Screen cleaner ruined my eReader [tags: clean, cleaning]

[kacir]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

Best way is watter and.. I can't find the word, that "soap" you use to clean dishes, ...

detergent

[howyoudoin]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

I've been using Bausch & Lomb Sight Savers lens cleaners to clean the screen on my Sony reader for over a year now without any problems. Looking at the box these are pre-moistened with isopropanol.

That was very good of Amazon.

isopropanol is an alcohol. The Sony reader must have a glass screen if it hasn't been affected so far.

[ekster]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

The optician advised me not to use cleaning wipes to clean my glasses.

I agree with that. I stay away from all the glasses/glass/screen cleaners. They might work efficiently at first, but they remove anything and everything that coats the glass/screen afterwards. The one time I tried using it, it removed the anti-glare coat from my glasses after a few months.

A simple microfiber cloth works well for me. Even on the greasy bits. Just make sure to wash or replace the cloth every now and then.

[elizilla]

Some of the things sold for cleaning eyeglasses are pure evil. Every winter I go to the motorcycle shows, and there are always three of four booths where people are selling something called Zook. They're staffed by young men with microphones who will loudly accost any glasses wearer in the crowd walking by, and DEMAND to be allowed to clean their glasses. They put you on the spot in front of the crowd. They ruined the coating on my glasses, once. Since then I am very rude to them when they badger me, and who cares if everyone is looking? The crowd deserves to know that the stuff is destructive.

[carpetmojo]

What's with this fanatical screen-cleaning ?

I must not get out enough or something, 'cos the most extreme thing I've used is a dry micro-fibre, including sneezes - usually me shirt-tail does the trick, or a tissue..... I don't recognise these smudged, gunky, dirty screens on any of the things with visuals I use....
As for using a cleaner - well, you've all been watching too many guilt orientated ad's - "are your dishes as clean as your neighbours, or your TV covered with plague bacillus...." etc..

I mean, me & my 650 went to a Bad Shepherds gig last week, and read in the intermission, including in the bar, and managed not to get anything on it there......

It's not that I claim to be a clean-freak, just worried I'm missing experiences that will dirtify my screens......

I did have a sheltered childhood................

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

isopropanol is an alcohol. The Sony reader must have a glass screen if it hasn't been affected so far.

Yes I know that isopropanol is an alcohol. It's a Sony 900 with a touch screen, so maybe I have just been fortunate so far. I need something more than just a dry cloth though between eating while reading and the touch screen. Wonder if there are packaged wipe moistened with water out there?

[Hellmark]

The only thing I've ever used on my displays have been things specifically designed for displays or glasses. Even still, I am hesitant to use them, and also use very little. Best thing to do is to use a microfiber cloth dry. If you do need a wet cleaner, put a tiny bit on to a cloth, and then wipe with the cloth. When I've used a wet cleaner on my reader, I used a prepackaged wetwipe meant for glasses, which was mostly water and isopropyl alcohol, and used very lightly. eInk screens are glass based, and mine doesn't have any touch layers, so it is relatively safe. I'd be resistant to try that on ones with touch interfaces, with possible exception of ones with IR touch interfaces.

I work with refurbished VOIP phones at work, and those displays are very temperamental when it comes to cleaning. One of the largest issues I see is someone puts too much cleaner on, it leaks into the side of the display, where it gets sucked up by the substrates of the display. Some displays have corrugated layers, and so their sides act a bit like straws, and draw in the moisture. The other huge issue that comes into play is the coatings on the displays, for antiglare and the like. Those can be eaten or rubbed off, and look like crap afterwards.

[taustin]

Originally Posted by xg4bx

i was thinking of using one of my eyeglass cleaning wipes on the screen, i think i'll just invest in a little microfiber cloth now. thanks for the warning.

Strictly speaking, you should be using the microfiber cloth on the eyeglasses, too, you know. (The good ones are washable, too, so go to town.)

[Hellmark]

Originally Posted by taustin

Strictly speaking, you should be using the microfiber cloth on the eyeglasses, too, you know. (The good ones are washable, too, so go to town.)

The biggest problem for glasses is dust, which you shouldn't rub anything on them when dust is on them.

[Kevin8or]

Originally Posted by frostschutz

What brand of LCD cleaner does that?

It's called "Clean Dr." screen cleaning fluid, free of alcohol & ammonia.

The eReader is still usable, but the originally pleasing blue-grey appearance has taken on an a bit of a sepia tint. It's enough to be distracting, and it slightly degrades the display contrast. Enough to create a little eye strain where before there was none.

I'd guess that millions of people worldwide use a commercial cleaner and are pleased with the result. However, the Amazon service representative wasn't surprised by my experience. He said the screen is made of a different material than LCD screens and that the use of screen cleaners can indeed damage the display.

My message is to people who haven't yet used a cleaner on their device. To them, I say, why take the risk, especially if a dry or damp cloth can clean the screen to your satisfaction.

Like I said, if you know that your cleaner doesn't damage your device, then by all means enjoy it. If you've got an unknown variable, either cleaner or device, then a little prudence can go a long way. I didn't even try a plain cloth. I jumped straight to my familiar LCD cleaner.

[sabredog]

I have worn glasses since I was eight years old (though I have worn contacts for every day use for the past 25 years)

One thing I was taught and works equally as well on all my screened devices (ereader, iphone, iPad etc) is simply using a glasses cleaning cloth and fogging the screen with my breath. Just enough moisture to clean the screen nicely.

[vxf]

Originally Posted by xg4bx

i was thinking of using one of my eyeglass cleaning wipes on the screen, i think i'll just invest in a little microfiber cloth now. thanks for the warning.

I don't want to lull anyone into a false sense of security, but I have been using eyeglass cleaning wipes and spray with my ereaders and all three of them are fine... iPad as well...

[carld]

I once tried to clean fingerprints off a CD with an alcohol swab, not a good idea.

[bookmeal]

Dust: Dust blower
Finger print: a soft cloth, for cleaning eye-glasses

[frostschutz]

Originally Posted by Kevin8or

It's called "Clean Dr." screen cleaning fluid, free of alcohol & ammonia.

Does it have a strong scent? I found one Clean Dr product on Amazon com and some kinda frightening reviews about it.

Well, in any case, you shouldn't use it anymore even if it worked so far for your LCD. A cleaner that does this to any display is not safe to use.