The BEST way to get rid of fingerprints?

Cleaning

There are many cleaning solutions sold specifically as LCD cleaners. You can use these to clean LCD screens on Dell notebooks or Dell flat panel monitors. If you do not use one of these products designated specifically as an LCD cleanser, use isopropyl alcohol (IPA), which you can find in the grocery store, or water (preferably filtered),lens cleaner or Eye Glass Cleaner.

NOTICE: Do not use any of the following chemicals or any solutions that contain them: acetone, ethyl alcohol, toluene, ethyl acid, ammonia, or methyl chloride. If you have a different chemical or solution and are not sure whether it is suitable, do not use it. Using any of the chemicals in the previous list may cause permanent damage to the LCD. Some commercial window cleaners contain ammonia and are therefore unacceptable.



To clean the LCD display, use a soft, clean cloth (such as a lens cloth used to clean eyeglasses). Moisten the cloth with the cleaner, and then stroke the cloth across the display in one direction, moving from the top of the display to the bottom.

Just in case there are any mix ups in labelling I've included other common names that LICHE1908 mentioned.

Do Not Use - ethyl alcohol = ethanol. Ethyl acid = acetic acid. Methyl chloride = methylene chloride = dichloromethane.

I've found that repetitive, light stroking of fingerprints with a dry cloth will remove the mark. A damp cloth does work eventually, but as they say water and oil don't mix.

cheers dtkirk

I've been using 3M Electronic Equipment Cleaner.  Bought it at OfficeMax.  It has a picture of a computer with a LCD monitor on the can.  Says it is great for laptops and PDAs.  Contains Water, 2-Butoxyethanol, and Isobutane.  Is butoxyethonal harmful too?

i8600 1.5GHz, WUXGA, 1GB 2dimm, 128 Mb ATI Radeon 9600, 60 Gb 5400 RPM HD, DVD+RW, True Moble 1300, Microsoft MN-700 base station, Windows XP Home

dtkirk,

Just from a chemical point of view, ethyl acid is not acetic acid. Acetic acid is also known as Ethanoic acid and has the structural formula of CH3COOH. A damp cloth usually gets rid of 90% of all finger prints. Make sure to rub the cloth in a rotating motion to allow the water to remove the oil from the fingerprints. You can also use the Belkin's LCD wipes which are available from any computer store for about 99 cents for a pack of 25.

deepak_ramkumar, There is no such thing as ethyl acid. I just assumed the chemical name which the helpful regular before me mentioned was acetic acid. As acetic acid (vinegar) is one of the major constituents of window cleaners I felt ths was a safe assumption.  cheers dtkirk

Message Edited by dtkirk on 03-20-2004 01:37 PM

Hey Dtkirk,

Acutally, you'd be surprised. Although uncommon and exists only in a transition state during the oxidation of ethanal, there is a product called ethyl acid. It has the structural formual CH2CH3COOH, and it is an isomer of propanoic acid.  It serves as a catalyst and an inhibitor during this oxidation process.

Hey Dtkirk,

Acutally, you'd be surprised. Although uncommon and exists only in a transition state during the oxidation of ethanal, there is a product called ethyl acid. It has the structural formual CH2CH3COOH, and it is an isomer of propanoic acid.  It serves as a catalyst and an inhibitor during this oxidation process.

Hey

sorry for the double post. Accidentally hit the button twice

...keep pointy fingers away from the screen! Use the mouse cursor for pointing (or verbally articulate where you wish to draw attention to).

Can you please take this to the Chemistry forum, will you.

posted on Behalf of sakor1...