Electronics Care

Why devices need their own cleaner

A screen has thin coatings on top of the glass that control glare and resist fingerprints. A keyboard traps dust and oil between the keys. These are not household surfaces and they do not want household cleaner.

Most glass cleaners contain ammonia, which strips those coatings over time, and that damage does not come back. A dry cloth is gentler but mostly pushes the oil around instead of lifting it.

How do you choose an electronics cleaner?

Four things matter, in this order.

The formula

IPA at around 70% is what professionals use on equipment. It lifts oil, removes bacteria and everyday germs, and evaporates before it can seep anywhere.

What it leaves behind

A good cleaner dries with no streaks and no film. If you wipe twice, it is doing half the job.

The spray

A fine mist covers evenly. A coarse spray puts too much liquid in one place, which is how fluid reaches a port.

Where it comes from

An imported bottle costs more and takes weeks. A local one arrives in days, takes cash on delivery, and you can message the people who made it.

What to avoid

• Ammonia. In most household glass cleaners. It slowly strips screen coatings.
• Tap water. Leaves white mineral marks as it dries. Distilled water does not.
• Tissue and kitchen roll. More abrasive than they look, and they leave lint.
• Spraying straight onto the device. Always spray the cloth first. This is the mistake that damages devices most often.

Frequently asked questions