If your laptop has an internal battery, you don’t need to unplug the battery.

Avoid using paper products as well. Never use a napkin, paper towel, toilet paper or another paper product, since these are scratchy and will damage the screen. A microfiber cloth is handy for cleaning all sorts of screens and lenses. Note: If your computer screen has nano-texture glass (such as some iMacs), you’ll need a special cleaning cloth instead of a microfiber cloth.

When you wipe with gentle circular motion, you’ll be able to lift up some of the tougher spots. Never scrub the screen, or you could cause pixel burnout. Cleaning with compressed air is also a great, safe way to remove dust from your laptop.

If you want to do an even more thorough cleaning, check out how to clean the inside of your laptop and clean your keyboard. If your laptop has been overheating lately, try cleaning its fans.

If your laptop has an internal battery, you don’t need to unplug the battery.

Make sure you use plain white vinegar, not apple cider vinegar or any other kind. Distilled water is better than tap water because the salts and minerals have been removed. Manufacturers no longer recommend using any cleaners with alcohol, ammonia, or any strong solvents on LCD screens. [5] X Research source

Don’t spray the solution directly onto the screen. You can use a funnel to pour the solution into the bottle.

A wet cloth can drip or run when cleaning the screen and the solution can go behind the bezel, permanently damaging your screen. Try applying the solution to just one corner of the cloth at a time, to make sure you don’t get it too wet. 1 to 3 sprays should be enough.

Hold the screen toward the very top or very bottom to avoid re-smudging it as you work. You may need to pass over the screen multiple times before all the smudges have been removed. You may also need to re-dampen the cloth as you work, depending on how many passes over the screen you need to make. If you notice dripping liquid on the screen, there is too much solution on the cloth. Use a dry microfiber cloth to dab away the excess solution on the screen to avoid damaging it.

Do not drench the cloth in water. A soaked cloth is more likely to drip excess water into the machine, which could cause serious damage to your computer. If you accidentally use too much water, wring the cloth out well until it is only slightly moist.

Window cleaner All-purpose cleaner Dish soap, or soap of any kind

Make sure to use a keyboard cover made for laptops (preferably for your specific model). Microfiber cloths that are too thick could damage the screen while the laptop is closed. You can also consider using an external keyboard instead of the laptop keyboard to keep the screen cleaner for longer.