3 Easy Ways to Remove Fingerprints from a TV Screen

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Clean fingerprints from a TV screen with household items

Co-authored by James Sears and Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: January 19, 2026 Fact Checked

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Using a Microfiber Cloth

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Using Water

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Using a TV Screen Cleaner

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Video

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Tips

Trying to watch TV through a layer of dust and fingerprints can be an incredibly frustrating experience. Luckily, cleaning fingerprints off your TV screen is a simple and straightforward process. You can use a dry microfiber cloth, or you can use that cloth with water or a special TV screen cleaner. Avoid harsh cleansers like rubbing alcohol and vinegar. This wikiHow will show you how to remove fingerprints and greasy smudges from your TV screen.

Ways to Clean a TV Screen

Use a dry microfiber cloth to buff away a few fingerprints or smudges.
Use water to dampen a microfiber cloth, then rub the fingerprints away with circular motions.
If the TV screen has a lot of fingerprints, use a special TV screen cleaner to remove them.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using a Microfiber Cloth

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All you'll need is an anti-static microfiber cloth. Your TV may have come with a special cleaning cloth, or you may need to purchase one yourself. Use microfiber cloths created specifically for cleaning electronic screens. The microfiber cloths with larger fibers may scratch your TV screen.
If your TV screen is dusty, rubbing that dust into the screen might scratch it. Before you begin cleaning off the fingerprints, use a clean microfiber cloth to gently swipe the dust off of the screen.

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Gently rub a clean cloth on the screen in circular motions. If the screen isn't too dirty, you should be able to buff the fingerprints off the screen gently with your microfiber cloth. Using circular motions is best to avoid streaks.^{[1]
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- It's best to try to clean the screen without water or cleaning solution first.
- Make sure the cleaning cloth and your hands are both clean before beginning this process, or you may make the screen dirtier. Don't use the same cloth you used for dusting in Step 2.
- If a dry cloth doesn't get the fingerprints off, try water or a special electronics cleaner.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Water

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Turn off your TV and unplug it. Since you'll be using water to clean the fingerprints on your screen later in the process, it's a good idea to turn your TV off and cut the power to it completely. If there's a switch next to the plug socket that allows you to cut power to the socket, you can turn the switch off instead of unplugging the TV.
- When your TV is turned on, any water that touches the screen could heat up and burn into the screen. To avoid permanent damage, always remember to unplug your TV before you start to clean it.
- Wash your hands before cleaning to avoid extra dirt or smudges on your screen.
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Dry dust the screen before cleaning off the fingerprints. If your TV screen is dusty, rubbing that dust into the screen might scratch it. Before you begin cleaning off the fingerprints, use a clean microfiber cloth to gently swipe the dust off of the screen.
- Anti-static microfiber cloths are the safest kind of cloth to use on your TV screen.
- Check out more TV cleaning tips from wikiHow users on wikiHow’s "What's the best way to clean a flat screen TV?" forum.
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Moisten a clean cloth with water and wipe the screen. Wet the cloth and squeeze it out over your sink to remove any excess water. When wiping the screen, pay special attention to the areas with fingerprints. Use gentle pressure with the cloth so you don't damage the screen.
- Never spray water directly on your TV screen, as this can damage it. Always moisten the cleaning cloth you plan to use, instead.
- The best water to use when cleaning your TV screen is distilled water, since it's purely water. When it dries, it won't leave any residue or spots.
- Make sure the cloth isn't so wet that water runs off it when you apply it to the screen. The cloth should be ever so slightly damp.
- Don't wipe behind the frame of the screen, as you might damage the electrical components. Instead, learn how to keep dust off your TV.
EXPERT TIP

James Sears
House Cleaning Professional
James Sears leads the customer happiness team at Neatly, a group of cleaning gurus based in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. James and the team have nine years of experience and offer green cleaning, interior and exterior window washing, and general apartment cleaning services. He provides transformative cleaning experiences by reducing clutter and renewing your home environment. James is a Trustee Scholar at the University of Southern California.

James Sears
House Cleaning Professional

If you don't want to use a liquid on your screen, try a microfiber cloth. Microfiber cloths are ultra-soft and great for cleaning items like electronics or tv screens that shouldn't get wet. If you don't have a microfiber cloth, you can also use a flannel shirt.
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Avoid using window cleaner, soap, or other cleaning products. These materials will damage the screen and render it useless. Just because a product is designed to clean glass, it does not mean you can use it to clean your TV screen.
- You should also never use abrasive pads or paper towels on your TV screen. These cleaning materials will scratch the screen.
Once you've finished wiping the fingerprints from the screen with the moistened cloth, you should give it at least 1 hour to dry before you plug it back in. Don't turn the TV on before it's completely dry. You could cause damage to the screen that cannot be easily repaired.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using a TV Screen Cleaner

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1
Gather your supplies. If you have a TV that is severely covered in greasy, dirty fingerprints, you may want to use a special cleaner designed for TV screens to get it spotless once again. These cleaners come in spray bottles or as wipes. Either one will work.
- If you get cleaner in a spray bottle, make sure you have anti-static microfiber cloths made for cleaning electronics. Some spray cleaners will come with one.
If you leave your TV plugged in while cleaning it with a liquid cleaner, you run the risk of getting shocked. If your TV is plugged into a power strip with a switch to turn it on or off, you can switch the power strip off instead of unplugging the TV.
If your TV screen is dusty, rubbing that dust into the screen might scratch it. Before you begin cleaning off the fingerprints, use a clean microfiber cloth to gently swipe the dust off of the screen.
Never spray cleaner directly onto the TV screen, as this could cause damage. If you're using a TV screen cleaning wipe, you can skip this step.
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Gently clean the fingerprints off with circular motions. Using a circular motion will help lift and remove the fingerprints, while not leaving streaks behind on the TV screen. Reapply cleaner to your cloth as needed. If the TV screen is very dirty, you may need to use multiple microfiber cloths to get the whole thing clean.^{[2]
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- After cleaning all the fingerprints off, you may want to go back over the screen once more with another wipe or clean microfiber cloth to get any remaining residue or dirt that might be stuck to the screen.
TV screen cleaners usually evaporate pretty quickly, but it's best to allow your TV to dry fully to avoid damage or injury. Waiting at least 30 minutes to 1 hour should be sufficient.

Join the Discussion...

What's the best way to clean a flat screen tv?

WikiFawnDancer831

Hi all, does anyone have any tips for cleaning a flat screen tv? Mine's overdue for a good cleaning, it's got fingerprints and dust on it, but because it's a flat screen I don't want to apply harsh chemicals. Any advice?

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Tips

Make sure your TV is secure before cleaning it. While this is important regardless of the size of your TV, this can be especially crucial when you're cleaning a big screen TV.

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Never use strong cleaners like rubbing alcohol or vinegar on your TV screen. They can ruin the protective coating on your screen.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Shine a bright light at your TV screen while you're cleaning so you can see all of the marks and fingerprints that you need to remove.
Lightly dust your TV screen once a week to help prevent smudges and other marks from forming.

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