How to clean the screen on an iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple Watch (safely): Make your Apple device sparkle and shine like new.
First of all, make sure you get the right equipment. It doesn’t cost much compared to the cost of a Mac to buy a decent cloth and some cleaning solution that’s designed for computer screens. Here’s what you need:
- Microfiber cloth. You can use any non-abrasive cloth but buy a microfiber just to be sure.
- Screen cleaner (make sure it is ammonia free) or Isopropyl Alcohol. You can often buy a Screen Cleaner and Microfiber kit, like this ECO Cleaning kit.
- Isopropyl cleaning wipes. These are optional but we hear it’s what Apple uses.
Some people also suggest using Isopropyl Alcohol and diluting it with 50 per cent water solution. This will certainly clean your computer, but it’s powerful stuff and normally used for removing serious junk (like sticker resin or thermal grease). It’s handy stuff to own, but we consider it overkill for screen cleaning.
Stay away from these items:
- Paper towels
- Dishclothes
- Tissue paper
- Ammonia-based cleaner
We’d also advise you to stay away from any other general-purpose cleaning ingredients. Some people suggest various household items and combinations of vinegar and vodka. It’s cheaper and safer to just buy a dedicated bottle of screen cleaner: a bottle lasts a long time.
