Do You See Some Smudges and Dust? Here's How To Clean Your TV Screen Step-by-Step

Farrah Penn

February 23, 2023 at 6:16 AM·4 min read

Make sure you're getting optimal viewing for your next movie night.

I’m willing to bet that out of everything in your household that you clean on a regular basis, your TV is something that tends to get skipped. Or if you do, perhaps you lightly dust it and move on with your life. But what if I told you that TV screens collect dust, dirt and fingerprints over time, which can then affect its picture quality and overall performance? Don’t worry—I’m here to provide a handy, step-by-step guide that will teach you how to clean your TV screen.

While it's actually a pretty easy task, there are some important rules and steps you'll want to follow to avoid any damage to your screen. Read on to make sure you know about all of the best practices for keeping your TV spick-and-span.

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How To Clean Your TV Screen

<p>Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer</p> — Courtesy Kelsey Pelzer

Items Needed

Microfiber cloth
Distilled water
Optional: Fast-drying electronic cleaning spray
Optional: Feather duster

1. Turn off your TV

Power down your television set before cleaning and let it rest until it cools down. TVs can generate heat when they’re used, and it’s easier to clean a television when it’s cool versus when it’s warm. Plus, it’s an important safety measure to ensure you don’t cause a minor electrical hazard.

2. Use a microfiber cloth or feather duster to dust your TV

Don’t skip this step. Using a dry dusting rag or feather duster, gently dust away any loose dust and dirt that may have collected on or around your television set.

3. Spray distilled water onto a clean microfiber cloth and gently wipe down your TV screen

You can use a fast-drying electronic cleaning wipe or spray for this part, but it’s not totally necessary. Distilled water and a microfiber cloth will clean any grime or fingerprints that have collected on the screen. If you find that it’s not powerful enough, spritz an alcohol-free cleaning solution onto the microfiber cloth and carefully wipe in downward strokes. Don’t press too hard to avoid the risk of damaging your television.

4. Clean the sides and back of the TV with a fresh microfiber cloth.

You can use either distilled water, cleaning solution, or an electronic cleaning wipe for this part as well. Do not spray any solution directly onto the TV set. Always spray a small amount on your microfiber cleaning cloth.

5. Allow it to air dry and repeat if needed.

If there are stubborn streaks and smudges, repeat this process.

How Often Should I Clean My TV?

Clean your TV once a week in order to preserve its picture quality and overall performance. Cleaning more than that isn’t necessary unless you find that smudges and streaks are building up more frequently.

How Do I Avoid Leaving Streaks When Cleaning My TV?

Avoid using harsh materials to clean your TV, like paper towels, sponges, or towels. It’s best to use a gentle microfiber cleaning cloth. Don’t use cleaning solutions that have alcohol or ammonia on your TV screen.

What Cleaning Products Can I Use To Clean My TV?

If you find that using distilled water isn’t strong enough to clean your TV, you can use an electronic cleaning wipe, a spritz of alcohol-free cleaning solution on a microfiber cloth, or equal parts water and vinegar on a microfiber cleaning cloth.