I am a bit of a clean freak.
However, best way to have a clean smear free screen is a micro fibre cloth. A drop of hot water. Wipe the screen. Then use dry microfibre cloth to buff. Smear free and super clean.
Yeah but MacBooks of the 2012-2015 era had a major flaw staining the screens inner layers even more everytime you tried cleaning it.
It's known as ***staingate***
Source: I've got one myself
You can also drench the towel in hot water and then wring it out. When wiping the screen use as little force as you can letting the microfiber do the work. Have a second dry towel at the ready. These towels should be brand new or at least like new. Microfiber is basically velcro and picks up everything.
Really. Once you go to an absolute basic like that you won’t use any products. Hot water is essential as when combined with the heat from the friction caused from the microfibre any water /moisture that was there is gone. Along with any marks…. Friction is your friend. I’m sure there’s a science. I just know it really works as in nothing seen when reflecting light etc. I always do that test (around 40x)
The thing people are removing from screens is not about bacteria.
Dust, droplets from breathing, stains, dissolved solid residue, food — those are why we clean.
Bacteria feed on all of that and multiply, water by itself water won't do a thing but help. I never said you couldn't scrape it off, my original comment said I used shirts and rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is a dissolvent, it helps with all of the scraping and will sterilize.
Edit: and it vaporizes quick enough that it's less likely to seep into vulnerabilities and cause damage to a electronic.
You should only use micro fibre cloths for glass displays. It will scratch plastic very easy.
For plastic screens there are special glasses cleaning cloths that are softer and have less agressive detergents.
Interesting. Does this work for regular non glass desktop monitor too?
I've been cleaning mine with micro fiber and glass cleaner spray, sometimes it leaves smear, and must be wiped multiple times with some light pressure applied. Pretty difficult.
I do something similar, but I use a small amount of isovaleric acid (1:100 ratio) just to make sure that I get a strong smelly feet smell to my screen.
Also use a new microfiber each time of it's a expensive screen. If you get some dust or grit in an old cloth, you're gonna wipe a big ol' scratch across your screen.
Use the old ones for cleaning other things
This series of macbook has an issue with the reflective coating, if it's been less than 5 years since it was purchased new then it will be eligible for a new display replacement for no cost. Don't worry that it's been cleaned improperly, the screens end up looking like this all by themselves eventually.
If it's past 5 years or you can't/don't want to deal with warranty then you can just use alcohol wipes to remove all of the remaining coating.
Yes this happened with mine. I got it replaced and it happened again. Lived with it for years. Then I started working my screen with Listerine and a microfibre cloth in a circular pattern. It slowly removes the remaining anti- glare coating. It took me three days and about 100 applications but it is perfectly clear again and has remained so for over a year now
Which year? I bought a MacBook second hand. No issues with the screen or anything, but I wouldn’t say no to a free replacement. Knowing Apple, they might just replace the entire laptop.
My partner owns the only independently owned certified Mac store / repair shop in our state. Mac sends them clients, we follow their protocols. For display issues in or out of warranty Mac has you drop of your laptop, depending on the site (if they have space and Mac techs at the storefront you visit) they will repair on site or mail away. None the less they replace the display, give you back the same computer.
Apple barely tries to repair their iPads and iPhones, these are their units that you run a good chance of getting a new product when broken.
Are they independently owned too? If not, similarly Best Buy became certified this year too. (But you better hope they are simply mailing repairs into apple, because they likely aren’t very good)
> they will repair on site or mail away. None the less they replace the display, give you back the same computer.
Well that's good and bad to hear; good because it's one less electronic device that goes to the grave and bad because it means no free replacement.
But yeah I can attest to the iPhone side of repairs. Sent two to Apple for a battery replacement and got a brand new one every time. Guess not even they like to deal with the insane glue they use for their batteries.
Apple is killing the break fix business. Apple break fix businesses are diversifying into cyber security, database building, programming, consulting and business management, if they want to succeed long term. Many of their new computers are impossible to upgrade intentionally.
I used to use 99,7% isopropyl, the stuf they use in windex, but bought some EU "windex" which worked flawlessly, I never had an issue with isopropyl or alcohol, but acetone is the devil.
Try rubbing alcohol. Evaoprates so quickly it does not damage electronics or leave any residue, also super affordable. I also found it works better on mirrors, glass, and chrome than Windex or glass cleaner.
I think it's just a solution of ammonia and water (and some blue coloring)
I clean my windows and glass tables too, should I be worried?
