Cleaning Paperwhite screen

AlanHK · 06-02-2017, 01:01 AM

I have a Paperwhite 3.
I've cleaned the screen a few times with a microfibre cloth damped with 50% isopropyl alcohol and distilled water (an LCD screen cleaning kit).

Is this OK? I don't want to strip off any essential coatings. I've been using this on my monitor and TV for a while and they seem OK.

I did search for this, but found either hundreds of posts, or four, depending if I used quotes, but none that seemed to be about physically cleaning the screen.
Though I'm sure it's not a new question.

Barbara1955 · 06-02-2017, 01:03 AM

NO! Any Alcohol will destroy the screen!

AlanHK · 06-02-2017, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1

NO! Any Alcohol will destroy the screen!

Not doubting you, but how do you know this?

Barbara1955 · 06-02-2017, 01:24 AM

Because it took 6 months of using Alcohol to distroy my PW screen... Amazon almost didn't replace it either. Tech said Only Damp soft cloth.... cold water... Very damp

AlanHK · 06-02-2017, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1

Because it took 6 months of using Alcohol to distroy my PW screen... Amazon almost didn't replace it either. Tech said Only Damp soft cloth.... cold water... Very damp

OK, thanks.
Have only used alcohol twice, so should be OK from now on if I just use water.

JSWolf · 06-02-2017, 06:16 AM

Don't use water unless there is gunk on the screen that the dry microfibre cloth will not get rid of.

patrickt · 06-02-2017, 08:33 AM

I have eyeglass cleaner made with one drop of dish soap and clean water. It's in a spray bottle that originally had expensive eyeglass cleaner. I use that and clean my screen every two weeks or so unless I splash lunch on it.

Cinisajoy · 06-02-2017, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1

Because it took 6 months of using Alcohol to distroy my PW screen... Amazon almost didn't replace it either. Tech said Only Damp soft cloth.... cold water... Very damp

How often were you cleaning the screen?
Once a day would be 180 times.
Twice a week would be 90 times.
Once a week would be 24 times.
Once every 2 weeks is 12 times.
Once a month is 6 times.
Very different scenarios.

Oh and to the OP, I have used alcohol at least once on all my devices to remove sticky labels. Otherwise, just a damp cloth (not wringing wet) or nothing as those screens really don't get that dirty.

Though Katie1 is correct, if you use alcohol too often on almost any surface you can damage it. Glass is the exception so your TV will be fine.

HarryT · 06-02-2017, 12:18 PM

I just breathe on the screen and then clean it with a microfibre cloth - the same cloth I clean my glasses with. Works absolutely fine.

Cinisajoy · 06-02-2017, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I just breathe on the screen and then clean it with a microfibre cloth - the same cloth I clean my glasses with. Works absolutely fine.

Trivia question.
Are they actual glass like my husband's glasses or a type of scratch resistant plastic?
Before you ask, his glasses are very heavy.

JSWolf · 06-02-2017, 05:49 PM

Given it's a Paperwhite, the light layer is plastic.

Cinisajoy · 06-02-2017, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Given it's a Paperwhite, the light layer is plastic.

In which case, excessive use of alcohol will eventually damage the screen.

JSWolf · 06-02-2017, 06:07 PM

When I clean the screen of an eInk Reader, I use a microfiber cloth dry. If there is something on the screen that doesn't come off, then I use a little water. But most time dry works no problem.

barryem · 06-02-2017, 06:48 PM

I have two methods for cleaning screens and none of them ever involve any kinds of cleaners other than water.

As HarryT said, I breathe on mine and wipe it using either a microfiber cloth or toilet paper. I do this fairly regularly.

If it gets something on it this won't remove, which doesn't happen often, I use a damp sponge to scrub it. The sponge is damped and then wrung out with all the strength I can manage at 76. It won't leave drops of water anywhere except where I scrub and I only scrub where it needs cleaning. I use no cleaners of any kind and I rinse the sponge first to make sure there isn't any leftover cleaner.

By the way, my mention of toilet paper panics some people. Paper has pumice in it. Without it a pencil wouldn't leave a mark. Some papers, such as Kleenex and other tissues have extra pumice and we whittlers sometimes use it after sandpaper, which it really is.

The only paper you can be sure doesn't contain pumice is toilet paper, and then only if it isn't made from recycled paper. I learned this in a papermaking class decades ago and I've argued with many an opthamologist about it and all who have researched it (most did) have decided I was right and some even recommend it to their patients. As a diabetic I've known a lot of ophthalmologists so this is for real.

I also use toilet paper to clean my glasses and have for about 40 years and none has ever been harmed. Just be sure you know the source of the toilet paper if you do this. If it's made with recycled paper, which some are now, all bets are off. Those are always labeled as made from recycled paper.

Barry

Cinisajoy · 06-02-2017, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barryem

I have two methods for cleaning screens and none of them ever involve any kinds of cleaners other than water.

As HarryT said, I breathe on mine and wipe it using either a microfiber cloth or toilet paper. I do this fairly regularly.

