Can't get my screen clean

FYI - You should remove "G5" from your profile. Your iMac is an Intel iMac (if the rest of the details are correct) which is not a G5.

If it is only 5 months old, and you have an Apple Store nearby, you should make a reservation at the Genius Bar and take it there. It is possible you have some dust on the inner surface of the glass covering the LCD.

If it's on the outside surface, then taking it to an Apple Store won't help. Is the iMac close to a kitchen, where vaporized oil can reach it? If it keeps getting "greasy" (and not just dusty) after you clean it, it must be coming from somewhere.

I think the official method is a lint-free cloth dampened with water, but because it is a glass surface (and not the direct LCD), you should able to use something like Windex (perhaps diluted) since you are trying to clean off some type of greasy residue, not just dust like most people. Obviously, apply on the cloth to make it damp (not wet), not the glass.

Dampen the screen with water and then go at it with a good sized micro-fiber cloth. Buff it good.

There are multiple layers which can be dirty and it's almost impossible which. There's the outer glass (the one you're polishing), there's the inside of the outer glass, there's the outside of the LCD panel and the inside of the LCD panel.

Through the fans sucking in air and blowing it through the computer too cool it, all could get dirty. If you're sure it's a film on the outside then a microfiber cloth, diluted alcohol, distilled water would be your friends.

However if you see stains when the Mac is turned on and those don't go away or even change no mater what you do, chances are high that they are on the inside. In that case you'll need to remove the outer glass with suction cups (there are ample instructions for that on the forum). The inside of the front glass can be cleaned the same way as the outside. You can also clean the lcd panel (the part of the monitor that is accesible when you remove the outer glass), just no hard pushing and rubbing there (normal wiping with damp microfiber is okay).

I too cleaned my imac screen with windex leaving ghost like smears that would not go away until I cleaned it with vinegar and then used a squeegee to swipe dry! Yippee! Just thought I'd share what worked for me.

Laura Drew1:

If the grease or whatever it is is due to your environment, Apple may refuse to repair it even if you have a warranty because the computer was used under conditions beyond what is expected under a warranty. I suggest you take care of this quickly because if there is grease inside, then you may have problems getting warranty work done without cost.

Monster's iClean, while somewhat expensive (though when I bought it it came with two huge microfiber cloths, which are excellent) works wonders. Doesn't run either, which is great on my lappy..