Electronic screens get pretty grimy from day-to-day use. From greasy fingerprints to dust and dirt, our screens can collect distracting and unsightly smudges. A screen cleaner can help clean delicate and expensive devices. Screen cleaners safely clean your device without damaging the screen or protective coating.
The best screen cleaners get rid of fingerprints, dust, and other grime. They remove smudges and oils without leaving streaks or residue behind. From sprays, wipes, dry cloths, and more, these recommendations may help you find the best screen cleaner for your needs.
- BEST OVERALL: WHOOSH! Screen Cleaner Kit
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Calyptus Screen Cleaner Spray Kit
- BEST SPRAY KIT: Tech Armor 120 ML Pro Cleaning Kit
- BEST PORTABLE WIPES: ZEISS Mobile screen wipes 30ct Pouch
- BEST MICROFIBER CLOTH: MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
- BEST FOR KEYBOARD: OXO Good Grips Sweep & Swipe Laptop Cleaner
- BEST FOR VR HEADSETS: Nikon 7072 Lens Pen Cleaning System
- BEST FOR TRAVEL: i-ScreenClean 3-Pack Touch Screen Cleaners
What to Look for When Buying the Best Screen Cleaner
Electronic devices have different screen materials and protective coatings, so it’s best to check the manufacturer’s recommendations when choosing a screen cleaner. In general, steer clear of abrasive cleaners or harsh chemicals. Using the wrong cleaner can cause cloudy patches, scratches, or other damage. The best screen cleaners won’t damage your screen’s anti-glare, waterproof, or fingerprint-resistant coating.
Size/Volume of the Screen Cleaner
Screen cleaners come in a range of sizes and formats, from travel-size wipes to large spray bottles. Consider the size of the device you clean most often. A small wipe might be the right size to clean a phone screen but much too small to clean a flat-screen TV, whereas microfiber cloths are generally an appropriate size for most devices.
Portability is another aspect to consider. If you clean your screens on-the-go or want a space-saving option to keep at work, look for compact or individually wrapped products. There are also travel-size options that are ideal for slipping into a carry-on, work bag, or purse.
Ingredients
It’s best to steer clear of harsh ingredients that can damage delicate screen coatings. Cleaning ingredients like ammonia and bleach can damage anti-glare, waterproof, or fingerprint-resistant coatings. Household cleaning sprays (including Windex) are not formulated for electronic screens.
You can easily avoid this problem by choosing a properly formulated screen cleaner. Alcohol-free and ammonia-free cleaners are preferable. However, some electronics manufacturers approve the use of alcohol products for occasional disinfection. But for regular cleaning of fingerprints and smudges, it’s best to reach for a gentler screen cleaner.
Scent
Screen cleaners come in unscented or scented versions. Physical cleaners, like microfiber cloths and dust brushes, are unscented. For those who have fragrance allergies or sensitivities, physical screen cleaners are an ideal choice.
Many sprays and wipes don’t have added fragrance, but like any cleaning solution, they have a scent from the ingredients. The smell will usually dissipate quickly after cleaning.
There are also a handful of scented options available. These can impart fresh scents like mint or calming scents like lavender. A pleasant scent can make cleaning your device feel more enjoyable and leave your device smelling fresh.
Cloth
Screen cleaning cloths come in a variety of different materials and sizes. The important features to look for are soft, nonabrasive, and lint-free materials. Microfiber is a popular choice, but there are also suede and other smooth, nonabrasive options.
Some cloths can be used with or without sprays. They can come in a range of sizes, in multipacks, or as cleaning pads or tools, which some find easier to hold.
It is best to avoid all-purpose cloths, rags, paper towels, and other abrasive fabrics. Although these may feel soft to the touch, they can have a rough texture that can scratch or damage your screens. It’s best to keep a designated screen cleaning cloth. This prevents the cloth from picking up sharp debris that can damage the screen.
Our Top Picks
Grimy, dusty, and fingerprint-coated device screens can be annoying and unsightly. But don’t just reach for any old cleaner, as improper cleaning can cause clouding, scratches, and damage. The following screen-safe cleaners are designed for safe and effective cleaning. They remove dirt and oils without damaging the screen or protective coating.
Photo: amazon.com
As the chosen screen cleaners in Apple stores worldwide, WHOOSH! works on all electronic devices, from smartphones to TVs. This kit includes three microfiber cleaning cloths and two Screen Shine cleaning sprays. One spray is a large 3.4-ounce size and the second a 0.3-ounce travel size. The travel-size spray is the ideal for sliding into a work bag or carry-on. These Screen Shine sprays are designed to make your device screens shine with a streak-free clean, almost like new.
The sprays are manufactured in North America and are free from alcohol, ammonia, dye, and fragrance. The microfiber cloths are treated with an antimicrobial agent to prevent odor. The clothes can be washed up to 50 times and still maintain their softness and streak-free clean, as long as you do not use a fabric softener or put them in the dryer.
Photo: amazon.com
This affordable screen cleaning set from Calyptus includes two 4-ounce screen sprays and two 8-inch by 8-inch cleaning cloths. With 8 ounces of spray total, there is plenty of cleaner to wipe down all your devices with this complete kit. The powerful, plant-based cleaning spray is safe for all screens, from phones to 4K, OLED, and LED TV screens. The spray is natural, nontoxic, and fragrance-free.
The two Calyptus Pixel Shining Cloths are made of microfiber and are antistatic, low-friction, and lint-free. They offer a streak-free clean with no residue. These large cloths make this set a good pick for cleaning devices like computer and television screens, too.
