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@BigPhilly21 wrote:

So I let my mom watch a DVD on my notebook computer. It is a Inspiron E1705, Intel Core DuoProcessor T2300E with a 17 inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WUXGA, for Inspiron 9400/E1705.

Somehow, she sprayed Coke on the screen either opening a bottle; either not noticing or not cleaning it up thoroughly. So when I got back to school this past week, what I thought was mold growing on the right side of my screens were dried up drops of Coca-Cola, very small, but you could see them when the screen was on.

Now, I want you to know that this is my first real notebook, so I had no idea (I mean, my old desktops had those durable and heavy glass screens). But I took some Windex and sprayed it on a paper towel (the kind that comes from a dispenser at school) and use that to try to get the spots off. It did the job, although some spots I had to gently rub with my fingernail to get the sticky off while putting as little contact as possible on the screen. Now I just have bits of dust on my screen, mainly from the paper towel. (You know, the ones that are at all colleges and feel like sandpaper somewhat?) Mind you, there was no scrubbing or anything, just gentle, almost "not-touching" of the screen.

Well, I soon realized by mistake when I was consulting the manual and it said not to use a glass cleaner. I then took some more of those paper towlels and dampened them lightly with water and wiped down the screen again. I am so worried that I have ruined this screen. So I just have some simple questions:

a) Did I ruin the screen with the Windex (mind you, it's not like I soked the paper towl in it)?

b) Did I ruin the screen by my use of a cheap brown paper towel (I just worry about scratches)?

c) What do you recommend doing if the screen is messed up?

*How much would a new screen cost?

*How much would it cost to replace this screen?

d) What's the worst that could happen to this screen? Will I be able to notice a difference?

e) What/How should I clean the screen in the future?

f) Should I hate my mom for trying to ruin the only thing that helps me get through Economics classes at eight in the morning?

Thanks alot.

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You may have been OK with just one dose of ammonia (that's the main thing in Windex and other glass cleaners that doesn't play well with LCD screens). Excessive use of ammonia will cause the screen surface to tint yellow. In fact you probably are OK, I've windexed LCDs before back when I didn't know better, but not very many times.

If you don't see any scratches, the paper towel wasn't a problem, but I'd use cloth in the future. (Old T-shirts used as rags work well.)

I forget the exact reccommendations, I usually just use a damp rag occasionally, or if things are worse a rag dampened with slightly soapy water followed by a damp rag with fresh water.

Straight alcohol without ammonia might be OK, not sure.

you will probably be ok if it was just this one time. But when i read you used that
"sandpaper" towel to clean it! eek!!

as stated, repeated use of ammonia and alcohol based cleaner will dry out your screen making it brittle - causing hairline fractures and turning screen yellow

best products i have found to clean new display screens is from klearscreen.
www.klearscreen.com

they even have a section and products devoted to dell
http://www.klearscreen.com/ForDell.aspx

"Glass cleaner is made with alcohol and ammonia, which will damage any LCD screen. LCD display screens are made of plastic. Plastics and Computer manufacturers consistently do not recommend alcohol or ammonia-based cleaners. Repeated applications of alcohol on plastic may turn your screen surface yellow, make it brittle, and can cause stress cracking on your screen surface. Do not make a very expensive mistake cleaning your laptop LCD screen with a $2 glass cleaner and a paper towel!"

above is from the FAQ
http://klearscreen.com/FAQ.aspx



(no affiliation with this company except as a several years now satisfied customer)

a. You probably did more damage with your fingernail than the Windex.

b. Is it scratched? If so, the fingernail is probably more to blame than the towel.

c. If the screen is damaged, you can see if an LCD shop can replace the polarizer. That will run about $200. A new screen in that size and type is probably more like $500-600.

d. Nothing, assuming you don't damage it further.

e. Water-dampened soft cloth only.