How To Clean a Flat Screen TV Without Streaks

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Updated byPenny
How To Clean a Flat Screen TV Without Streaks

When you’re watching your favorite TV show and the light catches the screen, and you see a ton of smudges and dust, it can be very off-putting!

Then you go to clean the screen and find it isn’t much better.

Don’t waste your time cleaning only to find you still have streaks.

My question today is, how to clean a flat-screen TV without streaks?

Over time, your screen will attract dust, fingerprints and all kinds of nasty things.

Do you shout at your screen? Maybe a football game got you going? Then it will probably have saliva on it and even snot. Yuck!

To clean your flat-screen TV of smudges and leave it streak-free, all you need are some clean microfiber cloths and water. With a small amount of gentle cleaning, your TV screen will be clean and free of streaks.

The method I show you today is guaranteed to leave you with a streak-free screen. Plus, it works on all kinds of TV screens through from the old CRT glass screens up to top of the range 8K. You can even use this method for a computer monitor.

All you need are three microfiber cloths (yes, three) and some water. If your screen has a lot of finger marks and greasy smudges, then you may need some vinegar for extra cleaning power.

If you don’t have any microfiber cloths, I recommend you invest in some because they are a great way to reduce chemical use in your home, plus they work out cheaper than purchasing cleaners. They have multiple uses. You can use them for dishwashing, cleaning bathrooms, kitchens, dusting, and polishing. You can even use them to clean your body and as a reusable wet wipe.

Heads up: I sometimes use affiliate links. When you click these links and make a purchase, I may get a small commission. It won’t cost you anything but it helps me to run this site.

Before we begin, let’s go over a few important points for cleaning flat-screen TVs.

  1. Always use a soft cloth. Never use paper towels or anything rough that could scratch your screen. Microfiber cloths are best because they are soft, hold the dirt and can absorb and contain grease.
  2. Never use chemical sprays. Chemical sprays such as a window cleaner like Windex should not be used on flat-screen TVs because the chemicals will damage the surface.
  3. Always use a clean cloth. Your microfiber cloth should be freshly laundered and free of particles that might scratch the surface or re-deposit dust.
  4. Never spray the screen directly. Flat-screen TVs should not get wet. If you need moisture to help you clean, always spray it on the cloth, not the screen.
  5. Always turn off the TV. Before you clean, turn off the TV, so you can more easily see where the smudges appear. The easiest way to see them is from the side.

Once your screen is wonderfully clean, I recommend you keep it that way with a regular wipe over. Make it part of your 10-minute cleanup routine, and it will never get dirty again.

What you need to clean your flat-screen TV

  • 3 microfiber cloths. You will need up to three of these, depending on how smudged the screen is.
  • 1 spray bottle of distilled water (or tap water if you don’t have it).
  • 1 spray bottle of 50/50 white distilled vinegar and distilled water (only for very smudged screens).
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths, Non-Abrasive, Reusable and Washable, Pack of 24, Blue/White/Yellow, 16" x 12"
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths, Non-Abrasive, Reusable and Washable, Pack of 24, Blue/White/Yellow, 16" x 12"
Lucy's Family Owned - Natural Distilled White Vinegar, 1 Gallon (128 oz) - 5% Acidity (White Vinegar, 1 Gallon (128 fl oz.))
Lucy's Family Owned - Natural Distilled White Vinegar, 1 Gallon (128 oz) - 5% Acidity (White Vinegar, 1 Gallon (128 fl oz.))

Distilled water is best if you have it because tap water can leave a residue on the screen when it evaporates.

I suggest you have three clean microfiber cloths. You will need one to dust, another to clean, and another to dry. It’s not a good idea to use one cloth for everything because you will find the dust that you cleaned off at the start ends up back on the screen later on.

If you don’t have any microfiber cloths, the best place to buy them is at Amazon in a bundle. Don’t bother with fancy makes, I find those no better than standard microfiber, and they are much cheaper, especially if you buy several at once. Launder them after every use and then replace them when they wear out. I find mine last 4-5 years.

