How to Clean a LCD Monitor

LCD monitors are cleaned differently compared to CRT monitors. Since CRT monitors have glass screen, then they can be cleaned similarly to how you clean any glass surfaces at home or in the office. Cleaning LCD monitors require some special care because the displays are more sensitive and can be scratched and damaged easily.

Cleaning Time

There are now LCD monitor cleaners that can you can use in cleaning LCD monitors. These cleaners do not contain any chemical substances that are found in other commercial glass cleaners. They are really perfect for the job but you have to buy them from any computer store outlets. If you don’t want to spend some dollars on cleaning your LCD monitor, then here are some alternative substances that you can safely.How To Clean A LCD Monitor 300x219 How to Clean a LCD Monitor

Safe to Use Substances

The following substances are safe to use in cleaning LCD monitors.

- Water
- Isopropyl alcohol
- A mixture of water and a small amount of mild liquid soap
- Petroleum Benzine
- Hexane
- Any commercial glass cleaners that do not have ammonia in its ingredients

Unsafe Substances

The following substances are not safe to use in cleaning LCD monitors.

- Ammonia
- Acetone
- Ethyl alcohol
- Ethyl acid
- Toluene
- Methyl chloride
- Any commercial glass cleaners that contains ammonia in its ingredients

How to Do It

1. Turn off the monitor first because a dark screen will allow you to see which areas are oily or dirty.

2. Get a soft, clean cloth like the ones that you use in cleaning eyeglasses. Dampen the cloth with the cleaner of your choice and wipe the monitor in a left to right, up and down motion.

3. While cleaning LCD monitors, do not press harder on the screen in order to scrub off the dirt. Pressing hard on the monitor will cause the pixels to burn out and damage it.

4. If the monitor has some grease and other contaminants on it, it is best not to use commercial cleaners on it because it will smear the contaminants across the monitor. Just use plain water to dampen the cloth and wipe it across the monitor.

Tips on Cleaning LCD Monitors

- Do not use tissue paper, toilet paper, paper towels, or any kind of cloth on wiping your LCD monitor. Non-ultrasoft materials are not to use since they can easily scratch the monitor.

- Do not spray the liquid cleaners directly onto the LCD monitor. The reason is that the liquid could run inside the monitor and will eventually damage it.

LCD Monitors Maintenance

Never subject LCD monitors to high humidity and temperatures. Avoid exposing the monitors to direct sunlight. Never apply physical shocks to the monitors like stacking books and other things over them.

How to Clean a Coffeemaker with Vinegar

To have great tasting coffee every day, it is best to know the procedure to clean your coffeemaker properly. For this purpose, you could use vinegar. There are lots of commercial cleaners out there but using vinegar is fairly cheap. It is also a natural cleaning agent that is gentle to use on your coffee maker.

As you use your coffeemaker daily, mineral deposits and oils can build up and this can affect the taste of your coffee. Cleaning your coffeemaker once every 6-8 weeks will ensure that your coffee always tastes fresh and delicious. Regular cleaning will also lengthen the life span of your coffeemaker.How to Clean a Coffeemaker With Vinegar 300x260 How to Clean a Coffeemaker with Vinegar

Materials Required

  • white vinegar
  • rag
  • dish soap
  • water

Steps to Clean Your Coffeemaker

The following simple steps are involved in the process of cleaning your coffeemaker.

1. Make a solution in the ratio of three parts water to one part vinegar (3:1). If you have a 12-cup coffeemaker, then you should have a solution of nine cups water to three cups of vinegar (9:3). Use the carafe in mixing the solution for cleaning your coffeemaker.

2. Pour in the solution to the water reservoir to start cleaning your coffeemaker. Put the carafe back in its place on the warming plate of the coffeemaker. Turn on the coffeemaker and run a complete brewing cycle just like brewing real coffee.

3. Let the solution cool down for a few minutes.

4. Once again, pour in the solution in the coffeemaker and do the complete brewing cycle once more.

5. Dispose the solution and run a complete brewing cycle of clean, cold water through your coffeemaker. Dispose the water and run a complete brewing cycle once again using a new carafe full of clean, cold water.

