X
Home & Office
Why you can trust ZDNET : ZDNET independently tests and researches products to bring you our best recommendations and advice. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Our process

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.

Close

The best TV screen cleaners you can buy

Your TV is probably dirtier than you think (and the same goes for your phone, tablet, and other gadgets). These are the best TV screen cleaners you can buy.
Written by Artie Beaty, Contributing Writer
WHOOSH! 2.0 Cleaner
whoosh-cleaner
WHOOSH! 2.0 Cleaner
View now View at Amazon
Calyptus Screen Cleaner
calyptus-screen-cleaner
Calyptus Screen Cleaner
View now View at Amazon
Click Clean Screen Cleaner
click-clean-cleaner
Click Clean Screen Cleaner
View now View at Amazon
OXO Good Grips Sweep & Swipe Laptop Cleaner
oxo-good-grips
OXO Good Grips Sweep & Swipe Laptop Cleaner
View now View at Amazon
MiracleWipes
miraclewipes
MiracleWipes
View now View at Amazon
EVEO Screen Cleaner Spray
eveo-cleaner
EVEO Screen Cleaner Spray
View now View at Amazon
Show more (1 item)

Even though my main living room television is mounted on the wall above where my kids can reach, I somehow end up with handprints and smudges on the screen on a somewhat regular basis. The same goes for my laptop. Of course, my cell phone screen tends to get dirty quickly since I use it often, and my kids' tablets are even worse. In short, I go through a lot of screen cleaner.

Also: The best TVs: Expert tested

What is the best TV screen cleaner right now?


Note that most screen cleaners these days are designed to clean all screens -- TVs, phones, laptops, desktop monitors, and tablets. But it's still a good idea to make sure the cleaner you're purchasing is intended for the device you're using it for. My pick for the best TV screen cleaner overall is the WHOOSH! 2.0 Cleaner, which is alcohol and ammonia-free, and comes in a large bottle that will last you a long time. Read on for the rest of our picks for the best screen cleaners you can buy right now.

The best TV screen cleaners of 2024

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Eco-friendly refillable bottle
  • Comes with two microfiber cloths
  • Large size last a long time
Cons
  • Most costly than other options
More Details

WHOOSH! takes the top spot on the list of best cleaners for several reasons. It's fantastic for phones (the company claims Apple uses this cleaner in its stores), it's alcohol- and ammonia-free (meaning it's great for those sensitive to strong smells), and it's extremely effective in small amounts, so your purchase should last a while.

It comes in a 16.9-ounce bottle and includes two cleaning cloths. 

If you're eco-conscious, the newest version of WHOOSH! uses refillable cartridges, saving up to 75% plastic waste, the company says. There's also a travel sized bottle available if you need on-the-go cleaning, plus wipes if you'd rather not use spray.

With two kids in my house, I'm forever finding handprints and other smudges and smears on my electronics. WHOOSH! is the most effective screen cleaner I've used, and I've been on the same bottle for over a year.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Completely natural
  • No odors
Cons
  • Needs a little pressure/force to clean well
More Details

If you're looking for a natural screen cleaner, Calyptus is your answer. It's an American-made, plant-based spray with no ammonia, alcohol, toxic chemicals or fragrances. There's almost no odor at all, in fact. Reviews do mention that since it's natural, it does take a little more muscle at times to wipe away a stubborn streak, but it still cleans very well. 

It comes with two 4-ounce spray bottles and four cleaning cloths.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Cloth and spray bottle in
  • Can be used as a phone stand
Cons
  • Compact size makes cleaning larger televisions tough
  • No anti-fingerprint coating
More Details

Click Clean is actually a cloth and spray bottle in one, with one side of the spray bottle covered in a microfiber material. It's very compact, easily fitting in a pocket or purse, and even doubles as a phone stand for on-the-go use. The cleaning spray works on any screen -- laptop, phone, or tablet. It could work on a television too, but the smaller size would make that a little cumbersome if you have a larger screen. And while other sprays leave a coating to keep away fingerprints, this one doesn't, according to reviews. 