If your screen isn’t very dirty, then you can get away with one wipe with a dry microfiber cloth.

Make sure your cloths are freshly laundered. Don’t be tempted to use an old cloth because you risk scratching the screen with particles from the previous use.

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How to clean streaks off a TV screen

How to clean streaks off a TV screen

A simple wipe over with a microfiber cloth should do the trick, but if you have smudges, then you will need more.

Step 1 – Turn off the TV

Make sure you turn off the TV before you start cleaning.

Step 2 – Dust with a dry microfiber cloth

Gently wipe the screen with a clean and dry microfiber cloth. Use circular motions. Don’t press too hard.

I like to fold my cloth and then use each side in turn, so I don’t transfer particles back onto the screen that I have just cleaned off.

This step will remove dust and light smudges. If you find that the screen still has smudges on it move to step 3, otherwise, congratulations, you are done!

Here’s more on how to keep your flat screen tv dust-free.

Step 3 – Spray a cloth with water and wipe

Take a new microfiber cloth and spray it with water to dampen it. Don’t spray the screen directly. Distilled water is best because no residue is left behind when it dries.

Wipe over the smudges in a circular motion until they disappear.

The best way to see smudges is from the side of the screen rather than from the front.

If your smudges have gone, skip to step 5.

Step 4 – If you still have smudges, spray some diluted vinegar onto the cloth

If you still have smudges on your TV screen, you can use some diluted distilled white vinegar.

Take a spray bottle of 50/50 white distilled vinegar and distilled water and spray some onto your cloth.

Don’t spray the screen directly.

Polish out the smudges with the cloth until they disappear.

Lucy's Family Owned - Natural Distilled White Vinegar, 1 Gallon (128 oz) - 5% Acidity (White Vinegar, 1 Gallon (128 fl oz.))
Lucy's Family Owned - Natural Distilled White Vinegar, 1 Gallon (128 oz) - 5% Acidity (White Vinegar, 1 Gallon (128 fl oz.))

Step 5 – Re-wipe with a clean dry cloth

Take a newly washed microfiber cloth and wipe over the whole screen again.

How to make homemade TV screen cleaner

If you prefer something ready to use on all types of glass, including TV screens and computer monitors, why not make your own?

It’s easy to make your own homemade TV screen cleaner by adding the following ingredients to a spray bottle.

To use, spray onto a clean microfiber cloth and wipe. Then finish with a dry microfiber cloth


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Frequently Asked Questions

How to clean a TV without a microfiber cloth

If you don’t have a microfiber cloth to hand, then you can use a plain duster cloth to clean your screen or an old piece of soft cloth such as a tee shirt. Always make sure it is clean and free of dust and debris before you use it.

Regular cloth doesn’t hold the dust as well as microfiber. You might find that the cloth transfers dust back onto the screen as you clean it. Make sure you fold the cloth and use one side at a time to avoid that happening.

Can I use Windex on a flat-screen TV?

It is not a good idea to use Windex to clean a TV screen because the chemicals can damage the surface of the screen. Only gentle liquids should be used, such as water and vinegar, and they should never be sprayed directly onto the screen.

How to clean a 4K TV screen

Wipe over with a dry microfiber cloth. Then dampen another microfiber cloth with water and lightly rub all over your 4K TV. Finish off by wiping with another dry microfiber cloth.

Sparkling Penny

Penny | Sparkling Penny

Penny’s expert cleaning advice has been featured repeatedly by Homes and Gardens Magazine, and also at wikiHow, The Daily Express Newspaper, and Glam Magazine to name a few! SparklingPenny.com was founded in 2019 and has since helped millions of people achieve a cleaner living space.


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Learn my simple cleaning hacks on how to clean your flat TV screen without creating even more streaks! Don't buy expensive screen wipes, this is the best way to get it smudge free, by far. This is a natural TV screen cleaner that works!