Asked on Dec 16, 2019

What can I use to remove smoke film from a flat screen TV?

Dianna Askey
by Dianna Askey
  9 answers
  • Mogie Mogie on Dec 16, 2019

    I just use a microfiber cloth and spray that and NOT the tv screen with windex (and some people use rubbing alcohol) and turn that rag over for each pass you make.

  • William William on Dec 16, 2019

    First and foremost, do not use any chemical products on an LCD screen. Especially do not use a common window cleaner (Windex, etc.) or anything with alcohol or ammonia in it. These are going to mess up the protective layer on your fancy TV screen. Windex was OK on the good old tube TVs, but has to stay away from the delicate screens of LCD, LED and Plasma TVs.


    Do it before turning your TV on, or make sure to have your TV off for around 15 minutes and completely cooled down before you go to clean it in any way. Otherwise, you’re going to run into evaporation issues with your cleaning solution and notice that it is very difficult to keep streaks from forming. Plus, it’s much easier to clean an all-black background rather with than the jerky movements and colors that most programming is comprised of.


    Spraying your LCD screen directly with cleaning solution is not a good plan. The ultimate sin would be to over-use a cleaning solution. Too much liquid usually means streaking. Don’t over-saturate your cleaning cloth either. A few gentle sprays will suffice to make your TV shine like the day you got it out of the box.


    Get a bottle of distilled water (no tap water).

    Pick up a spray bottle.

    Get some microfiber cloth. Stay away from paper towels and any other wood-based papers as they could leave fine scratches on the screen.

    Turn the set off and let your plasma screen (or any screen) fully cool down. Hot Screens and streaking usually go hand-in-hand on LEDs, etc.

    Fill the spray bottle with distilled water. Spray your microfiber cloth (not the screen).

    Gently wipe the screen in a circular motion with the cloth until the screen is clean and dry. There should not be any streaks if you did everything right. Once done with the cleaning, DRY the cleaned area with the drier portion of your cloth.

    If water is dripping down the screen into the electronics, you over saturated. Go section by section on your large display, and re-spray the cloth when you find wiping is too dry (rather than soaking the cloth with water on the outset).

    Repeatedly the process until you are satisfied with your newly clean LCD screen.

  • Holly Lengner - Lost Mom Holly Lengner - Lost Mom on Dec 17, 2019

    You can get a cleaning solution specifically made for tv's from most electronics departments and also microfiber cloths.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Dec 17, 2019

    A good microfiber cloth should take care of this with no streaks. Start with Lens Cleaner, like you use for glasses, and saturate the screen. Let sit for a minute then wipe with the cloth. Follow with a second damp cloth.

  • Pamela Pamela on Dec 17, 2019

    If your tv is still under warranty , call the manufacturer to see what they recommend , using certain product might void your warranty !!!! Otherwise try to lightly dampen a microfiber cloth with some hot water . If that doesn't work get an electronics screen cleaner . Years ago , my in laws left to go down south for the winter and brought us their color tv , we only had a little 13 inch black & white tv , lol ...on cleaning day I went to clean the tv with a little Windex on a paper towel , I thought I ruined some protective coat on the screen , because I wiped brown off the screen and it left a bright spot !!!! Wound up just being nicotine , from a household of smokers !!! I never had a color tv before and neither me or my husband smoked

    So I didn't know , I thought I ruined the tv 😀😀😀

  • Target sells electronic cleaning wipes in a package, I'd try those!

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Dec 17, 2019

    Windex and paper towels

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Dec 17, 2019

    The housekeeper who used to clean my office, told me she never sprayed anything directly on a flat screen tv or monitor. She sprayed a cleaner meant for electronics onto a microfiber cloth, just dampening the cloth. Then she cleaned the monitor. They were spotless and she never damaged them. I use a soft cloth meant for cleaning glasses on my monitors and tv's (also the touch screen in my car.)

  • Sharon Sharon on Dec 18, 2019

    Agree with Cynthia, they also make wet wipes for electronics.