) on a Monday to Houston (from Philadelphia area). It was returned to me the following Friday with a new screen. Going forward I’ll make sure to use a different cleaning cloth as suggested in this thread.

Staingate

I reached out to Apple support on Sunday night, showed a photo of the screen. A box for FedEx came this morning, and it was already picked up this afternoon. Supposed to get to Houston overnight. I'm probably going to get the Super Cloths mentioned earlier or just use Zeiss lens wipes going forward, as I already have dozens of the latter.

 

[golfnut1982]

From Apple's Website:
Notebook computers
Learn how to clean your Mac notebook computer.
MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air
When cleaning the outside of your MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air, first shut down your computer and unplug the power adapter. Then use a damp, soft, lint-free cloth to clean the computer's exterior. Avoid getting moisture in any openings. Do not spray liquid directly on the computer. Don't use aerosol sprays, solvents, abrasives, or cleaners containing hydrogen peroxide that might damage the finish.

To clean the screen on your MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air, first shut down the computer and unplug the power adapter. Dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with water only, then use it to clean the computer's screen.

MacBook Pro models from 2016 and later with Touch Bar and Touch ID: Clean the Touch Bar and Touch ID (power button) on these computers the same way you would clean the display. Shut down your Mac and unplug the power adapter. Dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with water only, then use it to clean the Touch Bar and Touch ID.
MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009) and MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2010): The bottom case of these computers uses a soft nonslip material. Use a 3M Gray Microfiber or soft dye-free, lint-free cloth to clean the bottom case.

 

[hky740]

From Apple's Website:
Notebook computers
Learn how to clean your Mac notebook computer.
MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air
When cleaning the outside of your MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air, first shut down your computer and unplug the power adapter. Then use a damp, soft, lint-free cloth to clean the computer's exterior. Avoid getting moisture in any openings. Do not spray liquid directly on the computer. Don't use aerosol sprays, solvents, abrasives, or cleaners containing hydrogen peroxide that might damage the finish.

To clean the screen on your MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air, first shut down the computer and unplug the power adapter. Dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with water only, then use it to clean the computer's screen.

MacBook Pro models from 2016 and later with Touch Bar and Touch ID: Clean the Touch Bar and Touch ID (power button) on these computers the same way you would clean the display. Shut down your Mac and unplug the power adapter. Dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with water only, then use it to clean the Touch Bar and Touch ID.
MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009) and MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2010): The bottom case of these computers uses a soft nonslip material. Use a 3M Gray Microfiber or soft dye-free, lint-free cloth to clean the bottom case.

Thanks. That's more or less that I did, a soft, damp cloth with water only. Obviously, my specific cloth was not a good one for the MBP or else my screen wouldn't look like it did. Won't make that mistake again.

 

[maerz001]

Thanks. That's more or less that I did, a soft, damp cloth with water only. Obviously, my specific cloth was not a good one for the MBP or else my screen wouldn't look like it did. Won't make that mistake again.

Your cloth was just oily from using with your smartphone.

no screen replacement needed. Why don’t u just try a clean one?

 

[simonmet]

Call Apple Support. Explain the problem. Tell them Apple has a special screen replacement program for MBP. You want the screen replaced. After the rep checks your serial number, they’ll set up a FedEx pick up. I sent my machine (refurbished 2015 Retina purchased in 2017) on a Monday to Houston (from Philadelphia area). It was returned to me the following Friday with a new screen. Going forward I’ll make sure to use a different cleaning cloth as suggested in this thread.

Staingate

OP's photos don't look like that issue. Plus he said it's a 16" MacBook Pro, so I doubt it qualifies and hopefully the issue is fixed.

Personally I'd prefer if the added an oleophobic coating to the MacBooks.

 

[Camarillo Brillo]

I'm pretty sure that cloth was just dirty from cleaning your smartphone with it. I think the anti-glare coating on the MacBook Pro looks particularly bad when it gets oily. This happened to mine to a lesser degree the first time I cleaned it. I probably had less than half of the smudging you do though, yours looks pretty bad.

I solved the problem by washing a microfiber cloth that came with my sunglasses with a little dish soap so it was clean and oil-free, wringing it as dry as possible, then using the still slightly damp cloth to clean off the smudges. It looks like new now. Since then I always wash the cloth with soap and wring it dry before using to clean my screen, it works great.