8 Best Screen Cleaners for Every Device, Tested by Cleaning Experts

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Whether scrolling on your phone, reading on your tablet or working on a laptop, we are surrounded by screens. And for better or for worse, it doesn’t seem like they’re going away anytime soon. With frequent use, it doesn’t take long for these devices to become flecked, smudged, and smeared. Regularly cleaning devices like your phone is the only way to hold off the grime. Perhaps more important, it is one among many practices that can help keep high-touch surfaces around us clean.

When the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab tests screen cleaners, we look for products that are safe to use across a variety of devices, meaning they shouldn't contain any potentially gadget-damaging chemicals like ammonia. Then, we test all screen cleaners to evaluate their performance. We assess how well they remove smudges, dust, stuck-on spills and see how practical they are for a variety of screens, both large and small. Our top picks for screen cleaners are selected from high performing products from our latest tests.

Our top picks:

After seeing our top picks, you can read more about how we evaluate screen cleaners in our Lab — plus learn all about how to shop for screen cleaners and find out whether or not it’s safe to use disinfecting wipes on phones. Check out our guides to cleaning your laptop the right way and the best way to clean a TV screen.

Anti-Static Electronic Cleaning Wipes

Weiman's wipes earned our Good Housekeeping Seal because this pre-moistened and ready-to-use product allows you to both disinfect and clean without any harsh ingredients that could damage delicate screens. Its new formula kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria after allowing surfaces to remain wet for just four minutes. In our Cleaning Lab tests, we found they were well-sized for both large and small devices, plus worked quickly and cleaned well. They were great at removing dust, fingerprints and other greasy smudges. Screens dried fast and without leaving any excess moisture, streaks or residue behind. As a bonus, Weiman pre-moistened wipes are great for removing grime from keyboards and for spot cleaning too, though the container is too bulky to carry on the go.

Personal Electronics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

Cleaning your devices doesn’t need to be complicated. Sometimes a basic cloth is all you need to wipe away greasy smudges on your phone, laptop or television screen. E-Cloth’s Personal Electronic Cloth is made of microfiber that picks up and locks in dust and dirt particles within its microscopic structure. It won’t scratch the surface and doesn't require liquid cleaner, so it's a safe bet for any device. For devices that can withstand moist cleaning, the E-Cloth can be dampened with water before wiping for even better results. It's under warranty for 1 year or 100 washes (whichever comes first) so you’re guaranteed to get your money’s worth. And thanks to its large 8-inch by 12-inch size, there are thousands of tiny crevices for trapping particles, so it can handle multiple cleanings before it needs rinsing or washing. We have tested many E-Cloth microfiber cleaning cloths in the GH Cleaning Lab on glass, appliances and countertops, and we are big fans. Note that if you’re looking for something to kill germs on your electronics, this cloth won’t do that on its own.

Screen Cleaner Spray Kit

In our tests, this spray and cloth combo was fantastic at removing greasy fingerprints, crusted-on spills and dust. It was able to achieve a shining screen in under a minute no matter what kind of mess we threw at it. The kit includes two microfiber cloths: one for lifting dirt and another for drying and polishing the screen. Streaks are no problem with the included shining cloth. We like this cleaning kit so much, we wish we could take it everywhere. Unfortunately, the smallest available bottle is 4 ounces, which is a bit too big to be practical for travel.

On-the-Go Smart Cloth

These stylish cloths are a Cleaning Lab favorite not only for how hefty and durable they are but also for their dirt-trapping dual-sided cleaning and polishing fabrics. In our performance tests, they wicked away smears and dust in seconds. They’re colorful and perfectly sized for stashing in a purse, glove box or briefcase for whenever you need to spruce up electronic screens or your car's infotainment center. The 5-inch by 7-inch cloth neatly folds down into its own little pouch so it stays clean between uses, and it's machine washable and dryable if it ever gets overwhelmed with dust. Pair it with your favorite germ-killing screen cleaning spray to aid in disinfecting and removing crusted-on spills.

Screen Cleaner Tool

This pocket-size tool allows you to lift smudges from your devices without any spray or cloth. Its white, plastic sheath opens to reveal an adhesive roller which pulls up grime, leaving behind a shiny screen. It is the perfect size for swiping your smart phone clean, but large enough that it is still practical for tablets and monitors. In our Lab tests, we found that the roller was able to remove the majority of dust and grease with just a few quick swipes. On very dusty surfaces, the roller surface can fill pretty quickly, and it requires a wash to refresh its grabbing power. Fortunately, washing is as simple as rinsing it under tap water and allowing it to dry.

Good Grips Sweep & Swipe Laptop Cleaner

Keep this ingenious little tool from OXO in a desk drawer or near your desktop to clean your laptop with little hassle. It features a microfiber pad on one end and a retractable brush on the other, and it’s exceptionally easy to use. Just pop off the plastic cover over the microfiber pad to zap a smudge, fingerprint or speck of stuck-on dirt that's blurring your screen. Then, do a deeper clean with the soft-bristle brush that gently reaches into crevices, ports, openings and keys to whisk away crumbs and dust. When done, simply snap the cover back on and retract the brush to keep it clean and in good shape. Despite the small surface of the microfiber pad, our tests revealed that it is surprisingly powerful at removing dust and lifting thick smudges. Bigger jobs (like cleaning your TV screen) might be too big to cover with this small, but mighty tool.

