how to clean touch screen devices? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: nangalakula
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2025, 09:20:56 pm
content: Hi All,I've just bought a Rigol DP932E and I am going to have a Siglent SDS804X HD scop. Both have touch screens.The spec does not specify if the Rigol is glass or plastic. But touching it, it is like being plastic. I guess the Siglent scope has plastic screen as well.And I read that e.g. you cannot use alcohol, like is isopropyl alcohol to clean it as it may destroy your touchscreen. It is safe to use alcohol on glass screen like it is on your touch screen phones but not on plastic screens.How can I safely but effectively clean the screen of these devices, remove fingerprints and like that? Alcohol could be perfect if it is not plastic as it removes fingerprints and such very well and does not leave residue when it evaporates.. but I guess this one is plastic.

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2025, 09:27:23 pm
content: It's very easy to be convinced that smellier products are better or that abundant ordinary detergents are inferior to alcohols. On the contrary, I have found ordinary dish detergent to outperform isopropanol for screen cleaning.Get a paper towel, put a drop of ordinary dish detergent on it and then damp it in water. Squish it a few times in your hand to remove the excess (this also mixes it). Wipe the screen with that. Use a second dry paper towel to wipe away what remains.- If the screen is very soiled it may take a few passes, some screen oils are only partly soluble (old oxidised ones? my father cooks with his laptop on the stove)- Make sure to assemble the solvents on the towel itself, don't spray product directly onto the screen or it will infiltrate small gaps nearby and do nasty things over time.- Dish detergent is mostly just detergent (and a foaming agent + smell + colour), it doesn't contain anything that can negatively affect your electronics other than water (unlike some ammonia spray cleaners).- Cleaning will reveal scratches and marks you have forgotten about, so the screen might end up looking worse than it did when oiled!

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2025, 10:01:21 pm
content: Glass cleaner, meaning the stuff you use if you wear glasses. Zeiss is great when you use it in a small manual spray bottle.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2025, 10:02:12 pm
content: Any office supplies store usually have computer display cleaning spray.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2025, 12:32:45 am
content: DP932 is a glass screen, any mild glass cleaner should be OK. Or as Whales said, soap and water.Not sure about SDS800X, it might have a screen protector installed if you haven't removed it already?Most capacitive touch screens should be glass.

author: JustMeHere
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2025, 01:31:51 am
content: Don't use ammonia or alcohol on plastic screens.Water will do the job. Get a very soft cloth. Make sure the cloth is clean before using.

author: bitwelder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2025, 09:36:43 am
content: I would also suggest to start first with plain water.A bench instrument should not be exposed not exposed to too much dirt or grease, so water may suffice.

author: JustMeHere
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2025, 12:27:00 am
content: For glass: I'd use lens cleaner if you don't want to use water. You don't want to accidentally strip any anti-smudge/anti-glare.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2025, 05:08:07 am
content: Do not use paper towels, neither on your displays nor on your glasses - paper is abrasive and will leave micro scratches or remove coating. Use a cloth.

author: nangalakula
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2025, 08:51:19 pm
content: Thanks to all. I've just got the SDS804x. It is super responsive even as I left the screen protector on. So I think I keep it on and I will replace it as needed. I will be very careful with them but better to do some extra if it is as easy as leaving the screen protector on.How sure we are that the rigol is glass. I asked the AI bot on the rigol site and it told there is no info about it...I may send a support letter to rigol and siglent to clarify if the screen is glass or not and I will share what they told me.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2025, 08:56:19 pm
content: Quote from: nangalakula on April 09, 2025, 08:51:19 pmI tap it with a metal tool, you can hear the higher pitch sound, and sharp tool won't bite into it.I agree though they should just list it in the datasheet in the display specs.

author: DavidAlfa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2025, 09:56:08 pm
content: +1 Just use a wet cloth with a drop of dish soap, avoid aggresive cleaners or solvents.

author: compet17
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2025, 11:05:17 am
content: From my experience, those LCD screens are pretty tough. (exceptions are possible). I once had a large computer screen where painters spilled some nasty paint on it. At the end I used nitro paint thinner and it cleaned the screen without any damage. But that was a "it works or it goes to scrap anyway" decision.For your display, I would recommend these things in this order:- water (preferably distilled)- window cleaner- isopropyl alcohol with 10% water*** danger zone below ***- pure isopropyl- lamp petrol- paint thinner- gasolineIn most cases, window cleaner is good enough. Just make sure that no liquid seeps into the display frame. This may destroy the electronics.

author: BILLPOD
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2025, 01:04:25 pm
content: The reviewers of equipment don't like screen protectors and take great pleasure in tearing them off, as one of the first things they do in their videos. Sometimes the screen protectors have text or images printed on them, but most often it is a perfectly good clear protector. I have added screen protectors to most of the screens of my equipment that didn't come with one. I have a Fluke 189 that I purchased in 2007 that still has the screen protector it came with. Granted, it has led an easy life on my bench, but it is as good shape as when I first took it out of the box. Screen protectors are made for the screens of large tablet computers, and can be trimmed down to fit the screen of a scope. Count me as one who appreciates the peace of mind that screen protectors provide.

author: MathWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2025, 08:03:05 pm
content: Quote from: Haenk on April 09, 2025, 05:08:07 amWhat about cotton balls ? I've used paper towels/tissue paper before, but I found it leaves a lot of paper dustFor the soap, I just add a drop of dishsoap to say 50mL of warm water, a typical shot of liquor is 25 or 50mL.That's how I clean my matte computer monitors too.

author: jfiresto
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2025, 06:36:03 am
content: Quote from: MathWizard on April 10, 2025, 08:03:05 pmZeissrecommendsimpurity freeAugenwattefor cleaning lenses, a cotton wool used by ophthalmologists. It can leave behind cotton wisps which I dispatch with a hand blower (e.g., a Rocket Air Blaster).

author: bitwelder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2025, 07:29:59 am
content: Quote from: BILLPOD on April 10, 2025, 01:04:25 pmThat's to reveal the annoyingly glossy surface of modern screens

author: mikerj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2025, 11:15:21 am
content: Quote from: BILLPOD on April 10, 2025, 01:04:25 pmThe thin polythene cover on new screens is simply to prevent scratches during manufacture and shipping, they are not intended to provide functional protection in use. They are a very soft plastic and invariably start peeling away from the screen in use.

author: nangalakula
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2025, 04:45:26 pm
content: I've just got the reply from Siglent. I asked about the SDS804x HD and also about the 1204x hd. The support said that they have glass screens.So use of alcohol must be safe on the Siglent. Just don't pour it on the screen and let it flow down next to the edge of the screen. As compet17 noted.I think the safe way to use the alcohol is to put it on the microfiber cloth, and use the cloth for the cleaning. At least this is how I use it for cleaning. So no slipping liquid into the screen.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2025, 05:06:42 pm
content: Quote from: MathWizard on April 10, 2025, 08:03:05 pmEither microfiber or a 100% cotton terrycloth towel (like a washcloth or hand towel). In either case, washed and then rinsed without fabric softener.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2025, 05:13:29 pm
content: sweet talk your favorite bar tender and get one of there glass drying cloths

author: nangalakula
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2025, 08:00:00 pm
content: I got the respond from Rigol as well. They said the very same answer as the AI bot on there homepage.So the question was if the screen is plastic or glass, and they told that this info is not available for them.