Proper Care for e-Ink Readers with Lights?

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Gardenman

What about alcohol to clean the screen? I use that on my phone and it gets the finger marks off the screen

No Alcohol eats all kinds of adhesives and other finishes. Very bad idea. I use it to remove residue stickers leave behind.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I do use a little water if need be, but not often and just on a damp MF cloth.

Agreed. A slight damp microfiber cloth is okay. Microfiber is water resistant so it won't let water drip on your device.
I do this once a week to get oil off the screen which can make the screen look cloudy. I take a dry MF cloth over it to dry it so it dries clear.

[meeera]

From the Kindle Paperwhite user guide:

"Do not use your Kindle device or its accessories in rain, or near sinks or other wet locations. Take care not to spill any food or liquid on your Kindle. If your device does get wet, unplug all cables, turn off the wireless (tap the Menu button, select Settings, and enable Airplane Mode) and let the screen revert to the screensaver. Wait for the device to dry completely before pressing the power button to wake again. Do not attempt to dry your Kindle with an external heat source, such as a microwave oven or hair dryer. Clean the screen with a soft cloth; be careful not to wipe it with anything abrasive. When carrying your Kindle in a bag or briefcase, keep a cover on to avoid scratches.
Don't expose your Kindle to extreme heat or cold. For example, don't leave it in the trunk of your car in sub-zero or high-heat conditions."

Of course, with waterproof devices this is a little different - you can happily use them in the rain or tub or pool, or wash with a dripping wet cloth, or spill coffee on them, so long as you rinse with plain water if they've been in contact with non-water substances (chlorine etc).

Alcohol and other cleaners are just not necessary. They're fine and harmless on glass (like an iPhone etc), but I wouldn't risk the plastic coating of an e-ink device with them when you can get them clean with a dry cloth most of the time, and a slightly damp one the rest.

[robko]

Originally Posted by Katie1

I was Told Anything Liquid on the Screen would Damage it. Would cause the Bright white lights.

That's customer service being over zealous in covering their butts. Their fear is that if they allow any liquid someone is going to get carried away and put a bunch of liquid that's going to leak inside the device and fry it and leave the company on the hook. If it was possible to damage the surface of the screen with just dampness it wouldn't pass quality control. People are going to accidentally get some moisture on the screens inevitably whether from the first rain drops that start to fall or land on the device running from car to house or just from a book causing them to laugh and spit on the screen. If they were that delicate they'd have huge issues. The chances of a CLEAN damp cloth causing issues are small (anything abrasive on it could scratch and that could cause bright spots).

Originally Posted by Gardenman

What about alcohol to clean the screen? I use that on my phone and it gets the finger marks off the screen

Most phones have glass screens. Any sort of plastic (the top screen layer on most e-readers for example) is not going to be happy with alcohol, it's just going to vary how unhappy it will be. Some plastics will melt instantly, others it may be a longer term discolouration or weakening. Short version is just don't do it.

[Barbara1955]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Who said no water? The H2O is allowed to go into water. In fact, Kobo did a promo video of the H2O in a pool with chlorine. If the H2O is allowed to have the light layer to get wet, then so is the Glo HD. If water would ruin the light layer, then there is no way the H2O could be certified waterproof.

NOT Talking about one that Supose to be Water proof!

[Barbara1955]

Originally Posted by Gardenman

What about alcohol to clean the screen? I use that on my phone and it gets the finger marks off the screen

That's what I been using on my K3 No Damage.

Don't just want it to Look Clean What it to Be Clean! I was told with the Lights No Water At all No Liquid .. But the tech refused to tell me how to clean it. I also asked him how Cleaning it 2 time in 4 month last time was a month ago Could possible Damage it? This was on my PW... Now I trying to buy a Kobo. I REALLY REALLY Want it to last!

[Barbara1955]

Originally Posted by meeera

From the Kindle Paperwhite user guide:

"Do not use your Kindle device or its accessories in rain, or near sinks or other wet locations. Take care not to spill any food or liquid on your Kindle. If your device does get wet, unplug all cables, turn off the wireless (tap the Menu button, select Settings, and enable Airplane Mode) and let the screen revert to the screensaver. Wait for the device to dry completely before pressing the power button to wake again. Do not attempt to dry your Kindle with an external heat source, such as a microwave oven or hair dryer. Clean the screen with a soft cloth; be careful not to wipe it with anything abrasive. When carrying your Kindle in a bag or briefcase, keep a cover on to avoid scratches.
Don't expose your Kindle to extreme heat or cold. For example, don't leave it in the trunk of your car in sub-zero or high-heat conditions."

Of course, with waterproof devices this is a little different - you can happily use them in the rain or tub or pool, or wash with a dripping wet cloth, or spill coffee on them, so long as you rinse with plain water if they've been in contact with non-water substances (chlorine etc).

Alcohol and other cleaners are just not necessary. They're fine and harmless on glass (like an iPhone etc), but I wouldn't risk the plastic coating of an e-ink device with them when you can get them clean with a dry cloth most of the time, and a slightly damp one the rest.

Not talking about Drowning it!

[Cinisajoy]

I have used a damp cloth on the screen with no harm.
Dropping in it in a 125 degree bath did major harm.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I have used a damp cloth on the screen with no harm.
Dropping in it in a 125 degree bath did major harm.

I hope you didn't also feed it after midnight

[copyrite]

Originally Posted by davidfor

I hope you didn't also feed it after midnight

Does that include preorders?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Gardenman

What about alcohol to clean the screen? I use that on my phone and it gets the finger marks off the screen

Don't use alcohol. Just use a damp microfibre cloth if you need to after trying s dry microfibre cloth.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Katie1

NOT Talking about one that Supose to be Water proof!

You get bad advice from Sales experts all the time. Just go to Fry's

DI water (no minerals left) IS OK. Damp, not dripping
Scrubbing, especially DRY is terrible. It will scratch.

Water is a (mild) 'solvent' and lubricant..

Alcohol is strong, ammonia is harsh (in Windex)


BTW many circuit boards (without switch/button contacts fitted) are washed in water to remove manufacturing chemicals

[JSWolf]

If it is just fingerprints I am cleaning, a dry microfiber cloth works well.

If it is something else that's stuck on that's not just fingerprints, dampen a little bit of the microfiber cloth, wipe the screen, then use the dry part to dry the screen.

[Gardenman]

Where do you get the microfiber cloths?

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Gardenman

Where do you get the microfiber cloths?

I got mine from Walgreen's but Amazon or most stores sell them. Mine are reusable eyeglass cleaning cloths but work well on all kinds of screens. Just never wash them with dish soap. You will never get the soap out. I wash mine by hand with mild liquid laundry detergent I get from the Dollar Tree then lay them out to dry.