Screen Cleaner Kit

Whoosh claims to be the screen cleaner of choice at Apple stores. We understand why — it’s a consumer favorite with over 12,200 five-star reviews on Amazon. Our testers noted that it only takes seconds to make screens squeaky clean and shiny. We love that it comes in a pack of two as well. The small spray is great to tuck into your bag while the larger one stays in a desk drawer or TV stand. The included microfiber cloths are 6 inches square, washable and perfect for phone, tablet, laptop and desktop screens. After cleaning, there is plenty of dry cloth left over to buff out any streaks with a few quick swipes. As with all liquids, we recommend spraying the cloth before wiping. Never spray a screen directly.

Mobile Screen Wipes

Zeiss is likely a familiar brand for anyone who uses high-end cameras, binoculars or microscopes. With a long history in high-quality lenses, Zeiss knows how to clean delicate surfaces without damaging them. These pre-moistened, disposable wipes are individually wrapped so they stay clean, fresh and moist until you open the package. They’re great for on the go since they’re compact and easy to tuck into a pocket, car console, desk or drawer. The wipes remove fingerprints and greasy smears without leaving behind any filmy residue. Keep in mind that you’ll likely only be able to clean one small screen before the wipe is completely dry. They can be used to clean eyeglasses too.

How we test screen cleaners

When we test screen cleaners in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, we are first and foremost concerned with how safe they are to use on delicate devices and whether they may cause any possible harm to screens and coatings. For pre-moistened wipes and liquid sprays, we check the ingredients for potentially damaging culprits, like ammonia, and steer clear of recommending products that contain them. For other cleaner types, we look for a convenient and usable size and assess how easy they are to clean and maintain.

We test all screen cleaners on a variety of devices — large and small and from different manufacturers — for how well they can remove dust, greasy fingerprints and crusted-on spills. We also consider how easy they are to use and store, how quickly they work and whether they leave any residue behind.

What to look for when shopping for the best screen cleaner

There are so many ways to clean your screens, but always check your device’s recommended cleaning instructions before deciding on a screen cleaner. Here are some things to consider when shopping for screen cleaners:

✔️ Size: It's important to consider the size of the screens you plan to clean when shopping for cleaners. Microfiber cloths and electronic screen wipes will work on a variety of screen sizes. If you are looking for a wipe that can clean your laptop, mini pre-moistened wipes made for smartphones might not be large enough for a thorough clean. On the flip side, a large TV wipe used on a phone wastes product.

✔️ Cloth: Not all cloths can effectively remove fingerprints and dust. Some can actually make your dirty screen look even worse. Stick to microfiber cloths that are delicate enough to leave your screen scratch-free but still collect dirt, dust and grease.

✔️ Formula: Always look at the indigents listed for your cleaner — screens are sensitive, and harsh chemicals can cause damage to the surface. For regular use, it's important to use products specially made for screens. Disinfectant wipes containing alcohol can be used occasionally to remove germs but try to avoid bleach- and ammonia-based products.

Are disinfecting wipes safe for cleaning screens?

While it is always a good practice to follow your device manufacturer’s recommendations for safety, many of those recommendations are extra gentle to keep from damaging the anti-glare, fingerprint-resistant and other protective coatings on a device's surface.

Simply wiping with a cloth will remove grime — but if you want to actually kill germs, you need stronger measures. As a result, companies like Apple have recently acknowledged that disinfecting wipes, like Clorox and Lysol, and 70% alcohol wipes can safely be used on its devices.

If you have them at home and want to use them, make sure they are not too wet. Gently wring them out if necessary to keep liquid from seeping into any openings or ports. After air drying, wipe your device with a clean cloth to buff away any residue.

Is it ok to use Windex on an electronic screen?

You should never use a conventional glass cleaner like Windex on your electronics. Windows and electronic screens — phones, laptops and TVs — have different cleaning needs. Conventional glass cleaners often contain screen-damaging ingredients like ammonia, and while some electronic screens may have a glass layer over the display, not all do. Plus, the spray can get into ports that need to stay dry in order to function properly. Use a product specifically made for cleaning electronic screens, like the ones listed above. Alternatively, a dry microfiber cloth is also safe choice for removing streaks, smudges and even bacteria.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Carolyn Forte brings over 40 years of experience a as consumer products expert to her role as Executive Director of the Home Care and Cleaning Lab. She has deep analytical testing and editorial writing expertise in categories like washers, dryers and vacuum cleaners, cleaning products and all things and tips needed to keep a home clean and organized.

Noah Pinsonnault works as a product reviews analyst in the Home Care & Cleaning Lab where he helps design and perform tests on various product categories. In preparing this article, he tested numerous screen cleaners to evaluate their performance as well as user friendliness.

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