Safely Clean Your TV Screen

Your holiday decorations are packed away. You’ve rung in the new year with family and friends. But the gathering and entertaining isn’t quite over yet... the Big Game on Sunday will be here before you know it.

Regardless of how strong your snack game is, it’s bad form to invite guests over to view the competition on a screen that’s smudged and grimy. Well, we’re here to coach both Big Game party pros and rookies through the best way to clean a TV screen — and tell you how to clean the remote control, too.

What to Use to Clean TV Screens

Products make a difference when it comes to the best way to clean a TV screen. Use the wrong solution or tools and you risk making a bigger mess than you started out with. Worse yet, you could end up damaging your flat screen, especially if you have one of the newer — and more delicate — LCD models.

Unless your manufacturer’s care instructions state otherwise, the only three things you should use to clean your flat-screen TV are:

• A microfiber cloth
• A light touch
• A little distilled water with a tiny bit of mild dishwashing liquid (but only if absolutely necessary)

The Best Way to Clean TV Screens

Now that you know what you can use to safely clean your flat-screen TV, it’s time to talk about the methodology.

You’ll need:

• Microfiber cloths
• Distilled water
• Dishwashing liquid
• A spray bottle

1. Unplug your TV as you would while cleaning any electronic devices, both for safety and because you’ll be better able to spot grimy patches on a dark screen.
2. Using a circular motion, gently wipe the screen from top to bottom.
3. You may need to go over the dirtier areas more than once, but do not apply pressure as this could cause irreparable damage to the screen. Patience and a light tough are the way to go here.
4. If you have stubborn spots, add just a drop or two of dishwashing liquid to a spray bottle of distilled water.
5. Spritz the soap solution on a clean microfiber cloth to dampen it. (Never spray the water directly onto the screen.)
6. Wipe the screen in a circular pattern just as you did before, taking care to use light pressure.
7. Go over that area with a dry microfiber cloth afterward to get rid of any streaks.
8. Make sure the TV is totally dry before plugging it back in.

How to Clean a Remote Control

Many hands will be coming into contact with your remote on Sunday for the Big Game, so you’ll want to make sure that star player is clean both before and after the game.

You’ll need:

• Alcohol
• Distilled water
• A small spray bottle (like you’d use for makeup remover)
• Microfiber cloths
• Toothpicks
• Cotton swabs

1. Remove the batteries from the remote control.
2. Tap the remote buttons against the palm of your hand to shake out any crumbs or loose grit.
3. Gently run a toothpick around the buttons to free any other debris.
4. Dilute the alcohol with water and pour this mixture into the spray bottle.
5. Spritz a small amount of solution onto the microfiber cloth, being careful not to saturate it. A little will go a long way.
6. Clean the outside of the remote with the moistened cloth.
7. Next, spray a cotton swab with the diluted alcohol solution and clean on and around the buttons.
8. Wipe the remote dry with a fresh microfiber cloth.
9. Let everything dry completely before returning the batteries to the remote.

Looking for additional strategies that can help you score some points on gameday? Huddle up and take a look at these party planning checklists.

And don’t forget you can call on us whenever you need a backup quarterback! We not only offer routine housekeeping, we also provide specialty services that include pre- and post-party cleanup. Contact your local Merry Maids today!