Faculty and Staff

Care of Flat-Panel Computer Monitors

Last updated September 23, 2009 3:42:24 PM PDT
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Learn about care of liquid crystal display (LCD) flat-panel monitors for desktop computers, with plastic screens that can be damaged much more easily than the traditional glass-screen monitors and require special cleaning procedures.

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Clean the screen.

  • Unplug the power supply.
  • Lightly dampen a clean, soft, lint-free cloth.
    • Use
      • Water
      • IPA (isopropyl alcohol)
    • Don't use
      • Actetone
      • Ethyl alcohol
      • Toluene
      • Ethyl acid
      • Ammonia
      • Methyl chloride
  • Wipe the screen gently back and forth, not in a circular motion.

Clean the display case.

  • Wipe gently with a non-abrasive, soft, dry cloth to remove dust.

Take precautions.

Don't:

  • Touch or tap the screen with pen, finger, etc.
  • Scrub hard when cleaning
  • Use adhesive (Post-It) notes on the screen
  • Use paper towels to clean the screen

Do:

  • Wipe off water and other stains immediately
  • Use care when lifting or moving

Check for bad pixels.

If there's a black, green, or red patch in the screen, one of the transistors is probably damaged.

  • Call the manufacturer for guidance on repair.

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For more information, contact Computer Repair and Installation in Academic Computing & Media Services, (858) 534-4057.