Thinkpads Forum

I read the Cleaning Tips FAQ, but have additional questions. I've had my 1st laptop (T60) well over a month and done no cleaning yet.

I have a little cleaning cloth that was provided with my Nanao 17" CRT when I bought it around 10 years ago. I wash it occasionally and I've been using it to clean my LCD's after spraying a little water on the screen with a little spray bottle. The FAQ seems to frown on applying water directly to the TP's screen. Recommended is a mixture of ethanol and water (percentages not specified). I sometimes use off-the-shelf rubbing alcohol (70%, with water). Is that not a good idea?

I also like to very lightly run a soft wide-bristled brush in rows across a dusty screen in addition to using canned air. The brush dislodges dust particles that the air leaves behind. I'm not sure which is better to use first: brush or air. I only use a fluid cleaner when there's dirt residues, but dusting is usually sufficient.

I know that all computer users face cleaning issues and I'm sure there's a great deal of practical knowledge among the people who visit this forum. Please share some here concerning cleaning a Thinkpad.

I plan on using a lot of canned air, specifically for the kb.

With mine turned off I spray the LCD and keyboard with Windex so that every square inch gets wet then I wipe it all down with paper towels.

For the keyboard I use a lot of canned air and a brush with few, but stiff bristles, they really work great at removing the hair (mine and my dogs) that get in there (and it's a lot, I use the computer everywhere).

BadAndy wrote:With mine turned off I spray the LCD and keyboard with Windex so that every square inch gets wet then I wipe it all down with paper towels.

I think this is potentially a very bad idea. Windex has ammonia in it and if you overspray even a little you could damage your LCD. There is also the possibility that you could damage any antireflection coatings that might be on the LCD.

I think it is also not the best choice for the keyboard or the exterior.

Isopropyl alcohol is generally safe to use, but don't use so much that you risk having any seep to the sides where it could get into and (maybe) discolor the layers that make up your lcd screen.

thats a double here...NEVER use Windex, over the long run it will taint your screen....

My Advice: Pick up cheap cleaning towel and kit on ebay

BadAndy wrote:

You didn't use a smilie.

Perhaps this amuses you but someone might read this and assume it was a good idea, try it, and damage their notebook.

Great fun!

Ken Fox wrote:

BadAndy wrote:

You didn't use a smilie.

Perhaps this amuses you but someone might read this and assume it was a good idea, try it, and damage their notebook.

Great fun!

You know what they say about assuming things....It even states at the top of this forum that this site is not part of Lenovo/IBM so anything said here (or any web forum) should be taken lightly. If basic cleaning skills are completely lost on them, they should contact the manufacturer about the proper cleaning procedures.

FAQ Wrote 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.

Isopropyl Alchohol and Water at 50/50 is what is recommended by IBM. There used to be a place on thier web site with cleaning tips posted. My T42 used to have it in the onboard manuals in how to care for the thinkpad. Have not really looked in my latest models but it's probably there somewhere. I have used glass cleaner on the Keyboard and outer case, but not the LCD, I mix a capful of isopropyl alchohol and a capful of water onto an old t-shirt.

Just so I'm not viewed as a troll

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-52190

Use the following information to keep your ThinkPad system looking shiny and new.

Cleaning the cover of your computer
Occasionally clean the exterior of your computer as follows:

Prepare a small mixture of a gentle kitchen-use detergent (one that does not contain abrasive powder or strong chemicals such as an acid or alkaline). Use 5 parts water to 1 part detergent.
Absorb the diluted detergent into a sponge or lint-free, soft cloth.
Squeeze out the excess liquid from the sponge or cloth.
Wipe the cover, using a circular motion and taking care not to let any excess liquid drip.
Wipe the surface to remove the detergent.
Rinse the sponge or cloth with clean running water and squeeze out any excess liquid.
Wipe the cover with the clean sponge or lint-free, soft cloth.
Wipe the surface again with a dry, lint-free, soft cloth.
Wait for the surface to dry completely and then remove any fibers left from the sponge or cloth.

