Computer Care - II

Monitor

The following cleaning recommendations and warnings also apply to portable computers with LCD screens.

Turning Off the LCD Monitor

Turn off the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) flat screen monitor when not being used for extended periods. This helps extend the life of the monitor and obviously saves power consumption. Even if you leave the PC running overnight for downloading, back ups or emails, you can turn off the monitor.

Touching the LCD Monitor

Never touch the LCD screen. Firstly, the pressure can damage the surface and cause pixels to burn out. The burnt out pixels leave black spots on the screen eventually making the monitor impossible to use and it cannot be repaired.

Secondly, fingers leave oily smudges on the surface that can be difficult to clean off without potentially causing damage to the LCD screen. A build up of finger smudges will eventually impact the visual clarity of the monitor.

Monitor Environment

Locate the monitor away from direct sunlight, extreme temperatures and high humidity. Do not subject the monitor to any form of physical shock.

Do not stack any objects on top of the closed lid / screen of a portable computer as the stress can damage the LCD screen although it may be turned off.

LCD vs CRT

The LCD screen is totally different to the older large CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors with the glass screens. These could be cleaned with the same products used to clean mirrors and windows in your house without causing any damage.

However, the LCD monitors are delicate and require special care and have restricted cleaning methods if the screen is to have a good life without being damaged.

Cleaning the LCD Monitor

1. Turn of the monitor because the dark screen makes it easier to see the dust layer and any other marks to be removed.
2. Use a soft, dry lint-free cloth. Ideally a microfibre cloth similar to those made for cleaning the plastic lenses of modern eye glasses.
   Never use any form of paper (i.e. tissues or towelling) or any wovern material that does not have a softness similar to velvet. These matrials can easily scratch the surface of the delicate screen.
   If the dry cloth cannot remove all the marks visible on the screen, do not press harder to try removing them as this can cause pixel damage and burnout.
3. For difficult to remove marks, you can use water (preferably distilled) either mixed with a small amount of soft soapy liquid or no more than a 50 / 50 mix of water and white vingear. Always wipe softly without pressure.
   Never use any strong or abrasive commercially produced cleaners as these will damage the surface of the screen. And never spray recommended cleaners directly on the surface of the screen as these can penitrate the soft surface and cause internal damage to the pixels.
4. If you are not confident with preparing your own cleaning liquid for difficult to remove marks, there are commercially available cleaners made specifically for cleaning LCD monitors. However, if you use these cleaners, strictly follow the instructions for their use as any misuse could damage the screen.