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therealmarv 10 hours ago

Alcohol? After research on Apple they allow:

    For infrequent cleaning of hard-to-remove smudges, you can moisten the cloth with a 70-percent isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solution.
source: https://support.apple.com/en-us/104948

But never apply it directly on screen. I think it's important to mention you just do not use "some alcohol" but it should be 70% isopropyl alcohol solution.

Btw. alcohol is a very good way to destroy the old glossy screens (non nano texture).

jen729w 9 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> Btw. alcohol is a very good way to destroy the old glossy screens (non nano texture).

Respectful disagree. My partner's family's go-to surface spray has always been a home-made mix of ~30% methylated spirits to water. That's the only bench spray I've used for 10+ years and I can report it's as effective as any commercial spray, and 10% the price. Just mix it at home and use it everywhere. Kitchen, bathroom, anywhere else. I speak as a clean-freak. It works.

It's also amazing for cleaning laptop screens. I spray it directly on. I shouldn't. I do. I type this on a 5-year-old Macbook Air whose screen has been cleaned countless times using this method. It looks like this. (The moon-surface-like texture at the top is the texture of the reflected wall, above.) https://share.cleanshot.com/bnHrCQDZ

1. Make this mixture in a $1 spray bottle at home.

2. Lock your laptop and press Escape so the screen turns off. Lay it screen-back-down, keyboard open at about 80°, so it sits on the bench.

3. Spray a small amount of this mixture on the screen, directly. But don't be shy. Just don't have the screen be swimming.

4. Wipe carefully with a kitchen towel.

5. Repeat as necessary.

So far the only danger I've found is catching an abrasive particle in the cloth in the wiping process. A pre-wipe can alleviate the issue.

crazygringo 9 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Yeah, I've always used lens wipes after an Apple employee recommended them to me, said it was what they used in-store (at least at the time):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NCOUY05?th=1

Apparently they're 39.5% isopropyl alcohol. 1 wipe is basically enough to clean 1 laptop screen before it all evaporates. Been using them for over a decade now on my MacBook Airs.

krackers 8 hours ago | parent [-]

I believe Apple stores used to use "Whoosh" cleaning spray along with a cloth replaced once a day. It's an alcohol free cleaning solution (very similar to alcohol free eyeglass cleaners).

Mild alcohol causing issues for MBP screens was primarily an issue with 2012-2014 "staingate" (due to defects in the coating process).

Lens wipes are only ~30% alcohol and are probably fine assuming correct application, but I guess given how often staingate has appeared as coatings get more complex there's a risk... Unfortunately you either have to tradeoff "contains alcohol but completely clean wipe" versus "alcohol free but using a cloth that might be contaminated by dust/grit".

Maybe you could do alcohol free eyeglass solution (or maybe even ROR fluid) + lens tissue (e.g. kimwipe).

therealmarv 8 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I've researched a little deeper. Apparently it depends on the mixture and on the model of your laptop.

I've written that because I remember of "staingate" of Apple Laptops. Apparently the 2012–2017 Retina models were really not okay with alcohol solutions.

So depending on the manufacturing year and alcohol solution percentage you can be fine with alcohol on glossy displays.

brianpan 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

You said: alcohol can be an amazing way to clean screens.

It's still true that: alcohol is a very good way to destroy the old glossy screens.

commandersaki 9 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I do similar but 30% Isopropyl Alcohol and I mix with distilled water.

jiveturkey 8 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The screen has an oleophobic coating. That is the danger of alcohol, that it strips the coating. For your phone absolutely don't do this. For your laptop it should be fine.

TheSamFischer 9 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

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