Cleaning your computer keyboard

Absorb some isopropyl rubbing alcohol on a lint-free, soft cloth.
Wipe the keytop surface with the cloth, ensuring no liquid drips on or between the keys.
Allow to dry.

Notes:
Never spray or pour any liquid cleaner directly on the LCD display or the keyboard.
You can use compressed air to remove any crumbs and dust from beneath the keys.

Cleaning your computer LCD display
Gently wipe the display with a dry, lint-free, soft cloth. If you see a scratch-like mark on your display, it might be a stain transferred from the keyboard or the TrackPoint pointer when the cover was pressed from the outside.
Wipe or dust the stain gently with a dry, soft cloth.
If the stain remains, moisten a lint-free, soft cloth with water or a 50-50 mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water that does not contain impurities.
Wring out as much of the liquid as you can.
Wipe the display again; do not let any liquid drip into the computer.
Dry the display before closing the lid.

Notes:
Anti-static LCD cleaning cloths and Kim Wipes are also acceptable alternatives.

Isopropyl Alcohol is a flammable liquid. Do not use this cleaner near an exposed flame or when the system is on.

I use 3M products which work really well:

1. Spray cleaner:
Spray cleaner

2. Microfiber cloth:
Microfiber cloth

Mod Edit: Shortened links for display purposes.

Two things: Windex is bad (ammonia), and Ethanol is bad. Isopropyl Alcohol is fine.

Care and Maintenance of LCD Screens - Fairleigh Dickinson University

How Do I Safely Clean My LCD Monitor? - Samsung USA Support FAQs/Knowledge Base

I just noticed that on Samsung's site, the use of vinegar is still listed as one of the approved LCD cleaners, but a more diluted mixture is recommended than posted previously (IIRC). The approved concentration has been reduced from 50% vinegar to 10% vinegar.

Kyocera wrote:
Isopropyl Alchohol and Water at 50/50 is what is recommended by IBM. There used to be a place on thier web site with cleaning tips posted. My T42 used to have it in the onboard manuals in how to care for the thinkpad. Have not really looked in my latest models but it's probably there somewhere. I have used glass cleaner on the Keyboard and outer case, but not the LCD, I mix a capful of isopropyl alchohol and a capful of water onto an old t-shirt.

I've never understood the part about diluting isopropyl alcohol to 50%. In some countries, chemicals like this are sold in tiny quantities for large prices and tend to be nearly 100% pure. This is what I have seen in Europe. In North America one finds isopropyl alcohol for sale in large quantities (a pint or even a liter) but it is generally sold at 70% concentration.

I sincerely doubt that there is any difference in its effects on an lcd screen if it is used at 50% or 70% dilution. My best guess is that they think that 50% isopropyl alcohol is probably not flammable whereas 70% is, and they want to avoid any and all liability from a foolish person doing something like smoking while they're cleaning their lcd screen.

I use the 70% isopropyl straight out of the bottle on all the lcd screens in my house (tvs and desktop monitors and laptops and their screens) and have never had even the slightest problem from it. Of course you have to exercise a little bit of common sense when you do this as well as in most things.

YMMV.

GomJabbar wrote:Two things: Windex is bad (ammonia), and Ethanol is bad. Isopropyl Alcohol is fine.

For LCDs, Windex is definitely bad. But it's good for zits and other skin ailments -- just ask Gus Portokalos.

I bought an LCD cleaner "kit" from Belkin for use in the office. Avoid this like the plague. It leaves streaks on the LCD, both on the Thinkpads and on our LCD monitors. I think it's marginally better than leaving the fingerprints there but not by much.

Slightly OT - why can't youngsters (yes, you 30-somethings, I'm talking to you) in the office keep their fingers off the screens? If you want to point, use a friggin' pen or pencil but DO NOT USE the writing end. [/rant off]

I have used my "Galaxy" brand eyeglass cleaner on LCDs with great success in the past. Hope it is okay, I don't seem to have any damage. I use a microfiber cloth.

The Galaxy does not list the ingredients, but it sure smells like a dilluted iso. alchohol. Anyone know?