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The big mistake you’re making cleaning your TV
Once the TV is on and you’re watching your favorite show, you have something else to contend with: All that tracking. Yes, your TV will likely keep tabs on you and share that data. Tap or click here for the steps you can take to stop the privacy invasion.
After the inside of your set is cleaned up, look at the outside. A good cleaning goes well beyond the screen. If that’s all you’re focused on, you’re making an expensive mistake that could take years off your TV’s life. I can help.
Clean the screen the right way
Use a dry, soft cloth to wipe it free of dust and debris to clean your TV screen. Here’s an affordable pack of microfiber cloths I like.
If you have an LCD TV, press gently. The liquid crystal screen may get pushed down if you’re too rough, creating dark spots. Turning your TV off and on again will fix this issue, but no reason to put your screen under stress.
If you see oil spots, fingerprints, or anything else that needs more scrubbing, spray some electronics cleaner on a cloth with water and gently rub the area until it’s clean. Or take the easy route and pick up this $5 pack of wipes.
Whatever you do, avoid harmful chemicals like ammonia, acetone, and alcohol.
Banish the dust
Vents keep your TV cool and prevent overheating. Ignoring these is bad news. You’ll find vents at the back of most modern LCD TVs. On older TV models, vents may be on the sides and the back.
Before cleaning to get the dust out of the vents, turn off and unplug your TV. You can use a duster on the vents for basic cleaning but use the vacuum monthly to get the dust deep inside.
Special attachments built for the job are worth the cash. This pack of seven specialty attachments and accessories is under $20 and allows you to clean those hard-to-reach places.
Don’t forget the ports
Ports are where you connect HDMI cables, streaming sticks, gaming systems, and speakers. Your TV may have difficulty connecting to external devices if these ports are dusty.
Ports are usually on the back, sides, or sometimes beneath or above your TV screen. What you don’t want to do is use a cotton swab. You can easily damage the delicate parts inside.
Instead, grab a can of compressed. When using compressed air, remember never to shake the container and never stick the nozzle inside your TV ports. The nozzle can damage the sensitive pins. Hold the nozzle about an inch away. Spray the port at an angle so the air doesn’t push in dust or debris.
The compressed air will push the dust out of your television, which you can vacuum away or wipe with a dry cloth.
If you don’t like the waste that comes with canned air, you can buy a rechargeable electronics duster. These are super handy, and you’ll never run out of air mid-clean. Beyond TV ports, you can use it on your keyboard and other dusty gadgets, too.
Sanitize the remote
Everyone in your family touches your remote, whether or not they have washed their hands. Yuck. Your phone is just as dirty. Tap or click for the right way to clean that, too.
Your remote control is one place a little bit of liquid is safe to use. Use a slightly damp cloth to wipe the remote, paying close attention to the sensors so they can easily communicate with your TV.
Finish with the TV’s exterior and the TV stand
Now you’re ready to give your TV one final wipe to remove any remaining dust. A microfiber cloth works fine, or you can use a Swiffer duster. They trap dust, so you don’t spread it around, and you can toss out the head and add a new one once it’s full of dirt.
It’s also super handy to use on the top and sides of your TV without standing on anything if it’s higher up on the wall.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
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