If it gets something on it this won't remove, which doesn't happen often, I use a damp sponge to scrub it. The sponge is damped and then wrung out with all the strength I can manage at 76. It won't leave drops of water anywhere except where I scrub and I only scrub where it needs cleaning. I use no cleaners of any kind and I rinse the sponge first to make sure there isn't any leftover cleaner.

By the way, my mention of toilet paper panics some people. Paper has pumice in it. Without it a pencil wouldn't leave a mark. Some papers, such as Kleenex and other tissues have extra pumice and we whittlers sometimes use it after sandpaper, which it really is.

The only paper you can be sure doesn't contain pumice is toilet paper, and then only if it isn't made from recycled paper. I learned this in a papermaking class decades ago and I've argued with many an opthamologist about it and all who have researched it (most did) have decided I was right and some even recommend it to their patients. As a diabetic I've known a lot of ophthalmologists so this is for real.

I also use toilet paper to clean my glasses and have for about 40 years and none has ever been harmed. Just be sure you know the source of the toilet paper if you do this. If it's made with recycled paper, which some are now, all bets are off. Those are always labeled as made from recycled paper.

Barry

Can you change the wording just a bit?
Paragraph 2 followed by paragraph 3 gave a bad visual.
You use TP, then if something gets on the reader you use water.
Very bad visual.

06-02-2017, 01:01 AM	#1
AlanHK Guru Posts: 668 Karma: 929286 Join Date: Apr 2014 Device: PW-3, iPad, Android phone	Cleaning Paperwhite screen I have a Paperwhite 3. I've cleaned the screen a few times with a microfibre cloth damped with 50% isopropyl alcohol and distilled water (an LCD screen cleaning kit). Is this OK? I don't want to strip off any essential coatings. I've been using this on my monitor and TV for a while and they seem OK. I did search for this, but found either hundreds of posts, or four, depending if I used quotes, but none that seemed to be about physically cleaning the screen. Though I'm sure it's not a new question.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Cleaning unused files in Paperwhite	disu93	Amazon Kindle	2	09-14-2013 03:53 AM
Cleaning screen	sadievan	Amazon Kindle	15	01-11-2011 10:44 AM
Cleaning screen	brontus	Sony Reader	7	02-15-2009 05:38 PM
Screen cleaning	melw	Bookeen	7	10-02-2008 11:52 AM
Cleaning the Screen?	mckenzie	Sony Reader	7	10-22-2007 11:36 PM

06-02-2017, 01:03 AM	#2
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,454 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	NO! Any Alcohol will destroy the screen!

06-02-2017, 01:24 AM	#4
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,454 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Because it took 6 months of using Alcohol to distroy my PW screen... Amazon almost didn't replace it either. Tech said Only Damp soft cloth.... cold water... Very damp

06-02-2017, 06:16 AM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 75,153 Karma: 132820308 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Don't use water unless there is gunk on the screen that the dry microfibre cloth will not get rid of.

06-02-2017, 08:33 AM	#7
patrickt Wizard Posts: 1,221 Karma: 8381518 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Device: Paperwhite 4 X 2	I have eyeglass cleaner made with one drop of dish soap and clean water. It's in a spray bottle that originally had expensive eyeglass cleaner. I use that and clean my screen every two weeks or so unless I splash lunch on it.

06-02-2017, 12:18 PM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I just breathe on the screen and then clean it with a microfibre cloth - the same cloth I clean my glasses with. Works absolutely fine.

06-02-2017, 05:49 PM	#11
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 75,153 Karma: 132820308 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Given it's a Paperwhite, the light layer is plastic.

06-02-2017, 06:07 PM	#13
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 75,153 Karma: 132820308 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	When I clean the screen of an eInk Reader, I use a microfiber cloth dry. If there is something on the screen that doesn't come off, then I use a little water. But most time dry works no problem.

06-02-2017, 06:48 PM	#14
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	I have two methods for cleaning screens and none of them ever involve any kinds of cleaners other than water. As HarryT said, I breathe on mine and wipe it using either a microfiber cloth or toilet paper. I do this fairly regularly. If it gets something on it this won't remove, which doesn't happen often, I use a damp sponge to scrub it. The sponge is damped and then wrung out with all the strength I can manage at 76. It won't leave drops of water anywhere except where I scrub and I only scrub where it needs cleaning. I use no cleaners of any kind and I rinse the sponge first to make sure there isn't any leftover cleaner. By the way, my mention of toilet paper panics some people. Paper has pumice in it. Without it a pencil wouldn't leave a mark. Some papers, such as Kleenex and other tissues have extra pumice and we whittlers sometimes use it after sandpaper, which it really is. The only paper you can be sure doesn't contain pumice is toilet paper, and then only if it isn't made from recycled paper. I learned this in a papermaking class decades ago and I've argued with many an opthamologist about it and all who have researched it (most did) have decided I was right and some even recommend it to their patients. As a diabetic I've known a lot of ophthalmologists so this is for real. I also use toilet paper to clean my glasses and have for about 40 years and none has ever been harmed. Just be sure you know the source of the toilet paper if you do this. If it's made with recycled paper, which some are now, all bets are off. Those are always labeled as made from recycled paper. Barry

Advert

Advert