Step by step: how to clean a tv screen
Safety first. Turn the TV off and unplug it first. Steady a TV on a stand with one hand while you wipe so you do not push it over, and never spray liquid onto the screen, where it can run inside and cause a shock or fire.
- 1
Turn the TV off and let it cool
Switch the TV off, wait a few minutes for the panel to cool, then unplug it. A dark screen shows every smudge and streak, so you can see what you are doing.
- 2
Dust the screen with a dry microfiber cloth
Fold a clean microfiber cloth into a pad and wipe the screen gently from top to bottom, with almost no pressure. Most dust and light fingerprints come off with this step alone.
- 3
Lightly dampen a second cloth
Mist distilled water onto the cloth, or dip it in lukewarm water and wring it out until it is almost dry. LG’s instructions use lukewarm water; Samsung suggests distilled water. Never spray the screen itself.
- 4
Wipe smudges in gentle circles
Work over fingerprints and spots in small, gentle circles without pressing. TV panels are thin and flexible, so pressure can damage pixels. Repeat light passes on a stubborn spot rather than pushing harder.
- 5
Clear any excess water
Check the bottom edge of the screen for drips and blot them with a dry part of the cloth. Water must not run down into the frame.
- 6
Wipe the frame, stand and back
Wipe the bezel and stand with the same damp cloth. Dust the back panel and vents with a dry duster or cloth; do not push water or cleaner into the vent slots.
- 7
Let it dry before you plug it in
Leave the TV unplugged until the screen and frame are completely dry, usually a few minutes. Then plug it in and check the screen with a dark picture for any streaks you missed.
What can you use to clean a TV screen?
To clean a TV screen safely, a dry microfiber cloth and plain water are all you need, and they are what TV makers recommend. LG says no special products are necessary for its OLED, 4K or LED screens, and Samsung warns against a long list of common cleaners.
| Use | Avoid | Why avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Dry microfiber cloth | Paper towels, abrasive pads | Can scratch the screen or wear the anti-glare coating |
| Distilled or lukewarm water on the cloth | Window cleaner, ammonia | Samsung says these can strip the anti-glare coating and cause permanent damage |
| A screen cleaner your manual allows | Alcohol, acetone, benzene, soap, wax, scouring powder | All on Samsung’s do-not-use list for TV screens |
| Gentle circles, light pressure | Spraying the screen directly | Liquid runs to the bottom edge and into the electronics |
Do OLED, QLED and LED TVs need different cleaning?
No: OLED, QLED and LED screens are all cleaned the same way, with a dry cloth first and a barely damp one second. The panels differ inside, but the outer surface and its coatings are just as easy to scratch or strip on all of them.
A few models are exceptions. Matte display TVs, such as Samsung’s The Frame, have their own instructions on Samsung’s cleaning page, so follow those. Older plasma and CRT sets with glass fronts were tougher, but the same water-on-the-cloth rule is still the safe choice. If your manual lists a specific screen cleaner, that overrides general advice.
A computer monitor follows nearly the same rules; see our guide to cleaning a laptop or monitor screen. Dell’s screen cleaning advice also stresses waiting until the screen is fully dry before powering on.
How to get stubborn marks off a TV screen
Most sticky spots, sneeze marks and kids’ fingerprints come off with patience: several light passes with a damp cloth, buffing dry between each one.
- Rewet a clean corner of the cloth for each pass, so you are not spreading the grime around.
- Hold the cloth against a dried drip for a few seconds to soften it before you wipe.
- If a mark will not move, it may be a scratch or a worn patch in the coating. More rubbing will make it larger, not smaller.
- Do not use a melamine sponge, a fingernail or a razor blade on a normal glossy or anti-glare screen.
Mistakes to avoid
- Spraying window cleaner or water straight onto the screen.
- Using paper towels or a kitchen sponge, which scratch the coating.
- Pressing hard on a stubborn spot until pixels show pressure marks.
- Plugging the TV back in while the edges are still wet.
- Wiping with the TV on, so you cannot see streaks and the screen is warm.
Products that make this easier
Optional. Everything above works with basic supplies; these just save time or effort.
- See it on Amazon
Lint-free cloths
MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
Soft, lint-free cloths for the dry pass and the damp pass. Larger cloths cover a big screen faster; keep a pack so you always have a clean one.
- See it on Amazon
If your manual allows a cleaner
EVEO Screen Cleaner Spray
A screen spray for greasy fingerprints. Spray it on the cloth, not the screen, and check your TV manual first.
- See it on Amazon
Back panel and vents
Swiffer Dusters with extendable handle
Reaches the top and back of a wall-mounted TV to pull dust off the vents. Use it on the frame and back only, not the screen.
- See it on Amazon
Streak-free water
Distilled water (1 gallon)
No minerals to leave faint spots on a dark screen.
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