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This is Why You Shouldn't Clean Your HDTV with Windex

gizmodo.com — See what happened when some poor schmo sprayed Windex (or any other cleaner) directly onto his flat-panel.

Who dugg this? Made popular Apr 12, 2007

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183 Comments

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  • unibomber999, on 10/12/2007, -2/+259virgins' tears and feathers plucked from angel wings work well for me.
  • nixonrichard, on 10/12/2007, -6/+150Or just dust it. Unless you have little kids you really shouldn't ever see "fingerprints and smudges." There's never really ever a reason why people would touch a TV screen, and unless you open a pressurized ketchup bottle you don't have to worry about spills on a vertical surface. Seriously, how are people getting this much filth on their screens?!
  • Mootabolife, on 10/12/2007, -4/+93I rip off the finger that leaves a mark on my TV, that usually teaches pretty fast. In all honesty, I use my sunglass bag and clear off anything pesky.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -6/+71I'm always spilling liquids down the front of my HDTV so I'm accustom to dealing with this pesky problem.

    One nice solution I use is to pop the tv into the oven (screen side up, of course!) and bake at 350ยบ for 45min. That's plenty hot to evaporate out any residual fluids and assists in re-glazing the polymer coating to increase total lifespan. Be careful taking it out though -- IT IS HOT! Make sure it cools on your window sill for at least an hour before handling and keep an eye out for any pesk HDTV snitching hobos!

    Enjoy!
  • Tbone0n74, on 10/12/2007, -1/+59Actually, there was a similar story on dltv weeks ago, but it wasn't this one. I know, because I'm the one that wrote into dltv about my tv. To make a long story short, my 3-year old son had watched my wife clean several glass tables with Windex to remove fingerprints. He was up in my nice home theater watching a Barney DVD (hey, why not, have you heard the I Love You song in 5.1?!?) and he got some fingerprints on the TV after hugging Barney. He decided to take matters into his own hands and went and got the Windex and basically emptied the ENTIRE bottle onto the 65" HDTV! Needless to say, he fried 2 of the 3 circuit boards and left a NASTY stain on the front of the TV. I emailed Patrick Norton and Robert Heron to find out if there was any way to remove the stain... well, no such luck. I still have the stain, and after much therapy, I still have my son, too.
  • bobpaul, on 10/12/2007, -5/+62I wouldn't recommend the Monster brand of anything. Ever cut one of their $50 RF cables open? Braided core!! no good...
  • tuxidomasx, on 10/12/2007, -2/+58what, like spray the windex solution from inside his TV back into the windex bottle?
  • sjbdallas, on 10/12/2007, -2/+50wear a condom
  • dsendecki, on 10/12/2007, -3/+50By the same company that does Monster Cables? In that case, Monster cleaner probably costs ~US$245.00.
  • cinnix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+45I heard there was a cheat code.
    [Channel up] + [Volume Down] + [Mute] + [16:9] then standby.
  • pedo, on 10/12/2007, -5/+50spray onto the paper towel, not onto the screen. and don't use too much.... common sense, people..
  • SillyRabbits, on 10/12/2007, -2/+43@walkingdogs

    Please don't spread false rumors. Alcohol does not eat through LCD's and is perfectly safe to use. Are you a distributor for Monster products by chance? Next are you going to tell us that using non-Monster cables will damage my speakers?
  • Mipit, on 10/12/2007, -9/+47Use a 40% alcohol 60% Water solution and a soft if not microfiber cloth to clean LCDs.
  • diggsIt, on 10/12/2007, -4/+39Reinstall Windows.
  • TimmyGUNZ, on 10/12/2007, -3/+38Monster makes cleaner? Is it water and a cheap cloth for the bargain price of $89.99?
  • bradleyland, on 10/12/2007, -0/+31In the photo shown in the article, the damage wasn't cased by the solvent, it was caused by the fact that the retard let it drip down to the bottom of the screen where it was sucked up into the screen by capillary action. If you spray anything on to your projection TV you risk this occurring, even with plain water.

    The safest way to clean is with a (barely) damp microfiber cloth first, then wipe with a dry microfiber cloth. There's a place called PakShak that sells microfiber cloths on the cheap for car detailing.

    http://www.pakshak.com/ultra-plush-micro-fiber-towel-16x16-1.html

    $4.50 x 2 to safeguard your $2000 investment. Go ahead, it's worthwhile.
  • PleaseBeSerious, on 10/12/2007, -1/+31Grab the tv at the top and spin around as fast as you can until the liquid makes its way back out via G forces.
  • Mirag3, on 10/12/2007, -1/+28Everyone read tbone's comment. See? That's why you always use protection.
  • TroubleInMind, on 10/12/2007, -0/+22Paper towels are scratchy. Not good. Use a clean lint-free cloth.