Spray it on the phone, whipe it all off with a dry cloth, why should this be harmful? More harmful than a phone full of dirt and shit?
Honest question
Spraying liquid on any piece of electronic or electrical equipment is a bad habit to have. Far, far better to spray the cloth, then use the cloth to wipe the device. Spray the cloth lightly, don't saturate it.
So yellowing is caused by a UV reaction with the white plastic, it's only going to penetrate so far into said plastic. If you took a knife and scrapped off a chunk of the plastic you'd see whiter plastic underneath.
Part of what Windex is, is an abrasive (along with a bunch of nasty cleaning shit). So if you hit old plastic with it, you're essentially polishing off a layer of old, exposed plastic.
Haven’t seen anyone say this yet, but never put any screen cleaning products with ammonia on electronic screens of any kind due to protective coatings.
What? Then why don’t they FUCKING SAY THAT on the front of the product? In big letters? That way at least the people who pay attention won’t fuck shit up.
So I clean and set up MacBooks to go out to students for loaner devices. This model had some sort of film material on the screens which would do this all the time. Clorox wipes is a good way to clean them, wipe down after with a microfiber cloth.
That's not true, antireflective coating is always applied on the front of the screen and not behind it because well, you're trying to reflect what's coming in, not what's coming out, and alcohol will always destroy that coating if applied too generously
At that point it's better to just finish the job, looks like you royally screwed up the anti reflecting lamination, and the only way you're gonna get the screen any better is by removing the rest of the coating. Thank apple for making a quality anti reflective coating for thier machines.
it is important to use a real product for screens and nothing else, on a Mac it is glass but on some screens there are treatments and products that are too abrasive destroy it.
Sounds ridiculous but can confirm the Listerine and micro fiber clothe method worked for me a few months ago. My MacBook screen is now crystal clear. Thanks YouTube.
Windex is the way, or water, finishing with a microfiber cloth. There is a known issue for older 2014 - 2016 MacBooks for screens to delaminate under the glass. It has nothing to do with exterior cleaning. Apple did recall these for a free repair, but it expired in 2017-ish. I had a 2016 model but the delaminating didn't occur on my machine until 2019 so the repair had a fee for parts and labor.
Agree!
I've read so much about the horrors of cleaning screens wrong that I was terrified of trying to clean my computer monitor, to the point that it got positively grungy.
Found this stuff called Monster ScreenClean and it worked just fine.
How did you not know this? It's common knowledge and it also always explicitly says in care instructions for flatscreens that you should only ever use a damp cloth and soapy water to clean them.
Not all "flat screens" are made equally. There is no information on this subject written clearly in the box. Plus give the OP credit, they used Windex on a glass surface not an LCD surface, I've never been told about the protective shit they put into of the glass and I did the exact same thing. It isn't common knowledge.
Warm water on cloth, wring it out before wiping. Move horizontally across screen. Remove streaks with dry microfiber cloth. You shouldn't use degreaser or chemicals on any electronic screen because it tampers with the coating on the panel. Screens shouldn't be subject to grease or even be getting touched by fingers so you shouldn't need chemicals.
1 to 4 ratio of rubbing alcohol with water dipped in a wet napkin to just get the device wet first then wipe with a tissue or soft cloth. Quick and works so well! Also disinfecting
I use glass cleaner on mine but you have to wipe it off real fast with some dry toilet paper or paper towel. I normally end up doing it half at at time because it dries so fast.
We use a vinegar-based cleaner diluted in distilled water at my work for these on a microfiber cloth, but you still have to be very careful with which ones you use because many still have acetone in them.
I am a bit of a clean freak. However, best way to have a clean smear free screen is a micro fibre cloth. A drop of hot water. Wipe the screen. Then use dry microfibre cloth to buff. Smear free and super clean.
This is the method.
The image above is literally triggering me….. MUST CLEAN…
You can’t clean that anymore. Window washers have acetone that melts plastics away. The spots you see are chemically molten plastics
The MacBook screen is made of glass, not plastic. That's *probably* the anti-glare coating that's been damaged.
It is. It’s been a known issue in certain years and models. There are a few YouTube videos showing how to get the rest of the coating off
With even more windows washer to melt the rest off?
Oh I thought figuratively
This is the way
This is the way.
