Screen Cleaner

[Hansl]

Hi all,

I understand that according to Apple guidelines, they only encourage the use of a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth or microfiber cloth to clean the iPad screen.

However, besides using a microfiber cloth to clean the iPad, I went along to use a Screen Cleaner spray on the cloth to clean the display. This works for most of my product, till I notice that the new iPad display does not go well with it. Let me illustrate why. Although it does a pretty good job cleaning the fingerprints away, upon some heat from your breath over the screen, you will notice prints on it. Irremovable ones that is, which is only visible upon heat. It only affects some parts of the display and not entirely. Also, it does not affect the general function of the iPad.

Not sure if you guys experience this?

Kindly share your thoughts.

However,

 

[Mr.C]

Hi all,

I understand that according to Apple guidelines, they only encourage the use of a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth or microfiber cloth to clean the iPad screen.

However, besides using a microfiber cloth to clean the iPad, I went along to use a Screen Cleaner spray on the cloth to clean the display. This works for most of my product, till I notice that the new iPad display does not go well with it. Let me illustrate why. Although it does a pretty good job cleaning the fingerprints away, upon some heat from your breath over the screen, you will notice prints on it. Irremovable ones that is, which is only visible upon heat. It only affects some parts of the display and not entirely. Also, it does not affect the general function of the iPad.

Not sure if you guys experience this?

Kindly share your thoughts.

However,

I don’t use a screen cleaner but a lens cleaner like the one you use to clean glasses. Then again I do have screen protectors on both my iPad and iPhone.

 

[Ralfi]

I use the palm of my hands to firstly wipe away any grime & then depending on how dirty the screen is, I either just wipe it down with a dry microfiber cloth whilst breathing on any marks to fog up that area, making it easier to wipe away, or if it's full of marks, I flick some water on the screen before wiping it down with the microfiber.
[doublepost=1544189084][/doublepost]

I don’t use a screen cleaner but a lens cleaner like the one you use to clean glasses. Then again I do have screen protectors on both my iPad and iPhone.

Anything with alcohol reduces the life of the smooth oleophobic coating.

Recommend just using water.

 

[Hansl]

Thanks for sharing guys. But just wondering with regards to my post. Is it possible to experience those prints that i encounter because of using a screen cleaner? These prints/spots are only visible upon wiping it with a damp microfiber cloth.

 

[AlexiTQ]

Perhaps what you're experiencing is because most screen cleaners leave a thin film behind. I've noticed this with both cleaning displays and cleaning my eyeglasses. Most of the cleaners are utter *****.

Best I've found, and this is in no way perfect, is Eizo's screen cleaner. It's a bit on the expensive side but you also get a good cloth. It leaves very little residue and cleans well.

I don't know if it contains alcohol or not, but I haven't noticed any wear on the oleophobic coating.

If I want things really clean I usually start with some cheap alcohol based junk - not recommended to use often - then clean with the Eizo screen cleaner. That way I can the screen as good as new, which is nice before putting on a screen protector or selling the item. I would not do this otherwise, as more frequent use would surely wear out the coating.

Same thing goes for the eyeglass cleaners I've found. They're crap. I've learned that the hard way, having to buy new glasses far too soon because my glasses have become dirt magnets.

 

[Hansl]

Perhaps what you're experiencing is because most screen cleaners leave a thin film behind. I've noticed this with both cleaning displays and cleaning my eyeglasses. Most of the cleaners are utter *****.

Best I've found, and this is in no way perfect, is Eizo's screen cleaner. It's a bit on the expensive side but you also get a good cloth. It leaves very little residue and cleans well.

I don't know if it contains alcohol or not, but I haven't noticed any wear on the oleophobic coating.

If I want things really clean I usually start with some cheap alcohol based junk - not recommended to use often - then clean with the Eizo screen cleaner. That way I can the screen as good as new, which is nice before putting on a screen protector or selling the item. I would not do this otherwise, as more frequent use would surely wear out the coating.

Same thing goes for the eyeglass cleaners I've found. They're crap. I've learned that the hard way, having to buy new glasses far too soon because my glasses have become dirt magnets.

Woah that's a great response. Is there anything I can do now to remain the spots left behind? I am pretty sure its from the screen cleaner. It seems like a simple wipe with water now also doesn't remove it.

 

[Entopia7]

I have used “Whoosh!” For a couple years. It does the job, does it quickly, and comes with a microfiber cloth. I use it every couple of days. I have noticed that iPads released in the last few years really seem to pick up fingerprints. I wash my hands all day long and still accumulate enough smudges to notice them after one day.

 

[Starship67]

The absolute best screen cleaner on the market is Radtechs Omnicleanz. Leaves absolutely no residue, streaking, hazing or ill affect on the coatings. It’s actually safer than water.
I do not work for either company. It’s just the only cleaner I will use and have been for years. After trying many many others.

https://www.radtech.com/products/omnicleanz

 

[AlexiTQ]

Woah that's a great response. Is there anything I can do now to remain the spots left behind? I am pretty sure its from the screen cleaner. It seems like a simple wipe with water now also doesn't remove it.

Water leaves residue. You can try distilled water with a little (pure) vinegar.

