Over time, your computer — especially your monitor — collects dust and debris. Not to mention passing germs from sneezing and coughing. While fingerprints are bad enough, the eye strain from a messy monitor is even worse.

Cleaning your monitor is also a bit more involved than simple wiping cleaning wipes, and there are certain products you shouldn’t use.

Don’t reach for a bottle of Windex or some other general cleaning product! Harsh chemicals may be fine for windows or countertops, but they can wreak havoc on computer monitors, wearing away coatings. There are many cleaning fluids on the market explicitly geared toward computer monitors. While these products indeed work, you don’t need to spend the money on them if you don’t want to; distilled water should work for most monitor cleaning, and you can mix in some white vinegar for stubborn grime.

• Turn off your monitor
• Wipe your monitor with a cloth
• Let it dry

Additionally, avoid paper towels, rags, old T-shirts, or any of the usual materials you use to wipe down surfaces in your home. Monitors are more delicate than they look, and these fabrics — even paper towels — are abrasive enough to scratch your screen, especially if you have used them for other jobs where they might have accumulated grit. A microfiber cloth, the kind you might use to clean your glasses or vinyl records, is the safest choice, and make sure it’s free of any dirt or grime before swiping across your display.

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