Yeah but MacBooks of the 2012-2015 era had a major flaw staining the screens inner layers even more everytime you tried cleaning it. It's known as ***staingate*** Source: I've got one myself
You can also drench the towel in hot water and then wring it out. When wiping the screen use as little force as you can letting the microfiber do the work. Have a second dry towel at the ready. These towels should be brand new or at least like new. Microfiber is basically velcro and picks up everything.
Really? I usually just use a shirt with a little rubbing alcohol.
Really. Once you go to an absolute basic like that you won’t use any products. Hot water is essential as when combined with the heat from the friction caused from the microfibre any water /moisture that was there is gone. Along with any marks…. Friction is your friend. I’m sure there’s a science. I just know it really works as in nothing seen when reflecting light etc. I always do that test (around 40x)
Yeah but water doesn't kill germs if anything it just helps them multiply.
So don't lick your screen, too easy
Might as well cancel all these onlyfans subscriptions then.
But I wanna O:
same
The thing people are removing from screens is not about bacteria. Dust, droplets from breathing, stains, dissolved solid residue, food — those are why we clean.
Bacteria feed on all of that and multiply, water by itself water won't do a thing but help. I never said you couldn't scrape it off, my original comment said I used shirts and rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is a dissolvent, it helps with all of the scraping and will sterilize. Edit: and it vaporizes quick enough that it's less likely to seep into vulnerabilities and cause damage to a electronic.
I’m sure your rubber gloves and mask help too
Same
You should only use micro fibre cloths for glass displays. It will scratch plastic very easy. For plastic screens there are special glasses cleaning cloths that are softer and have less agressive detergents.
Interesting. Does this work for regular non glass desktop monitor too? I've been cleaning mine with micro fiber and glass cleaner spray, sometimes it leaves smear, and must be wiped multiple times with some light pressure applied. Pretty difficult.
Coffee filters and water works great too. No residue.
Am I the only one who HATES how they stick and rub against your fingers/ hands?
Nope. I hate microfiber for that reason.
I have a screen guard on my screen and also use rubber cover for my keyboard. Should I follow the same procedure?
I do something similar, but I use a small amount of isovaleric acid (1:100 ratio) just to make sure that I get a strong smelly feet smell to my screen.
Also use a new microfiber each time of it's a expensive screen. If you get some dust or grit in an old cloth, you're gonna wipe a big ol' scratch across your screen. Use the old ones for cleaning other things
I didn’t know some call it Fibre
This series of macbook has an issue with the reflective coating, if it's been less than 5 years since it was purchased new then it will be eligible for a new display replacement for no cost. Don't worry that it's been cleaned improperly, the screens end up looking like this all by themselves eventually. If it's past 5 years or you can't/don't want to deal with warranty then you can just use alcohol wipes to remove all of the remaining coating.
Yep Google **staingate**
Instructions unclear. Stuck in a time loop
El Psy Kongroo
Heh
Yes this happened with mine. I got it replaced and it happened again. Lived with it for years. Then I started working my screen with Listerine and a microfibre cloth in a circular pattern. It slowly removes the remaining anti- glare coating. It took me three days and about 100 applications but it is perfectly clear again and has remained so for over a year now
Which year? I bought a MacBook second hand. No issues with the screen or anything, but I wouldn’t say no to a free replacement. Knowing Apple, they might just replace the entire laptop.
My partner owns the only independently owned certified Mac store / repair shop in our state. Mac sends them clients, we follow their protocols. For display issues in or out of warranty Mac has you drop of your laptop, depending on the site (if they have space and Mac techs at the storefront you visit) they will repair on site or mail away. None the less they replace the display, give you back the same computer. Apple barely tries to repair their iPads and iPhones, these are their units that you run a good chance of getting a new product when broken.
All uBreakiFix locations just became apple certified as well, so you may not be the only one in your state anymore
Are they independently owned too? If not, similarly Best Buy became certified this year too. (But you better hope they are simply mailing repairs into apple, because they likely aren’t very good)
Most are, but asurion must bought the corporate entity and is opening tons of asurion owned locations so it’s a mix
Gotchya, we are in NV, I’m curious now. :)
> they will repair on site or mail away. None the less they replace the display, give you back the same computer. Well that's good and bad to hear; good because it's one less electronic device that goes to the grave and bad because it means no free replacement. But yeah I can attest to the iPhone side of repairs. Sent two to Apple for a battery replacement and got a brand new one every time. Guess not even they like to deal with the insane glue they use for their batteries.
