Cleaning a Retina Display

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Level 1

5 points

Cleaning a Retina Display

I'm posting the feedback I gave to Apple concerning this page. As to the water and the actual cleaning, I've never used water before, only cleaning solution. Room temp tap water would be the obvious choice, as that's the temp of the cleaning solution, but they should post what's best to use, not only what we shouldn't use. And I've always cleaned horizontally, vertically, and in circles. My displays appear to be flawless so apparently I've been doing it right. But it would be good to know for sure.

Feedback:

"There are posts on here from 2013 asking how to clean displays. You've (Apple) not updated this page in years. The continued issue is that this page gives vague/incomplete instructions.

"To clean the screen on your MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air, first shut down the computer and unplug the power adapter. Dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with water only, then use it to clean the computer's screen."

There are 2 crucial omissions in that incomplete instruction.

1) There are many types of water: seltzer, soda, distilled, tap, purified, hard, soft, boiling, ice-cold, salt, etc... what's the point of giving instructions if you omit vital information?

2) Just get the cloth damp and clean it right (with proper water of course)? So do I rub the display lightly or with some force, horizontally or vertically, in circles, dabs, etc...? Or do I lay the cloth on the screen and wait until is soaks up all the dirt?

This could be fixed in a matter of a couple minutes."

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013), OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Mar 13, 2018 4:22 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

seventy one

Level 7

27,424 points

Apr 5, 2018 3:56 AM in response to davebodia

I think you are going to extremes. Tap water should be fine (in most countries) but I think bottled water might be best. Otherwise none of the others.

There would be no set way to use the damp (here I think they should have added 'not wet') cloth as long as all the surface is covered.

How do you clean your windows at home????? I've never seen such a detailed description as you give ... but the principle is the same.

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Answer 2

davebodia Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 5, 2018 3:54 AM in response to seventy one

Thanks for replying.

I intentionally went a bit extreme. I don't do well with automated support systems -they infuriate me beyond the point of my being able to think rationally- and Apple's "award-winning" support is lacking the one thing I want more than anything else from support; e-mail. Just writing this makes my blood boil.

Anyway, I did end up using plain ol' lukewarm bottled water (no bubbles of course), and a damp (probably a bit too wet actually), cotton t-shirt. I first rubbed lightly in circles, then vertical, then horizontal... then I did the whole procedure a second time. I then went over it a third time very lightly with the dry part of the shirt. Worked great, not a single streak. I think it's the cleanest I've ever gotten my screen or my TV. Works better than the cleaners the stores sell.

Note: I'm in SE Asia; 85 to 105 every day of the year, and very humid to boot. The t-shirts here are a much lighter and softer cotton than what you'll find in non-tropical climates; don't use the typical heavy cotton shirts. I think the Haynes shirts might even be too heavy.

As to my windows at home: soap & warm water with a squeegee and rag. Not a bad idea to keep some newspapers handy as well. I sure ain't gonna clean my retina display like that. lol

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Answer 3

seventy one

Level 7

27,424 points

Apr 5, 2018 4:09 AM in response to davebodia

Your findings are in keeping with Apple's description (more or less). Please try not to have more than a lightly dampened cloth, preferably the lint free cloths available in most good electrical stores. Thank you for the star.

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Cleaning a Retina Display

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