Cleaning screens

[Jack Zeal]

Okay, it's a little weird.

I have a refurb Dell P991 (IIRC) monitor (19", flat trinitron). It has
a weird oily looking dirt on it which won't come off.

I note every other monitor like it I've seen (my local college has
dozens) also has it. It's largely only visible when the monitor's
powered down. It smears around when you try and clean it.

What doesn't work:

-Dish soap (tiny bit in water)
-Alcohol diluted
-Eyeglass cleaner

What else is reccomended?

 

[Harvey]

Okay, it's a little weird.

I have a refurb Dell P991 (IIRC) monitor (19", flat trinitron). It has a
weird oily looking dirt on it which won't come off.

I note every other monitor like it I've seen (my local college has dozens)
also has it. It's largely only visible when the monitor's powered down.
It smears around when you try and clean it.

What doesn't work:

-Dish soap (tiny bit in water)
-Alcohol diluted
-Eyeglass cleaner

What else is reccomended?

It's probably what's left of the anti-reflection coating; I've seen similar
things where people have used solvents to clean the screen and it dissolves
whatever was used to stick this coating on, leaving rainbow patterns and
strange smears on the screen.

As to what will remove these deposits.. I've no idea. Things that don't work
include: Windex-type window cleaner, Electrolube solvent cleaner(s), Inkjet
nozzle cleaner (acetone?) and 'breathing on it and giving it a good polish'.

 

[tlbs]

A product called Goof-Off (mostly xylene) is about the best general
purpose solvent I know -- better than acetone.

 

[NSM]

Okay, it's a little weird.

I have a refurb Dell P991 (IIRC) monitor (19", flat trinitron). It has
a weird oily looking dirt on it which won't come off.

I note every other monitor like it I've seen (my local college has
dozens) also has it. It's largely only visible when the monitor's
powered down. It smears around when you try and clean it.

What doesn't work:

-Dish soap (tiny bit in water)
-Alcohol diluted
-Eyeglass cleaner

What else is recommended?

Kerosene (coal oil). Lay it on it's back, dampen a paper towel with kerosene
and leave it flat on there for a while. Keep it off the plastic if you can.

 

[Andrew Rossmann]

[This followup was posted to sci.electronics.repair and a copy was sent
to the cited author.]

Okay, it's a little weird.

I have a refurb Dell P991 (IIRC) monitor (19", flat trinitron). It has
a weird oily looking dirt on it which won't come off.

I note every other monitor like it I've seen (my local college has
dozens) also has it. It's largely only visible when the monitor's
powered down. It smears around when you try and clean it.

Is it purply/green looking? If so, that is actually the anti-glare
coating. Unless it affects the picture when the monitor is on, I
wouldn't worry about it. They are VERY sensitive to fingerprints,
though.

 

[Jerry G.]

People must have been putting their fingers on the screen surface, thus
damaging the coating.

When people come over to my place, or where I work, I warn them to not touch
the screen, unless they are interested in replacing it for me.

I have a sign on the top of my monitors, "NEVER Touch The Screen Surface, Or
Your Knuckles Will Be Broken".

--

Jerry G.
=====

Okay, it's a little weird.

I have a refurb Dell P991 (IIRC) monitor (19", flat trinitron). It has
a weird oily looking dirt on it which won't come off.

I note every other monitor like it I've seen (my local college has
dozens) also has it. It's largely only visible when the monitor's
powered down. It smears around when you try and clean it.

What doesn't work:

-Dish soap (tiny bit in water)
-Alcohol diluted
-Eyeglass cleaner

What else is reccomended?

 

[James Sweet]

Okay, it's a little weird.

I have a refurb Dell P991 (IIRC) monitor (19", flat trinitron). It has
a weird oily looking dirt on it which won't come off.

I note every other monitor like it I've seen (my local college has
dozens) also has it. It's largely only visible when the monitor's
powered down. It smears around when you try and clean it.

What doesn't work:

-Dish soap (tiny bit in water)
-Alcohol diluted
-Eyeglass cleaner

What else is reccomended?

I've had a few similar monitors where I was able to clean it off but I had
to scrub the heck out of it with some of those monitor cleaning wet wipes.

 

[James Sweet]

A product called Goof-Off (mostly xylene) is about the best general
purpose solvent I know -- better than acetone.

DO NOT use this stuff on monitors though, it will start to dissolve the
plastic casing if you get any on it.