Photo: amazon.com
The complete Pro Cleaning Kit from Tech Armor includes an array of screen cleaning products. This kit includes two TechClean Gel Screen cleaner sprays, 20 cleansing wipes, and two microfiber cloths. The sprays come in one 2-ounce size and one 4-ounce size. The variety of products allows you to keep your screen clean at home or on the go.
The products in this kit are free from alcohol and ammonia. They are safe for all electronic screens, including LCD, LED, AMOLED, Retina displays, and more. The spray and wipes contain Tech Armor’s TechClean Purify Go formula. This formula cleans screens and leaves a clear-coat finish, which makes your screens smoother to the touch.
Photo: amazon.com
Pioneering optics manufacturer ZEISS has spent over 170 years learning about lenses and how to clean them. They channeled their experience into creating these effective and gentle mobile screen wipes. Their safe but powerful formula removes dirt, fingerprints, and grease without damaging your screen. The wipes are premoistened and quick drying.
Each wipe is individually wrapped to stay moist. They are small and portable to offer a deep clean anytime and anywhere. While they are well suited for travel, the wipes can also be used at home on computer screens, tablets, and TVs. These useful wipes leave a smudge-free and streak-free finish.
Photo: amazon.com
MagicFiber’s ultrasoft cleaning cloths are made from high-quality microfiber material. The fibers are 200 times thinner than a human hair. The thin fibers create more cleaning surface area than regular cloth fibers. This ultrafine material absorbs and removes oils, dust, and dirt, without the need for extra cleaners.
This two-pack of microfiber cloths is affordable and versatile. Each cloth measures 6 inches by 7 inches. They are safe to use on any screen, from phones to TVs, and leave no streaks, lint, or scratches behind. To keep the cloths as good as new, each pack of MagicFiber cloths includes a polybag for storage and protection. Each cloth is washable and reusable for long-lasting cleaning.
Photo: amazon.com
This nifty device from OXO is useful for keeping your computer clean. The double-sided tool includes a microfiber pad on one end and a soft brush on the other. The microfiber pad is ideal for cleaning fingerprints, smudges, and grime from screens. On the other end, the soft brush sweeps away loose dirt and dust from keyboards.
The brush is retractable, and the microfiber pad includes a cover to keep it protected when not in use. When the brush is retracted, this handy tool measures 2.75 inches by 2.75 inches. The small size makes it a well-suited option to take to work or while traveling. While it is designed for laptops, it can also be used on a range of electronics, including phones and tablets.
Photo: amazon.com
This lens pen from Nikon can help clean inside the nooks and crannies of a VR headset. Originally designed for delicate camera lenses, this lens pen safely removes oils, dust, and other debris. It’s gentle enough to use on a range of optical products. The dual-sided device includes a cleaning tip with a nonliquid cleaning compound. The compound is on a chamois tip to effectively clean away smudges. The other end is a soft retractable brush that sweeps away dust and debris. The cleaning tip cap and retractable brush ensure each end is protected during storage.
The narrow pen design can help with detailed and gentle cleaning of the lens of a VR headset. The small cleaning tip allows you to reach spots that may be tough to clean with a regular microfiber cloth or cleaning wipe.
Photo: amazon.com
These handy screen cleaner balls are a convenient choice to bring on the road. With no liquids or multi-item steps, these screen cleaners are a simple solution for travelers. Each ball has a terry cloth side and a microfiber side. The terry cloth side removes dust and fingerprints. The finer microfiber side removes stubborn smudges and marks. There are no sprays or other cleaners needed; just wipe the soft cleaner ball across the screen.
These screen cleaners work on any device, but the small size makes them ideal for phones, tablets, and laptops. The package includes three screen cleaners (two small and one medium) and a keychain attachment. The liquid-free cleaning and optional keychain make these ball screen cleaners especially convenient for traveling.
FAQs About Screen Cleaners
Screen cleaners are a simple and affordable way to keep your devices free from fingerprints, dust, and smudges. They offer an effective clean without damaging the fragile screen or screen coating. A proper screen cleaning method can prolong your device screen lifespan and keep it looking like new. Here are a few questions to consider when using a screen cleaner.
Q. Are disinfecting wipes safe for cleaning screens?
It is best to check with the device manufacturer to confirm which options are safe for your device. Some disinfecting wipes may be safe to use, but it’s not wise to assume they all are.
Q. What is screen cleaner made of?
Liquid screen cleaners are water-based and often include a surfactant to remove smudges from screens. Fabric screen cleaners are most commonly made of microfiber.
Q. How do you properly clean a screen with screen cleaner?
Cleaning wipes, dry cloths, and other cleaning devices can be used alone to gently wipe the screen. If using a spray cleaner, spray the solution on a screen cleaning cloth and then wipe the screen.
Q. Can you use vinegar to clean a computer screen?
Vinegar may cause damage to some protective screen coatings. Unlike with household chores, like scrubbing surfaces and window screens, it is best to avoid vinegar on electronic screens.
Q. What should you avoid when cleaning an LCD screen?
Avoid harsh chemicals like ammonia and alcohol when cleaning delicate LCD screens. Also, avoid using abrasive cloths. It is best to use a soft, lint-free cloth (like a microfiber cloth).
Q. How do you ensure that you don’t leave streaks after cleaning a screen?
If using a liquid cleaner, ensure that the cloth or wipe is not too wet. A dry microfiber cloth can be used after the initial clean to gently polish out any streaks.