(I think it's called vinegar. I'm not a native english speaker, so I hope I don't have that mixed up)

 

[sparksd]

I have used “Whoosh!” For a couple years. It does the job, does it quickly, and comes with a microfiber cloth. I use it every couple of days. I have noticed that iPads released in the last few years really seem to pick up fingerprints. I wash my hands all day long and still accumulate enough smudges to notice them after one day.

Same here.

 

[Johnny Steps]

So Whoosh! Is okay to use?

 

[sparksd]

So Whoosh! Is okay to use?

Works great for me, first on my Air 2, now on my 10.5, smartphone, and Galaxy Tab S2. No alcohol or ammonia in it.

 

[flur]

Does anyone use saline wipes?

 

[Hansl]

Great sharing from you guys. But i think you guys mistaken my question. I am having irremovable spots from my display from using the Screen Cleaner mentioned in my original post. These spots somehow are not visible under normal circumstances, but only visible if heat is over it or if you blow air over it with your breathe.

I have been trying to use this lens cleaner and somehow manage to remove some tough spots though. It's pretty amazing that my previous cleaner can leave behind such residue that is not visible under normal lighting.

 

[Entopia7]

So Whoosh! Is okay to use?

They posted their chemical safety data sheet on these forums actually, when this came up in the past. If you do a search you’ll see it. It definitely isn’t toxic. And there isn’t anything in it that would harm a touch screen or it’s coating.

 

[Johnny Steps]

They posted their chemical safety data sheet on these forums actually, when this came up in the past. If you do a search you’ll see it. It definitely isn’t toxic. And there isn’t anything in it that would harm a touch screen or it’s coating.

Wow that's really cool of them to do that!

 

[NoBoMac]

Not a chemist, and did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express recently, so, take with a very large and many grain(s) of salt.

Per the MSDS sheet for the cleaner, first ingredient listed is 1-Propoxy-2-propanol. NIH Chemistry Database lists one of the usages for this as a solvent. MAYBE wore off some of the coating using the stuff.

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1-propoxy-2-propanol#section=Top
https://assets.fellowes.com/msds/99718_EN_2017.pdf

Do notice that Fellowes does sell cleaners specific to phones/tablets, where this stuff seems geared to non-coated screens. And the Fellowes wipes, different chemical makeup, but appear to be nothing more than non-bleach household cleaner with an ammonia-like chemical for disinfectant purposes, so, again, probably not great for cleaning an iDevice screen as Apple discourages household cleaners.

ADD: will echo others re: clean microfiber does a great job on its own (pick up a pack of the larger ones for household cleaning, auto detailing uses). Or one of those microfiber screen cleaning balls as well. In a pinch, will use lens cleaner rated safe for coated lenses with a microfiber (yes, many of the cheap lens cleaners are not rated safe for coated lenses, so read the labels).

 

[pdaholic]

Been using whoosh for the last year as well. Love the stuff, it’s amazing how easily the skin oils get removed from the screens

 

[Hansl]

Not a chemist, and did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express recently, so, take with a very large and many grain(s) of salt.

Per the MSDS sheet for the cleaner, first ingredient listed is 1-Propoxy-2-propanol. NIH Chemistry Database lists one of the usages for this as a solvent. MAYBE wore off some of the coating using the stuff.

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1-propoxy-2-propanol#section=Top
https://assets.fellowes.com/msds/99718_EN_2017.pdf

Do notice that Fellowes does sell cleaners specific to phones/tablets, where this stuff seems geared to non-coated screens. And the Fellowes wipes, different chemical makeup, but appear to be nothing more than non-bleach household cleaner with an ammonia-like chemical for disinfectant purposes, so, again, probably not great for cleaning an iDevice screen as Apple discourages household cleaners.

ADD: will echo others re: clean microfiber does a great job on its own (pick up a pack of the larger ones for household cleaning, auto detailing uses). Or one of those microfiber screen cleaning balls as well. In a pinch, will use lens cleaner rated safe for coated lenses with a microfiber (yes, many of the cheap lens cleaners are not rated safe for coated lenses, so read the labels).

This sure sounds deep I must say. Ever since I use the Zeiss lens cleaner, it seems to reduce the spots a little.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I have use a slightly damp cloth with a few drops of Windex on all of my iPads for years and years and it work great.

I know it is not recommended but after years of use, my screen have remained perfect.

 

[max2]

I use this works well for all my screens! TV, Computer Monitor, iPad, and iPhone!

Will last at least 2 years if not longer.

 

[flur]

This sure sounds deep I must say. Ever since I use the Zeiss lens cleaner, it seems to reduce the spots a little.

Just a heads up, Zeiss also makes screen cleaner that doesn’t contain alcohol.

 

[sparksd]

View attachment 809378

I use this works well for all my screens! TV, Computer Monitor, iPad, and iPhone!

Will last at least 2 years if not longer.

I bought this after reading your post and it works great. It's far cheaper per oz. than Whoosh. It also doesn't streak when used on my TV screen, a problem I've had with other cleaners. Thanks!

 

[Marshall73]

Only ever used water to lightly dampen a micro fibre cloth for cleaning, no need for solvents.

 

[Simacca]

I’ve always used a baby wipe and kitchen towel to clean my iPad screen. Works great!