Comments on How to Clean a Computer Monitor

My 2 year-old drew all over our monitor with a "Fellowes Neato CD Marker". I used WD-40 on a cotton swab and it all came off.

I read the other suggestions, and decided to try the easiest one first. I had made the mistake of trying to clean my Dell CRT monitor screen with "The Gonzo" Screen Cleaner sold for cleaning monitors, TV screens, etc. (instructions say to use it dry) - big mistake! Jack reported that he was able to repair surface damage by rubbing with a soft cotton sock. I tried it using a fluffy sock, and it worked great. My screen now looks like new and still has the anti-glare coating.

The anti-glare coating on my 17" CRT Apple Studio Display ADC was deteriorating rapidly, cracking and rubbing off in places, making it quite difficult to use. I tried all sorts of things to get rid of it all - almost everything under the kitchen sink - all to no avail. Then it struck me, I needed something corrosive, like oven cleaner. So I taped the edges of the screen to prevent the cleaner from getting inside, placed the monitor so the screen was facing up and perfectly horizontal, and sprayed a generous, even layer of Easy Off Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner over the screen. The active ingredients in this product are Sodium Hydroxide and Diethylene Glycol Alkyl Ether. Five minutes later I used paper towel to remove all the cleaner, then used a moist cloth to remove any remaining residue, and wiped dry. For good measure, i then used an alcohol free screen wipe to give it a final clean down, and finished off with a dry wipe to polish it up. Obviously, this thing now reflects light like a mirror, but in a room with very little direct natural light, it's a real stunner again.

My 2 year-old drew all over our monitor with a "Fellowes Neato CD Marker". I used WD-40 on a cotton swab and it all came off.

I read the other suggestions, and decided to try the easiest one first. I had made the mistake of trying to clean my Dell CRT monitor screen with "The Gonzo" Screen Cleaner sold for cleaning monitors, TV screens, etc. (instructions say to use it dry) - big mistake! Jack reported that he was able to repair surface damage by rubbing with a soft cotton sock. I tried it using a fluffy sock, and it worked great. My screen now looks like new and still has the anti-glare coating.

My two year old drew lines all over my flat screen monitor with a Sharpie! I searched this site for tips and I saw how much damage you can get by using various cleaners. I read the tip about getting marker off of a dry erase board with a pencil eraser, so I tried that on the screen. I wiped it first with a soft cloth with just a little water and dried it and rubbed the marks with the eraser lightly. It took a little while, but all the marks are gone.

My two year old drew lines all over my flat screen monitor with a Sharpie! I searched this site for tips and I saw how much damage you can get by using various cleaners. I read the tip about getting marker off of a dry erase board with a pencil eraser, so I tried that on the screen. I wiped it first with a soft cloth with just a little water and dried it and rubbed the marks with the eraser lightly. It took a little while, but all the marks are gone.

A paste of scratch-free Ajax with bleach worked just fine! The anti-glare was gone in about 30 minutes!! Before we found this site we used Windex, Simple Green, Scrubbing bubble (an act of pure desperation), WD40 and non-chlorinated automotive break cleaner (more desperation).

A paste of scratch-free Ajax with bleach worked just fine! The anti-glare was gone in about 30 minutes!! Before we found this site we used Windex, Simple Green, Scrubbing bubble (an act of pure desperation), WD40 and non-chlorinated automotive break cleaner (more desperation).

I have a Samsung SyncMaster900 IFT with scratches in the anti-glare coating. To take the coating off, I tried a host of products, including comet (0.9% sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione dihydrate) as discussed earlier. It didn't work well for me (estimate about 10 hours to finish) I also tried a window scraper - not a good idea. Then I switched to Old Dutch powder, which worked much better. I estimate it would have taken about 30 minutes to do the whole monitor (rubbing with a cloth wrapped around a heat sink). It seemed to work mixed with water or Amway's Zoom.

I have a Samsung SyncMaster900 IFT with scratches in the anti-glare coating. To take the coating off, I tried a host of products, including comet (0.9% sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione dihydrate) as discussed earlier. It didn't work well for me (estimate about 10 hours to finish) I also tried a window scraper - not a good idea. Then I switched to Old Dutch powder, which worked much better. I estimate it would have taken about 30 minutes to do the whole monitor (rubbing with a cloth wrapped around a heat sink). It seemed to work mixed with water or Amway's Zoom.

I ruined my CRT monitor (Samsung Syncmaster 959nf) with Glassex. There where a lot of scratches on the anti glare coating. Then I read a tip. I laid my monitor on its back and put Brillo oven cleaner (from Johnson Wax) on the screen. I waited 10-15 minutes and wiped (with a little rubbing) the coating away. After that there where a few spots left. But with the same procedure on the spots the screen was total clean and without scratches.

I ruined my CRT monitor (Samsung Syncmaster 959nf) with Glassex. There where a lot of scratches on the anti glare coating. Then I read a tip. I laid my monitor on its back and put Brillo oven cleaner (from Johnson Wax) on the screen. I waited 10-15 minutes and wiped (with a little rubbing) the coating away. After that there where a few spots left. But with the same procedure on the spots the screen was total clean and without scratches.

This has to be the most annoying technology added to monitors in recent years, but the anti-glare coating is not the end of your monitor if it becomes scratched (read: inevitable). Monitor manufacturers say it can't be removed or fixed, but this is a lie just to get you to buy a new monitor or at least look at their offerings. Takes about 20 minutes. Cleaner- Soft Scrub with bleach Application- Paper Towel Start in the center rubbing in circles. Remove all of the coating as you go. Use your fingernail to create scratches in hard to remove sections to allow the cleaner/scrubber to get underneath the coating. The edges will take more work than the center. I am not sure why, but the coating may be thicker at the edges of the screen than in the center.

My anti-glare coating was really messed up and I used some Automotive Simple Green and paper towels to start. That took off some. Then I used a blue Scotch-brite pad, like you use for dishes. I tested a small corner first and it left no scratches at all, even with a lot of elbow grease. I cleaned the whole thing in about 20 minutes. It looks great. I finished off with some Windex (won't hurt it now).

My anti-glare coating was really messed up and I used some Automotive Simple Green and paper towels to start. That took off some. Then I used a blue Scotch-brite pad, like you use for dishes. I tested a small corner first and it left no scratches at all, even with a lot of elbow grease. I cleaned the whole thing in about 20 minutes. It looks great. I finished off with some Windex (won't hurt it now).