6. This is also the best time to clean the permanent filter of your coffeemaker as well as the carafe. Wash the filter completely with water and soap then, immerse in a newly made solution of water and vinegar just like the one you used earlier. Leave it like that for a few minutes and then wash it using hot soapy water together with the carafe and rinse it completely. Leave it in a clean, safe place to air dry.

7. Wash your coffeemaker completely using hot soapy water. Pay special attention to areas such as the cracks, designs, corners and so on, where there can be a buildup of dirt.

Tips and Warnings

Now that you are done cleaning your coffeemaker, you might notice that it looks like new! Keeping it looking like this between cleaning is quite simple. Just drop a clean marble inside the water reservoir and leave it there for a month. This marble will act like a magnet for minerals and other deposits, thus, avoiding dirt buildups. Replace the marble with a clean one on a weekly basis.

While cleaning the coffeemaker with the vinegar solution, wipe the electric cord to keep it dry. Always unplug the coffeemaker before cleaning.

Use the above mentioned simple steps to keep your coffeemaker clean and spotless.

How to Clean a Computer Screen

People use computers a lot. Because of this, these all-important electronic gadgets easily acquire dust and dirt. Fingerprints, stubborn dirt and food residues are just some of the many different factors that can affect how computer screens look. Furthermore, it is harder to see images right off your screens if they are dirty. To enjoy high quality pictures and images, it is good to learn how to clean a computer screen.

Materials Needed

The materials needed for this easy task include a mild detergent solution, which is the primary tool especially in taking out stubborn dirt. It is also good to have an anti-static computer vacuum at hand or compressed air to remove hard-to-reach spots. To achieve highly desirable results, buy a spray cleaner that is specifically designed for computer screens. For wiping off dirt, get a nice, soft and lint-free cloth. With these materials available, cleaning is definitely very easy.Computer Screen How to Clean a Computer Screen

Steps

When cleaning electronic devices like computers and their monitors, the power supply must be unplugged. Allow them to cool down first before cleaning. For the outer parts of the monitor, the vacuum can work wonders. Do this step to the slots and holes at the top as well as the cooling grooves. This can help collect debris and heavy dust. If there is no vacuum available, use compressed air instead. The important thing is to eliminate dirt and dust without them falling right into the ventilation holes.

Get a nice clean piece of cloth and then dampen it with a mild detergent solution. Use it to wipe clean the outer plastic parts of the computer monitor. When cleaning the power lines and monitor cables, make sure that all of them are totally disconnected from the power source. Dampen the cloth once again. Use it to wipe off dirt and dust from the lines and cables.

Spray significant amounts of window cleaner right into a lint-free cloth. Use it to wipe off dirt and dust from the computer screen. It is not advisable to spray the solution directly onto the screen. Be sure to wipe the solution right away because it is possible to drip inside and cause significant damage to your computer. It is good to buy a special product called ShopShield computer monitor dust cover, which is specifically designed to protect computer monitors from dust and dirt. This is a really good product because it allows cool air to pass through while filtering dirt and other foreign objects from the monitor.

How to Clean a Dishwasher

Cleaning your dishwasher should be done regularly just like any other frequently used home appliances. You might not notice it but through time, small bits of food, soap scum, and grease have clung together and have been deposited in corners and crevices of your dishwasher. And as these things continue to accumulate, your dishwasher will really experience appearance and odor problems.

Steps for Cleaning your Dishwasher

1. Get a small brush and dip it in hot soapy water. Scrub around the door specially the areas where the grooves and crevices of the rubber seal are. You will most likely be surprised at the amount of debris that has accumulated there.

2. While scrubbing thoroughly, you may need the assistance of a soft abrasive cleanser in order to remove the hardened grime on your dishwasher.

