How to Clean a Tablet Screen: 4 Easy Methods

Did you know that, on average, we touch our screens over 2,000 times a day?

It’s a small wonder that our devices collect fingerprints. And, unless you wash your hands every time you handle your table, chances are that it’s collected more than a few germs.

Here are some tips on how to clean a tablet screen to restore its former fingerprint-free glory.

WHY DO TABLET SCREENS GET SMUDGED?

Most phone and tablet screens are finished with a special oleophobic topcoat. Oleophobic is just what it sounds like: oil resistant.

This coating does an excellent job of keeping the oils from your hands at bay, but it’s not perfect and tends to wear away over time. This leaves the screen vulnerable to smudges and smears, much like a mirror or window.

With so much time being spent on phones or tablets, oil, bacteria, and germs build up on our devices quickly. To avoid a smudged, germ-covered tablet, you’ll want to clean your tablet screen regularly. That being said, you may be tempted to slather Windex onto your tablet screen, which we don’t recommend. Read on to how to clean a tablet screen. 

4 TIPS ON HOW TO CLEAN A TABLET SCREEN

Before you try out any of these methods, you’ll want to make sure your device is off or locked so you can fully see the screen that you’re cleaning. There’s nothing more frustrating than missing a particularly dirty spot because your tablet keeps lighting up and blocking visibility. 

TIP 1: USE A MICROFIBER CLOTH

The easiest and often the best way to clean your tablet screen is with a simple microfiber cloth. Most of us have got at least one of these lying around, as they often come bundled with phones, tablets, glasses, and other products.

Microfiber’s ultra-soft, ultra-fine weave makes it perfect for safely wiping down a tablet screen. Simple circular patterns are best to remove any smudges or marks. Although a plain cotton shirt could do the job in a pinch, microfiber is really the safest material to use on Gorilla Glass.

Other materials, like paper towels or napkins, are too rough for tablet screens, and could leave the surface further smudged, or even scratched! We’ll discuss what to avoid when cleaning your tablet screen further in the next section. 

TIP 2: SPRAY ON A SPECIALLY FORMULATED SCREEN CLEANER

For extra-stubborn smears, or if your tablet is the unfortunate victim of a sticky lunchtime spill, the answer might be in a liquid cleaner.

It’s common to want to reach for a cleaner like Windex or Lysol, but you’ll need to resist that urge if you want to protect your screen. Luckily, a special screen cleaning solution is widely available and is much safer and more beneficial for tablet screens. Just spray a little on the screen and wipe away with a microfiber or other lint-free cloth. You’ll quickly see the benefits, and with no harm to the oleophobic coating!

BONUS: Most liquid cleaners come paired with a microfiber cloth! 

TIP 3: MAKE YOUR OWN DIY SCREEN CLEANER ON THE CHEAP!

Here’s a little secret: most of those screen cleaning solutions are made of only two ingredients. Even more, you can find these ingredients in your home!

Mix equal parts of rubbing alcohol (also called isopropyl alcohol) and distilled water to create a DIY cleaner. Make sure you use distilled water here, as the minerals in tap water could leave a residue on the screen. As an added bonus, the alcohol does a stellar job of disinfecting your germ-ridden tablet.

Looking for inexpensive gifts around the holidays? Make a big mixture and hand out spray bottles to friends and family. This DIY mixture is great for tablet screens and clear phone cases that have turned yellow.

They’ll be impressed with your chemistry skills — as long as they don’t know the secret!

TIP 4: TAPE IT!

If you’d rather not go the liquid cleaner route, a simple strip of scotch tape works well. You heard right — scotch tape has a magical way of cleaning your tablet screen. Tape lifts dirt and fingerprints off your screen while leaving any permanent screen coatings intact.

We at SaharaCase use this same principle when instructing users on how to prep their device for applying a screen protector (and we even include a large adhesive sheet in the Protection Kit!)

WHAT TO AVOID

Knowing how to clean your tablet screen means also knowing what to avoid as you remove smudges and germs. When you’re ready to clean your tablet screen, keep the following materials far away: 

ROUGH MATERIALS

As mentioned above, paper products like napkins and or paper towels are too rough on your screen. The last thing you want when trying to clean your tablet is to scratch your tablet screen. 

Thinking a dishwasher brush or sponge might do the trick? Think again! These rough materials may also scratch your tablet screen and leave behind residue. 

HARSH CHEMICALS

Put that Windex down! Never use typical household cleaners like Windex, Lysol, or disinfectant wipes on your tablet screen. The abrasive qualities of these cleaners could actually wipe away the oleophobic coating that’s doing most of the work of protecting your tablet against smudges in the first place.

Additionally, chemicals that leak into your tablet through the charging port or microphone can damage internal wiring. Keep your tablet protected and avoid reaching for the Windex. 

TIME FOR A NEW SCREEN PROTECTOR

Hopefully, you’ve got some new tips in your toolbox on how to clean a tablet screen. If you’re worried about damage to your device from spills or drops, it may be time for a screen protector.

Our ZeroDamage Screen Protector is coated with a premium oleophobic coating, so it glides and repels fingerprints just like your screen. It even comes bundled with everything you’ll need to apply it. It even includes a unique alignment tool, which snaps onto your phone and helps you place the screen protector just so.

Like phone screens, no screen protector is completely smudge-proof and will benefit from the occasional wipe-down and sanitizing. However, the benefits of outfitting your phone with a protector are numerous. They absorb glass-cracking shock from a bad fall, saving your costly screen in the process. A protector can also revitalize an older, well-loved screen whose oleophobic coating has been worn down.

Check out our full line of ZeroDamage Tempered Glass screen protectors to make sure your device stays lean, mean, and clean.

Use code CLEAN15 for 15% off SaharaCase screen protectors!