How to Clean the iPad Screen

How to Clean the iPad Screen

The iPad has a beautiful screen, there’s no doubt about that, but once you’ve handled it for a while you might notice the screen gets dirty. And of course if your hands are dirty, the display of the iPad will get dirtier more quickly. The dirty iPad screen factor really grows if you let children use iPads too, as the display can pick up whatever is on their hands and fingers. Perhaps the worst thing about the iPad is that it shows up fingerprints and smudges so easily, this is despite the fact that the screen has an anti-oil coating on it, and many of us like to keep that nice shiny black glass looking as pristine as possible.

So, how do you clean the iPad screen? Fortunately cleaning the iPad display is quite easy to do safely. This applies to all iPad models, including iPad, iPad Pro, iPad mini, and iPad Air.

How to Clean the iPad Screen the Right Way

The proper way to clean the iPad display is to use nothing but a soft damp cloth:

1. Turn off the iPad and disconnect it from any accessories, cables, or docks
2. Using a very soft and slightly damp cloth (with clean water), gently wipe the iPad screen. Be sure to not allow moisture to get into the openings of the iPad
3. Repeat until the iPad screen is clean again

You can use cotton cloth, a towel, microfiber, or even a soft paper towel. Just make sure whatever you are rubbing on the iPad screen is very soft and clean itself. You don’t want to use anything that could leave scratches on the iPad screen as you clean it up.

What if the iPad is ultra dirty with grease, pizza, peanut butter, or just super dirty?

If the iPad screen is extra dirty, again use a damp cloth to wipe it down.

It may take several wipes to clean the screen sufficiently, but using only a damp cloth with water is the best way to safely clean iPad screens.

Can I clean the iPad screen with Windex, Alcohol, or Window Cleaner?

No, using abrasive or chemical cleaners is strongly not recommended. So do NOT use Windex, chemical cleaners, or window cleaners! These type of harsh chemical cleaners can damage the screen by stripping away the coating on the display.

This includes rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, glass cleaner, ammonia products, bleach, and the like.

The chemicals in industrial and many household cleaners and these products can damage the oleophobic screen coating and actually make the iPad screen less responsive to touch over time.

So that is not worth it, do not use chemical cleaners! Stick to a damp cloth and water to clean the iPad screen

What can prevent the iPad screen from showing fingerprints and getting dirty?

Your best bet to keeping the iPad screen clean is to just wipe it down frequently with a soft cloth.

If you get annoyed with the fingerprints though, you can use a screen protector product like any of the iPad screen protectors on Amazon which double both as a way to protect the screen from scratches and also reduces the appearance of fingerprints. There are other similar screen protector products that may also help to keep the iPad screen clean and perhaps ward off scratches and other damage too.

It’s worth pointing out there are also anti-glare iPad screen protectors available if both the glare and the fingerprints bother you.

So the next time you want to clean the iPad screen, just use a lightly damp cloth and gently wipe down the screen. Repeat, until the screen looks nice and clean again. That’s all there is to it, don’t use chemicals or abrasives, keep it simple!