Flat screen televisions and monitors, most of which are LCD (including LED-backlit LCD), as well as touchscreen devices of all kinds, require special attention when cleaning.

Older CRT screens, the kind used in large "tube" monitors and TVs, are glass and can be cleaned in pretty much the same way as you would any other glass in your home or office.

Flat screen and touch displays, however, are much more sensitive and can be easily scratched and damaged during cleaning. The same applies to your laptop or tablet screen, and often, too, to the screen on your smartphone or eBook reader.

Plasma TVs are glass, as are many touchscreens, but often also have very sensitive anti-glare coatings applied. I recommend taking the same special care with those types of displays.

Follow the easy steps below to safely clean your flat screen monitor, TV, laptop screen, or other device in just a few minutes.

This information applies to televisions from a variety of manufacturers including, but not limited to, those made by LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, and Vizio.

1:31 How to Properly Clean a TV

How to Clean a Flat Screen TV or Computer Monitor

Grace Kim ©Lifewire

Turn off the device. If the screen is dark, it will be easier to see the areas that are dirty or oily. Turning the device off also prevents you from accidentally pushing buttons you don't actually want to push, which happens a lot when cleaning touchscreen devices like tablets, iPads, etc. Use a dry, soft cloth and very gently wipe the screen with a microfiber cloth or dry eraser, both equally fantastic choices. If the dry cloth did not completely remove the dirt or oil, do not press harder in an attempt to scrub it off. Pushing directly on the screen can often cause pixels to burn out, especially on laptop displays, desktop monitors, and LCD/LED TV screens. This isn't so much an issue on screens designed to be touched, like phones and tablets, but be careful nonetheless. If necessary, dampen the cloth with distilled water or with an equal ratio of distilled water to white vinegar. Many companies also sell small spray bottles of special cleaner for flat screens. The plastic edge that surrounds the screen can be cleaned with any multipurpose cleaner but take care to avoid contact with the screen itself.

Tips & More Information