Most households today have a flat screen computer monitor. Unlike their cathode ray tube predecessors, flat-screen computer monitors can easily be damaged if you press too hard on the screen. When it's time to clean them, you'll need to use a gentle touch and gentle cleaners.

Turn off the Power
When your monitor is powered down, it’s easier to see dirt and other debris on the screen. If the display is on, you might not notice a speck or be able to distinguish it because the screen display is distracting. Turn your monitor off for cleaning to make sure you don’t miss a spot.

Wipe the Monitor Down
Don’t use an abrasive cleaning cloth, such as paper towels or a sponge, because abrasive cleaning materials can scratch and damage flat screen monitors. Always use a dry, soft cloth to clean your monitor. Cotton is an ideal cleaning material as it’s extremely soft and non-abrasive. Make sure your cleaning material is clean, as dirty cleaning cloths may have rough materials in the cloth that could scratch your screen. Don’t use a wet cloth to clean flat screen monitors unless you’re using the right cleaning solution.

Choose Liquid Cleaners Carefully
Never use Windex or other window-cleaning liquids to clean a flat screen computer monitor. The chemicals in these solutions can eat away at the protective coating on your monitor and cause potential long-term damage, or turn your monitor display yellow. If you must use a cleaning solution on your monitor, try distilled water or a mixture of distilled water and white vinegar.

Don’t use tap water to clean your flat screen, as tap water can contain chemicals or sediment that can leave a film on your screen. Also don’t use too much liquid to clean your flat screen; apply the liquid to the cloth, not the screen, and squeeze the cloth to drain excess liquid before you wipe down the screen.

Clean Gently
Flat screen monitors are fragile. Don’t rub too hard at the screen, or scratch or touch it with your fingertips. If wiping the screen down doesn’t remove the debris, use a cleaning solution or monitor wipe to clean it; don’t use excessive force. If you rub a screen too hard or scratch or poke at it, you can damage the pixels and ultimately ruin your screen.

Dry it Thoroughly
If you do use a cleaning liquid on your monitor, make sure it’s completely dry after you clean it. If you apply the liquid thickly, wipe down your monitor with a dry cloth after cleaning to prevent streaking and remove excess cleaning liquid.

Try a Monitor Wipe
If you don’t want to worry about using the correct cleaning solution, consider a monitor wipe to help you remove particularly difficult spots from the monitor. Monitor wipes are made of a very soft material and are generally treated with a cleaning solution that’s safe for your screen. You can purchase monitor wipes at any electronics store, and while they’re more expensive than doing it yourself, they save you the trouble of wondering if you’re using the right cleaning supplies