Keeping laptop clean?

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milesrbruce · #1 Post by **milesrbruce** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 11:30 pm

Does anyone know of anything that can be done to keep the top of my thinkpad clean, without any finger prints? It is the ONLY complaint I have with thinkpads versus other machines, is they really get dirty and fingerprints REALLY show up on the top of the LCD.

Any suggestion on how to keep it clean? A buddy of mine just bought a Dell and the top of the LCD comes with a protective film, that stays on the unit all the time, pretty nice, wonder if anyone sells this aftermarket for IBM units?

#2 Post by **daeojkim** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 12:51 am

I read some peope using those wet napkins in little packets like those you can get from KFC to wipe off.

Or you can always use latex glove .... ^^ J/K

Greg Gebhardt · #3 Post by **Greg Gebhardt** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 5:29 am

I will have to admit that the dull finish on the mag. cover shows oil more than anything. I find that a damp quality paper towel with water and only a touch of windex makes it like new.

#4 Post by **bill bolton** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:44 am

> windex makes it like new

Another vote for Windex..... but I just give the case a general squirt and wipe it off.

Cheers

Bill

TimWang · #5 Post by **TimWang** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 1:04 pm

Water and lint free cloth should do the trick.

MobileGuru · #6 Post by **MobileGuru** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 1:23 pm

I have always maintained my boxes with a 50/50 mix of water and rubbing alcohol .. and for you Windex voters as long as you aren't doing the LCD that will work fine too .. but don't do the screen with it.

Thinkpaddict · #7 Post by **Thinkpaddict** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 1:29 pm

TimWang wrote:Water and lint free cloth should do the trick.

I have to agree with this. Stay away from any chemicals such as Windex.
Chemistry is a funny thing, and you never know how something such as Windex will affect the rubber coating of your Thinkpad in the long term.

I use a microfiber 3M cloth slightly damp, and then dry it with the same cloth.
It leaves no traces of fingerprints or any other residue.

hoya · #8 Post by **hoya** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 2:08 pm

I've had luck with OmniCleanz by Radtech - I use it on both the LCD as well as the top cover.

for tougher jobs, I like isopropyl alcohol for the top cover since fingerprints have a bad habit of being stubborn.

Greg Gebhardt · #9 Post by **Greg Gebhardt** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 2:48 pm

MobileGuru wrote:I have always maintained my boxes with a 50/50 mix of water and rubbing alcohol .. and for you Windex voters as long as you aren't doing the LCD that will work fine too .. but don't do the screen with it.

VERY good info indeed. PLEASE I would not want anyone to clean their screen with and Windex product. Soft damp towel should be all it takes for the screen face.

Windex or alcohol is required for getting the oily prints off the top of the case.

#10 Post by **GomJabbar** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 3:22 pm

A couple of links regarding cleaning the LCD screen which I posted 3 or 4 months ago.

Source - Fairleigh Dickinson University

Source - Samsung USA

One caveat. Petroleum Benzene is mentioned. I would not use this (if you can even get it) as it is a known Cancer Causing Agent!

#11 Post by **Kyocera** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:02 pm

I have used the %50 50 water and isopropyl alchohol for a long time with no adverse result. A good soft lint free cloth will keep from scratching the surface of the screen. The alchohol helps to dry the water quicky and also cuts the oils and dirt.

#12 Post by **bill bolton** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:46 pm

> Chemistry is a funny thing, and you never know how something such
> as Windex will affect the rubber coating of your Thinkpad in the long
> term.

ROFL... if the case coating cant withstand the occasional application of Windex, then its a pretty poor sort of case coating for a device specifically intended for use in the field!!!!!

Cheers,

Bill

backfromMac · #13 Post by **backfromMac** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:40 pm

I just cleaned my screen with read right kleen screen pads, works great I thougt i had permanent marks on the screens of both my laptops, this product cleaned took off rub marks and helps with static, Can't say enough about them.

Good luck,

Kevin

Thinkpaddict · #14 Post by **Thinkpaddict** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 2:24 pm

bill bolton wrote:> Chemistry is a funny thing, and you never know how something such
> as Windex will affect the rubber coating of your Thinkpad in the long
> term.

ROFL... if the case coating cant withstand the occasional application of Windex, then its a pretty poor sort of case coating for a device specifically intended for use in the field!!!!!

Cheers,

Bill

You can ROFL and roll your eyes as much as you want, but if you are going to defend an argument at least back it up with some logic reasoning. To say that Thinkpads are designed to be used in the field doesn't mean anything really. You are more likely to find other items in the "field" (such as bottles of Coke or cups of coffee) than Windex. Does that mean I can clean my laptop with a cloth soaked in Coke?

As far as I know Windex is for cleaning glass surfaces (at least it was the last time I checked).

What I do know is that many years ago I screwed up the plastic on a calculator by rubbing it with alcohol. I don't know what type of plastic it was, but I am pretty sure it was Isopropyl alcohol.

I also know that using a microfiber cloth with water gives me good results, so why spray Windex on the thing? Just because it has Windows installed on it it doesn't mean you should be cleaning it with Windex.

#15 Post by **bill bolton** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 5:45 pm

> but if you are going to defend an argument at least back it up with
> some logic reasoning.

No "logic" required, just a tiny modicum of common sense.

Windex is chemically benign and the sweat of many people is much more "corrosive" than anything in Windex. If the coating on the case of a Laptop computer can't withstand Windex, it cant withstand handling by a significant number of the population in general.

> Does that mean I can clean my laptop with a cloth soaked in Coke?

That's "some logic reasoning"?

Bill

#16 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 5:55 pm

Yeah, chemistry is a funny thing.

Put metalic potassium in water, and a fire starts. Store it in kerosene, no problem.

Elemental phosphorus is stored in water. Expose to air and there is a fire danger.

Keeping laptop clean?

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