    If you don't wanna use microfiber (cheap as hell, you can get 12 at Costco for like eight bucks) a clean T-shirt or sweat sock is better than a paper towel.
  • XistenZ, on 10/12/2007, -2/+24Paper = trees = wood, It may feel soft but I wouldn't use it on any soft screen.
  • dickybrown, on 10/12/2007, -3/+21same as the cables - they're actually just regular baby wipes that they slap a sticker on and mark up 400%
  • RetroRufio, on 10/12/2007, -2/+20It may sound crazy, but weak tape (e.g. clear Scotch tape) works perfectly to remove small blemishes like finger prints. It lifts grease, oil, and dust without damaging the surface.
  • SkittlesUSA, on 10/12/2007, -3/+20"Or yell at anyone that comes too close to your TV"

    Works for me...
  • Kickersny, on 10/12/2007, -2/+17Dishwasher.
  • robotsongs, on 10/12/2007, -3/+16I thought it was:

    Channel Up, Channel Up, Channel Down, Channel Down, Volume Down, Volume Up, Volume Down, Volume Up, Guide, Mute, Enter.


    .... or was that something else?
  • danknerd, on 10/12/2007, -3/+16To clean my Sammy DLP I take it outside and rinse it of with the garden house and then dry with the leaf blower... works like a charm!
  • bradleyland, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14I know what you said is a joke, but you risk having someone take you seriously. DO NOT use acetone based solvents on plastics. It will melt the plastic.
  • sjbdallas, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Seems to me the reall problem is that the guy used SO MUCH windex to clean his screen. Like everyone is saying: use a microfiber cloth and water or some other cleaner. Either way don't squirt a quart of anything on the screen and let it run down.
  • ThatsUnpossible, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11If your dog has a soft chewtoy that he sucks on and ever starts shaking it around ... you will need to clean your TV screen a lot.

    Live and learn.
  • mal1964, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13clean your eye glasses
  • LanceHardenburg, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12Are you referencing the half pipe shape on the bottom of the tv or are you just odd?
  • slyguy63, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11Why would you spray so much Windex on your DLP that it would drip down to the bottom of the screen? Spray the cloth with a little Windex, that's what I do. Anyone else?
  • reevolutn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9what the hell is a manual?
  • turpenine, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9lol@diggsit.

    seriously, use a micro-fiber cloth, not too much liquid of any kind, water is awesome.
  • plastek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8My laptop screen is filthy. Any suggestions on cleaning it?
  • Msoltanian, on 10/12/2007, -7/+15This was shown on DL.TV podcast a few episodes back.
  • trippinlikegod, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Swiffer pads.. not the wet ones... LCD/Plasma's will never look cleaner. Try it. Srsly.
  • dickeytk, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8haha best replies on this board ^^^^
  • KidVicious, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8'Or just dust it. Unless you have little kids you really shouldn't ever see "fingerprints and smudges."'

    The parent comment was about LCDs in general. Sneezing or coughing while in front of your computer can give you a cause to clean it instead of just dusting.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7It's the thought that counts. My condolences for the TV.
  • profOblivion, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Yep, the term you're looking for is "capillary action", and it's caused by the surface tension in the liquid. "Capillary" by itself is an anatomical term for certain tiny blood vessels which function using capillary action.

    EDIT: hawoops, I commented before you edited.
  • ricepudd, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10Be thankful it was only the TV that was destroyed... if my young son had got hold of a bottle of glass cleaner, he would have drunk it rather than waste it on a TV!
    Cupboard child locks are a great invention!
  • Iwantawii, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5get the spray bottle cursor and click on the dirty spots
  • Sambone67, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8Delete your porn.
  • Jook, on 10/12/2007, -7/+12Water water water, ONLY. LCD's and plasma's have a membrane covering the actual panel surface. Cleaning this with anything ammonia or alcohol based will cause this particular surface to crack. Both alcohol and ammonia are known for displacing moisture and can cause any porous surface treated with them to dry and discolor or crack.
  • quentinp, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Another tip: don't leave a spray can of febreeze in the general vicinity of a three year old and your HDTV :(
  • SuperJimmyJimbo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4someone is about to make a trip to Cosco's returns dept.
  • joe361, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Don't use water unless it's distilled and don't use a paper based product.
  • LaueOfficer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4***** off you monster *****.
  • BlueIris, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I repair televisions for a living and am amazed at how many people ruin their screens by using windex or other cleaning products that contain ammonia. I always recommend a micro fiber cloth even though paper towels work just fine, and just a little bit of plain water works good. Always wet the cloth first so it does not drip into the electronics below. Monster kits work good but they are overpriced like most of their products.
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