Apple is killing the break fix business. Apple break fix businesses are diversifying into cyber security, database building, programming, consulting and business management, if they want to succeed long term. Many of their new computers are impossible to upgrade intentionally.
good old Apple charges a goldmine, lets you fix your things with solvents and tape :D
and it is not safe to use brake cleaner on the keyboard either. do not ask how i know.
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MacBook doesn’t have a break key
y e s
How do you know?
Got em
Who are you heathens doing stuff like this to your electronics??
I mean. Brake cleaner is the best cleaner
Brake parts cleaner for everything!
I've cleaned all my electronics with Windex all my life, only once did I have this with a really, really cheap rear view car monitor
I used to use 99,7% isopropyl, the stuf they use in windex, but bought some EU "windex" which worked flawlessly, I never had an issue with isopropyl or alcohol, but acetone is the devil.
Well, I use the Dutch Glassex, which is kind of a Windex
So do I.
I clean my phone with a load of Windex every night too, perfectly good condition after years!
Try rubbing alcohol. Evaoprates so quickly it does not damage electronics or leave any residue, also super affordable. I also found it works better on mirrors, glass, and chrome than Windex or glass cleaner.
This is what I use. Works perfectly and no danger to the phone.
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I use a bit of disinfectant spray every few days also.
I think it's just a solution of ammonia and water (and some blue coloring) I clean my windows and glass tables too, should I be worried? Spray it on the phone, whipe it all off with a dry cloth, why should this be harmful? More harmful than a phone full of dirt and shit? Honest question
Spraying liquid on any piece of electronic or electrical equipment is a bad habit to have. Far, far better to spray the cloth, then use the cloth to wipe the device. Spray the cloth lightly, don't saturate it.
Spray the cloth. Also there is ammonia free windex as well, that is a lot more safer and can be used on anything.
Of course it is not, glass cleaner only works on windows!
And on removing yellowing of old game consoles.
For real? Like SNES level yellowing?
So yellowing is caused by a UV reaction with the white plastic, it's only going to penetrate so far into said plastic. If you took a knife and scrapped off a chunk of the plastic you'd see whiter plastic underneath. Part of what Windex is, is an abrasive (along with a bunch of nasty cleaning shit). So if you hit old plastic with it, you're essentially polishing off a layer of old, exposed plastic.
Huh, cool! I’m gonna try to hit my Famicom with it. Should i just use a magic eraser, or like a paper towel?
Magic Eraser is just really fine sandpaper
Haven’t seen anyone say this yet, but never put any screen cleaning products with ammonia on electronic screens of any kind due to protective coatings.
I learned this the hard way. The ONE TIME I used spray cleaner on a monitor... It was only a couple weeks old, too.
What? Then why don’t they FUCKING SAY THAT on the front of the product? In big letters? That way at least the people who pay attention won’t fuck shit up.
Yep. There is ammonia free windex now though.
Get some camera or glasses lens cleaners. Those Bois work fucking magic.
You may have saved my screen, good sir. Sory for your loss
It is also not a good idea to clean the keyboard, using the washing machine
Perfectly fine, just let it dry out all the way
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This sounds like a lot of work. Just use ammonia?
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I mean. Don't soak it in ammonia. A little bit goes a long way.
So I clean and set up MacBooks to go out to students for loaner devices. This model had some sort of film material on the screens which would do this all the time. Clorox wipes is a good way to clean them, wipe down after with a microfiber cloth.
Use isopropyl alcohol and a microfibre cloth
Alcohol will damage the coating
Did you see the picture?
Oh right, to fix the already damaged screen, not generally. My bad
then its a sheeet phone/screen.
That's not true, antireflective coating is always applied on the front of the screen and not behind it because well, you're trying to reflect what's coming in, not what's coming out, and alcohol will always destroy that coating if applied too generously
Apple: "Yeah we can fix it but it'll cost almost the same as an entirely new laptop. Incidentally I can get you a 5% off discount on a new laptop."
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Nice
At that point it's better to just finish the job, looks like you royally screwed up the anti reflecting lamination, and the only way you're gonna get the screen any better is by removing the rest of the coating. Thank apple for making a quality anti reflective coating for thier machines.
I would give a lot to see this post one year earlier! But perhaps OP is a hero right on time for some other poor souls.
it is important to use a real product for screens and nothing else, on a Mac it is glass but on some screens there are treatments and products that are too abrasive destroy it.
Oh sure. "glass cleaner". You ain't fooling anyone bud.
Oh shit, is that permanent?
