How to Clean Overhead Projector Transparencies

Clean your transparencies so that you can reuse them.

An overhead projector displays the writings or drawings made on transparencies onto a screen hung in front of a room. Many classrooms use overhead projectors because of their versatility and low cost, especially as compared to computers and digital projectors. However, each lesson could be comprised of several transparencies. Erasing information from and reusing these transparencies saves money as well as reduces your environmental footprint. It also takes little time and effort.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towel
• Liquid alcohol

Instructions

1. Pour some liquid alcohol, such as isopropyl alcohol, onto a paper towel until it is damp.

2. Wipe the transparency using the dampened paper towel until you erase all of the ink. As the paper towel absorbs the ink, move to another part of the paper towel so that you don't leave smudge marks on the transparency.

3. Dampen another paper towel with alcohol and repeat the steps to clean all of the transparencies.

Tips & Warnings

• Use water-soluble markers instead of permanent markers to make cleaning easier. Although they smudge more easily, you can erase the ink by simply wiping the transparencies with a dampened paper towel.

• If you make mistakes when writing on a transparency, dampen a cotton swab with alcohol to erase the ink on small areas.

• Wear gloves and protective goggles if you use a harsh alcohol solution.

References

• Georgetown University: General Guidelines for the Senior Research Oral Presentation
• Ridgway High School: Like Dissolves Like