3. Once you’re done scrubbing the dirt and grime, use a household sponge soaked in hot soapy water to wipe away the scrub off dirt and grime. Wipe the sponge over the door and continue scrubbing the parts inside your dishwasher that may have food remains especially the out of reach corners.

4. While cleaning your dishwasher, pull out the bottom rack and check the drain area. Wipe around the drain area to ensure that no hard lumps are blocking the drain. Don’t be surprise if you will find chips of glass, crab shells, small pieces of gravel, and bones inside. These things could block the drain and will cause damage to the dishwasher’s pump and even scratch the dishes.Dishwasher How to Clean a Dishwasher

5. Wet a clean sponge with the cleaning solution and wipe it on the gasket and the door of your dishwasher.

6. Fill up a dishwasher-safe cup with some plain white vinegar and place it on the top rack. Run a complete cycle using the hottest water temperature available. Make sure that your dishwasher is empty while doing this except for the cup of vinegar.

7. The vinegar will help in cleaning your dishwasher by washing away the loose, greasy grime. It will also sanitize your dishwasher and any musty odor will be removed.

8. If you don’t have any white vinegar available to use in cleaning your dishwasher, a sachet of unsweetened lemonade mix place in the soap cup can be a good alternative. Other flavors of lemonade are not safe to use because they will only left stains in your dishwasher.

9. To have a refreshing and bright appearance after cleaning your dishwasher, it is ideal to use baking soda to remove the stains inside. Scatter a cupful of baking soda around the bottom and run a complete cycle using the hottest water temperature available in your dishwasher.

How to Clean a DVD Player

If you’re cleaning the DVD player, the proper methods must be used. Using the incorrect materials could cause the unit to malfunction.

Required Tools and Materials

Q tips
Air duster
Rubbing alcohol
Lubricant (3 in 1)
Screwdrivers
Cleaning disc

Unplugging the Unit How To Clean A DVD Player How to Clean a DVD Player

Turn off the player and disconnect the unit from the TV. Put the player on a separate desk. Use the air duster to get rid of the dust. If possible, open the drawer. This should help you get rid of the dust inside the unit.

Insert the Cleaning Disc

Put the cleaning disc in the drive. When it’s finished, remove the disc and try the player. If it doesn’t work, you must continue cleaning the DVD player. The next step would be to disassemble the player.

Note: the following steps could damage the unit if not done correctly. Opening the screws would mean having to put it back togetehr again. If you don’t want to do this, take the player to the repair shop

Disassembling the Disc

Find the screw holes. Take out only enough screws to take out the bottom casing. Remove the dust and particles inside the unit. Be careful you don’t pull off any wiring. Use the air duster only when you have removed the heavy dust particles. Don’t shake the duster; just spray it straight into the unit.

Using the Q Tips

Put some alcohol on the Q tip to continue cleaning the DVD player. Place the Q tip on the laser and clean it. Use the Q tips on the rails if necessary. Don’t use the Q tip on the wiring or circuits. Give it a minute to dry.

Using the 3 in 1 Lubricant

When the alcohol has dried, get another Q tip. Put a little bit of 3 and 1 on it. This Q tip can be used to clean the rails, belts and other gears. Don’t use it on the laser or the circuit boards. Give it a couple of minutes to dry.

Reassemble the Player

Put the screws back in place. You’re done cleaning the DVD player. Some like to use the cleaning disc again, but that probably isn’t necessary. Put a DVD disc in the player. It should run smoothly now.

Tips and Warnings

Be careful when using the Q tips. The wirings and circuits are very sensitive; if they get wet it could destroy the whole unit. Don’t use any chemical other than alcohol and 3 in 1 lubricant.

Don’t use 3 in 1 mineral oil; it will damage the unit. If you have the slightest doubt of your ability to put the unit together again, do not open it.

Use the air duster at least once a month. This will keep the dust from accumulating. Only apply a moderate amount of alcohol and lubricant on the Q tip. Too much will take too long to dry up.

There’s no need to pay a professional for cleaning the DVD player. As has been made clear, this is something you can do all on your own.