GB thanks for starting this topic. I hadn't given much thought to the subject. I use what I do 'cause it seemed right, and it worked.
In reading Mr. Broida's advise there were two things that surprised me. One is his acceptance of using paper towels, and the second is his prohibition against alcohol-based solutions.
What I found from a Google search is that there are many experts dispensing advise on the subject - it almost seems that its a mystical activity. Some of the things I uncovered:
1 - Many of these experts asdvise reading the owners manual before starting to clean your screen. Great idea! I have manuals from four different manufactures. None of them addressed screen cleaning - oh well, one idead shot. But I'll come back to this.
2 - Every one of the experts "forbid" in strong language the use of paper towels, toilet paper, or tissue. These materials are either too abrasive, too prone to disintegrate leaving residue on the screen, or both. They recommend a soft cloth, or preferably a micro-fiber cloth.
3 - These other experts were split about 50/50 on the use of alcohol solutions. Interestingly, about half of those that advise no alcohol said that its ok to use a screen cleaning solution if plain water isn't sufficient. Oh yeah, many of them said don't use tap water because too many impurities - use distilled, or de-ionized water. One of the experts advising the use of a screen cleaning solution made a video of himself using such a cleaner. He first read the label which described the contents as "water and [other additives]". The thing that struck me as he showed the product in use is how quickly it dried. Reminded me of (dare I say it?) alcohol.
Getting back to 1. I contacted Samsung Support and they linked me to their cleaning advise.Here is that write-up:
General Cleaning
For general cleaning of both the frame and screen of your LCD TV, use a soft, clean, lint free, dry cloth. Most Samsung TVs come with a microfiber cloth that you can use for this purpose. Never use cleaning fluids, wax, or chemicals except as described below. Do not use water unless the instructions that came with your TV say otherwise, and only use water on the portion of the TV that the instructions say to use it on.
Cleaning Fingerprints And Greasy Smudges Off the Screen
To clean fingerprints and greasy smudges off your TV screen, get a bottle of ScreenClean screen cleaning solution or similar screen cleaner. You should be able to get it at most regular and on-line stores that sell monitors or TVs. Put a small amount of ScreenClean on a clean, soft, dry cloth, and then rub the screen gently.
Warning: Never use any type of window cleaner, soap, scouring powder, or any cleanser with solvents such as alcohol, benzene, ammonia, or paint thinner. Never use abrasive pads or paper towels. If you do, you can scratch the screen or strip the anti-glare coating off the screen and cause permanent damage.
To clean your television correctly, follow these steps:
1. Unplug your TV before you begin.
2. Clean the frame of your LCD TV with a soft, clean, lint free, dry cloth.
3. To clean the screen, first try wiping gently with the soft, clean, lint free, dry cloth. If that does not work, spray ScreenClean or another screen cleaner solution onto the cloth. Never spray it directly onto your TV screen.
4. Wipe the screen with the cloth as gently as possible. LCD TV screens are fragile and can be damaged if you press too hard.
5. Let the screen dry completely before you plug the TV back in.
Sticker Adhesive
If you removed the stickers from your TV and have adhesive residue remaining, click here for instructions explaining how to remove the residue.
Sorry for the length of this, I hope its useful.
