Thinkpads Forum

any recommendations on cleaning the t42p lcd? everytime I clean it with water, it leaves streaks

The best stuff I've found so far: Office Depot Screen cleaner
Unbeatable in combination with the soft Kleenex paper towel. There is nothing better for display and glasses, IMHO

You can also try KlearScreen and a Chamois cloth. Hasn't left streaks thus far.

Yikes!

Make sure its not alcohol based or you're screen will start turning yellow.
If you want to use anything other than water make sure its specifically suitable for LCD's.

Compare an older laptop with a brand new one and you'll see what i mean. Thats the alcohol reacting with the plastic covering your LCD makes it turn yellow.

Please check here #18. IBM recommends 50/50 isopropyl and water. Been doing that for years with good results.

Also check the documentation that came on board with your thinkpad, one of the highlights of ownership is the great tutorials and extensive user guides.

I second the isopropyl/water mix. Works great... also checked the back of some chem wipes they sell at the computing stores, and the ingredients of those wipes are isopropyl and water, so I dont feel nervous about using this mix at all with a soft cotton pad

kam_ wrote:Make sure its not alcohol based or you're screen will start turning yellow.

Ammonia and ammonia based cleaning solutions (Windex, Glass Plus, etc.) are what turn the plastic overlay protective covering on LCDs yellow and brittle, not alcohol.

A 50/50 water alcohol solution is specifically prescribed by most LCD manufacturers for cleaning purposes. Lens cleaning solution for plastic lenses is widely available from optometrists and your neighborhood Walmart and is another excellent choice.

ONLY use a 3M microfiber cloth or similar to wipe your display.

Beware cheap paper towels, some of them can have a higher Rockwell hardness than the plastic overlay and will leave innumerable fine scratches.

Regards,

James

Like others, I too use a 50/50 Isopropyl/distilled water mixture, and use a microfibre cloth.
One thing that has not been mentioned yet is never spray or squirt the cleaning solution directly onto the screen, always apply it to the cloth. This keeps the solution from running done underneath the bezel frame, and leaking into the LCD display.

Frequently Asked Questions wrote:

18.) What is the best way to clean my ThinkPad’s LCD? What about the case? Can I just use Windex and a paper towel?

Windex, napkin, and paper towel are big no-no’s. Use a lint-free/micro-fiber cloth and screen cleaning fluid (which is a mix of water and Ethanol). Never spray the cleaner directly onto the screen, always spray it onto the cloth first. You can use the same cleaner for the case, or just a slightly watered cloth. These cleaning supplies are available at Office Depot, Staples and other office/computer supply stores.