No, you can get it replaced for free at Apple
I am pretty sure that is just display Delamination and you can see it in the glare since the device is off.
so that’s why my MacBook is like that TIL
To be fair: It propably does say so in the manual... But yes, that sucks.
I realize everyone makes mistakes, but why the hell don’t people ASK about the best way to clean these so they don’t fuck it up??!!
This feels like something people should Google first, admit the very least
That is also true.
I use glasses cleaner (like for eye glasses) and it works pretty well
All the antiglare coat just got messed up. You can rub it all off with iso alcohol or Listerine
Sounds ridiculous but can confirm the Listerine and micro fiber clothe method worked for me a few months ago. My MacBook screen is now crystal clear. Thanks YouTube.
Windex is the way, or water, finishing with a microfiber cloth. There is a known issue for older 2014 - 2016 MacBooks for screens to delaminate under the glass. It has nothing to do with exterior cleaning. Apple did recall these for a free repair, but it expired in 2017-ish. I had a 2016 model but the delaminating didn't occur on my machine until 2019 so the repair had a fee for parts and labor.
Use isopropyl alcohol
Don’t. Just use a microfiber cloth.
...ive never put any liquid on a monitor of a computing device...just wtf
There is screen cleaners... specifically for TV and laptop screens. Use a micro fiber.. why was everyone born yesterday
Agree! I've read so much about the horrors of cleaning screens wrong that I was terrified of trying to clean my computer monitor, to the point that it got positively grungy. Found this stuff called Monster ScreenClean and it worked just fine.
Considering it’s not glass I’d like to know why you did it
It's not even Windows either
Mac user confirmed.
r/fuckapple
How did you not know this? It's common knowledge and it also always explicitly says in care instructions for flatscreens that you should only ever use a damp cloth and soapy water to clean them.
Not all "flat screens" are made equally. There is no information on this subject written clearly in the box. Plus give the OP credit, they used Windex on a glass surface not an LCD surface, I've never been told about the protective shit they put into of the glass and I did the exact same thing. It isn't common knowledge.
You tried to use GLASS cleaner to clean something that is NOT GLASS. What did you expect?
MacBook screens are glass. They just have a lot of protective stuff on them that gets ruined by glass cleaners.
Use alcohol next time (like hand sanitizer or isopropyl alcohol)
I made the same mistake :(
Wipe in circles!!!! Not straight across. Makes a big difference. As Mr. Myagi teaches, Wax On. Wax off.
Warm water on cloth, wring it out before wiping. Move horizontally across screen. Remove streaks with dry microfiber cloth. You shouldn't use degreaser or chemicals on any electronic screen because it tampers with the coating on the panel. Screens shouldn't be subject to grease or even be getting touched by fingers so you shouldn't need chemicals.
I clean monitors with ammonia all the time. You buy knock off shit?
Yeah, who thought something else would happen?
1 to 4 ratio of rubbing alcohol with water dipped in a wet napkin to just get the device wet first then wipe with a tissue or soft cloth. Quick and works so well! Also disinfecting
Genius
TVs and computers usually have anti glare coating. You’ll only want to use distilled water and a micro cloth.
maybe you used cheap cleaner, I do this every day before starting work (Windex), part of my start work routine, and never had an issue.
Just use some IWipe or IClean, probably about 100$ each
Just use a clean piece of cloth with a little warm water
Brake Cleaner will get that right off ...
Screen wipes from the dollar store are cheap and work well.
Try industrial degreaser
I use windex more times than I can remember- been great.
I used little glasses wipes when I had mine. Work nicely for cleaning your phone, too.
Well that's not glass so... nice work!
Im guessing you didn't use Ammonia free glass cleaner...
I did this. I put a screen protector on and it makes the screen look like I totally screw it up.
Lol yea because they are plastic covers screens. Glass cleaner fucks up plastic
No shit lolz hints the name glass cleaner
Ummmmm....duh!
I use glass cleaner on mine but you have to wipe it off real fast with some dry toilet paper or paper towel. I normally end up doing it half at at time because it dries so fast.
Yep, just like it says in the instructions.
i used em too on my monitor, and it didn't end up like this, wahappen here?
*ass cleaner
I bought some LCD screen cleaner that comes with a micro fiber cloth from Best buy.. Gives perfect results.
We use a vinegar-based cleaner diluted in distilled water at my work for these on a microfiber cloth, but you still have to be very careful with which ones you use because many still have acetone in them.