We all spend a lot of time on our monitors, whether for our jobs or recreational. Because of this, we should choose a monitor that won’t damage our eyes too much.
Matte monitors can help with that. Yet, few people get attracted to it. This is because it looks dull and lifeless compared to the shiny and fancy glossy monitors.
If you do get a matte monitor, then it might be new to you. If it is, then you’ll have so many questions about it.
One important question to ask is, “how do I clean it the right way?”. This is important because it determines how long your matte monitor will last. Here, we’re going to answer that question for you.
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What Is A Matte Monitor?
But before we answer that, it’s good to know first what a matte monitor really is.
A monitor becomes matte in two ways. Either it’s matted with an anti-shine paint or an outer polarizer layer. This outer polarizer layer makes the screen coarse through mechanical processing.
The matte coating is the reason why it looks dull and lifeless. It’s also the reason why it makes it preferable for long monitor uses.
Matte’s special property is diffusing ambient light. Your eyes no longer strain from the brightness of emitted or reflected light. You can use it for hours without experiencing headaches, eye strains, or even eye damage.
It doesn’t end there. The diffusing of ambient light makes matte screens clear even in bright surroundings.
Have you ever tried using your monitor with the sun reflecting right at it? How about with a bright fluorescent light right on top? That’ll make it hard to see the screen images – not to mention, annoying.
You won’t have to worry about that anymore. Matte monitors are not reflective, allowing you to see clear images no matter how bright it is around.
Check out this video to see the reflection comparison between matte and glossy:
Of course, there are some downsides to matte monitors. The main one being its image quality.
The diffused ambient light and its own emitted light conflict with one another. The results are hazy images and a decline in color contrast and vibrancy.
How to Clean A Matte Monitor
You can get your hands on many different matte cleaning products. But you don’t really need those. There’s a matte monitor cleaning method that is cheaper and just as effective.
All you’ll need is a microfiber cloth and distilled water. Add alcohol too for the monitor’s base.
Before you start, make sure you turn off the monitor and unplug the power adapter! This prevents it from getting destroyed.
So first, blow or wipe away as much dust as you can. You don’t want these particles scratching the screen when you run the cloth across it.
Next, spray or pour the distilled water onto the microfiber cloth to dampen it. Don’t use too much water that it drips to the monitor’s base. Gently cover every area of the screen with the damp cloth.
Finally, use the dry side of the microfiber cloth, or another microfiber cloth, to wipe it dry. If there are still some water streaks, don’t worry. It will soon dissolve.
Another word of caution. Don’t turn on your monitor until all the water dissolves. This is to keep the insides safe.
Cleaning the base is the same as the screen. But instead of using plain distilled water, use a half-alcohol, half-distilled water solution. The solution should never touch the screen because the alcohol can damage it.
Repeat this process until you’re satisfied with the results.
It’s as simple as that!
Here’s a video that’ll help you visualize the whole process:
The Importance of Using Distilled Water
Should you only use distilled water? If you want to protect and clean your matte monitor, then yes!
Water becomes distilled when impurities and minerals are completely removed from it. Since the water is pure, it will dissolve without leaving anything behind. This is why distilled water won’t leave any streaks, compared to water from your tap.
And also, distilled water won’t scratch your screen. It doesn’t have any minerals to do that.
Why add alcohol when cleaning the base? It doesn’t have anything to do with the distilled water. The alcohol is there to kill the germs around.
Conclusion
You don’t need to go through complicated cleaning procedures. You don’t need to hire a professional to do it. You don’t even need specific matte cleaning products, although that will work.
All you need to keep your matte monitor clean are 3 things. A clean microfiber cloth, distilled water, and some alcohol.
The cleaning procedure can be very easy! It’s also very cheap!
Vance is a dad, former software engineer, and tech lover. Knowing how a computer works becomes handy when he builds Pointer Clicker. His quest is to make tech more accessible for non-techie users. When not working with his team, you can find him caring for his son and gaming.