How To Clean 4k Monitor

How to Keep a Gaming Monitor Clean

Okay, so you have a top-quality gaming PC with all of the bells and whistles—literally. Your keyboard is a personalized light show, and your headset looks like something a Jedi starfighter would envy. So why do your Fortnite graphics look blurry despite the fact that you own the best gaming monitor around and can run your settings at 4K with 60+ FPS, no problem?

Maybe it's because it's been months since you cleaned your monitor, which now dons a layer of dust interrupted only by smudges from your Cheeto fingers and stray hairs from your bored cat. Doesn't your gaming monitor deserve better?

We think yes.

In order to return to a place where you're getting the most out of the equipment you invested so much time and money into in an effort to game with the best graphics available, you likely now need to know: what's the best way to clean and maintain a gaming monitor without damaging it?

What Not to Do When Cleaning Your Gaming Monitor

Never use alcohol or ammonia-based cleaners. This means no Windex or rubbing alcohol, even if it's diluted. These can damage the anti-glare coating on your screen and cause fogging. You should also be careful not to wipe your screen with any rag that could be hiding even the tiniest bit of dirty grit or other abrasive material that could scratch your monitor. Even paper towels can be surprisingly abrasive when you view them through a microscope and realize that they are made of tiny, compressed wood shavings.

You should also never try to clean your monitor while the computer is on. Be sure to turn it off and unplug it before cleaning your monitor or any other part. This not only removes the chance of shorting out your electronics, but a darkened screen also makes it easier to see any dust, dirt, or smudges.

Once you have the proper cleaning fluid and cloth, never spray your cleaner directly onto the screen. Instead, dip your cloth into your solution or spray it onto your cloth before wiping.

What You Need to Clean Your Screen

The best gaming monitor deserves the best cleaning materials. If dust is the only issue, a blast of typical compressed air should do the trick; this can be used to safely remove dust from your fan system, as well. However, if your monitor is smudged, you probably need more than a blast of compressed air.

When cleaning your gaming monitor, it's best to use either pre-made monitor wipes or a microfiber cloth. According to Washington University, microfiber cloths contain more than 200,000 fibers per square inch of fabric, and these synthetic fibers are split many times finer than a human hair. They are naturally antimicrobial due to their ability to pick up the tiniest particles. A clean microfiber cloth will not scratch or damage your monitor or display screen.

Microfiber cloths hold many times their weight in liquid, as well. This means just dampening the cloth with a small amount of distilled water is enough to carefully clean any dirt or greasy smudges off of your monitor, without worry about drips or splashes. Always use distilled water and not water from your tap. The minerals in tap water can damage your display.

If you have especially tough or greasy smears and smudges, you can make a cleaning solution of half distilled water and half white vinegar. Dip your microfiber cloth in the solution or spray the mixture onto the cloth to dampen only slightly before carefully wiping off your screen.

How to Clean Your Gaming Monitor

Once you have your clean microfiber cloth dampened with distilled water or a mixture of white vinegar and distilled water, carefully wipe your screen in light, sweeping, up and down or back and forth motions. Avoid scrubbing or wiping in circular motions. This can cause discoloration in your screen.

Once your gaming monitor is dust and smudge-free, you should immediately dry it. Never leave any moisture on your screen. You can dry your monitor with a blast of compressed air, or with another clean, dry, microfiber cloth. Always be sure that any microfiber cloth you use on your monitor is completely clean and free of any particles that could cause scratches.

Touchscreens need to be cleaned more frequently than other monitors due to the fact that they are constantly being touched by fingertips, which are naturally oily (even when we aren't eating chips and popcorn while gaming). Use the same method of wiping with a clean microfiber cloth dampened with distilled water and white vinegar to clean away smudges from a touchscreen.

Once your screen is clean, you can enjoy the full dynamic range, vibrant colors, and crisp contrast that comes with the visuals displayed on the best gaming monitor.

Resources— PCGamer, CleanUpHome, PCWorld

About The Author

Coleen Figner (924 Articles Published)

I am a mother of four and a freelance writer. I'm also the author of the novel, "The Harbinger," by Coleen Figner, now available on Kindle eBook. I have spent most of my life in the historical town of Micanopy, Florida. I spend quality time engaged in social media and I've used online research platforms extensively both for writing and for shopping research. Unlike most women, I hate malls and department stores. I do the bulk of my shopping online. I love the idea of a platform doing the research and comparison work to make online shopping easier for consumers. ReviewThis has given me the opportunity to engage in online shopping research even when I'm not doing the buying! (Though I've been known to splurge on some of the top-rated products for myself.)