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Comes with a microfiber pad and brush
  • Brush is also useful for cleaning keyboards
Cons
  • Additional spray needed for stubborn smudges
More Details

While technically the OXO Good Grips Sweep & Swipe Laptop Cleaner doesn't contain cleaning liquid, it makes the list of best screen cleaners. In addition to the microfiber pad that cleans smudges and fingerprints, it also has a brush that wipes away dust and dirt from crevices. This makes it more ideal for laptop or phone cleaning than other electronics, but it still holds its own in those categories perfectly fine (it may just take a while longer because of the small size). You'll need an additional cleaning spray for deeper dirt, but for light cleaning, this is an excellent option.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Quick drying
Cons
  • Only 30 wipes, which can go quickly in a multi-screen home
  • Wipes dry out fast
More Details

Looking for a non-spray electronics screen cleaner? MIracleWipes are among the top-rated gadget wipes. They're able to clean most any device screen, from a television to a laptop to a tablet or phone. A microfiber cloth is included for best results. MiracleWipes work well, but the container only comes with 30 wipes, which can be used up quickly. 

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Large bottle will last a while
  • Cleans any screen
Cons
  • Only includes one towel
More Details

Eveo bills itself as a premium screen cleaner, and while that's tough to quantify, this is a top option for electronics cleaning sprays. It works with almost any screen, including LCD, LED, CRT, and OLED. It does include a microfiber cloth and comes in a large 16-ounce spray bottle. If you're looking for a versatile cleaner that can handle any electronic screen, put this on your list.

What is the best screen cleaner?

My pick for the best TV screen cleaner overall is the WHOOSH! 2.0 Cleaner, since it is alcohol- and ammonia-free, and comes in a large bottle that will last you a long time. But there are many others that will do a good job, too.

Best Screen CleanerCost
WHOOSH! 2.0 Cleaner$19
Calyptus Screen Cleaner$9
Click Clean Screen Cleaner$9
OXO Good Grips Sweep & Swipe$15
EVEO Screen Cleaner Spray$17
MiracleWipes$13

Which is the best screen cleaner for you?

Choose this screen cleaner...If you want...
WHOOSH! 2.0 CleanerAn all-around fantastic screen cleaner that can be used on just about any electronic.
Calyptus Screen CleanerA screen cleaner that's all-natural and plant-based with no chemicals.
Click Clean Screen CleanerA portable option that always keeps your cloth with your spray so you can clean on the go.
OXO Good Grips Sweep & SwipeA screen cleaner specifically for laptops that can also keep your keyboard clean.
EVEO Screen Cleaner SprayA multipurpose spray that comes in a bottle large enough to last a long time.
MiracleWipesAn option to clean your screen that's not a spray but still keeps your electronics looking new.

Factors to consider when choosing a screen cleaner

Picking a screen cleaner might sound like a very simple choice, but when you're dealing with expensive electronics that you use every single day, it's actually a decision to make sure you get right.

  • Use: Not all screen cleaners are created equal. Most screen cleaning products these days can handle multiple screens, but not everyone can. Make sure you're choosing a cleaner that's designed for all screens.
  • Portability: My favorite cleaner on the list is probably the least portable because it comes in a big bottle. That's not a problem for me because I work from home and don't have any other screens to clean except my car. If you do have work devices you want to clean, though, make sure you're choosing a cleaner you can easily tote around.
  • Cost: The cleaners on this list all cost under $20, and the pricier ones come in larger bottles that should last a while. 
  • Eco-friendliness: We looked at what chemicals go into these screen cleaners to find some eco-friendly options. 

How we chose the best screen cleaners

When possible, we used our own experience to build this list. Several of these products are ones we really use, so we were familiar with what worked. For ones we haven't personally tried, we chose reliable brands that had a large number of positive reviews. We also tried to select a range of products to include some for the environmentally conscious and some that weren't sprays.

Are alcohol wipes safe for screens?

While alcohol wipes are generally safe for most electronic screens, most manufacturers recommend avoiding them for cell phones. Most phones today have a protective coating on the glass, and alcohol can wear that down, making the device dirtier over time. Wipes that contain bleach should never be used on an electronic device. It's best to stick to wipes designed for screens.

Should cleaning spray be applied directly to a screen or on a cloth?

Don't spray liquid directly on an electronic screen. Instead, spray a cloth (preferably microfiber) and wipe the screen. Spraying a screen could lead to liquid getting inside, and especially if it contains alcohol, it could damage components. 

Can glass cleaner be used on electronics?

Many electronic screens aren't glass, and those that are often have very thin, fragile screens. Glass cleaner should never be used on electronics. Instead, use a cleaning solution specifically designed for electronics or at the very least, a damp microfiber cloth with just water. 

Editorial standards