Can You Clean A Screen Protector?

Screen protectors maximize the life of your device, but dings, scrapes, fingerprints, and dust are unavoidable. Whether you're dealing with smudges on the outer surface or dust trapped on the sticky side, there are reliable methods to clean a screen protector without causing damage.

What Not to Do When Cleaning Tempered Glass

First, a few tips on absolutely what not to do. Taking these measures could result in permanently damaged tempered glass, or worse yet, your phone screen itself.

• Avoid excessively harsh chemicals and cleaners like Windex or alcohol. These formulas could remove the oleophobic coating from your protector, making it much less pleasant to use and more susceptible to fingerprint stains.
• Scrubbing exterior surfaces with abrasive materials is a big no-no. Dishwasher brushes, paper towels, or tough sponges are to be avoided. These materials run the risk of scratching your protector.
• Make sure all your cleaning tools are gentle and soft for the best results.
• If sticky side of your tempered glass is dirty, never use any cloth including microfibre cloth. Because it is the sticky side, very small lints will get stuck on the tempered glass and will make that side even look more dirty.

4 Steps to Clean a Tempered Glass Screen Protector

1. Step 1: Sometimes, less is more. Remember that tempered glass protectors that sport an oleophobic coating are resistant to smudging, and typically clean easily. Sometimes, even a simple, dry wipe-down with a microfiber or lint-free cloth can give your phone a like-new shine. However, for especially stubborn marks, you've got to up your game.
2. Step 2: The secret weapon. The secret weapon of how to clean tempered glass is dish soap. That's right: ordinary, everyday dish soap. However, it's a bit too strong by itself, so mix it with equal parts water to dilute it down to a less abrasive cleaning solution.
3. Step 3: Gently wipe your woes away. With a microfiber cloth, carefully apply your soap-and-water mixture to the screen and rub in a circular motion. Don't douse your phone in liquid — a little goes a long way. The diluted dish soap will work its magic on any sticky smudges and dust particles by breaking down any grimy buildup. The oleophobic coating, however, will remain perfectly intact.
4. Step 4: Dry and polish. With a dry, clean cloth, go ahead and remove any leftover cleaner. You should find that the smudges have been replaced by a pristine finish. If you find that some imperfections remain, rinse and repeat. Try leaving the soap mixture on the device for 10 or 20 seconds. Give the screen a final polish with the dry cloth to reveal a shiny display.

How to Clean the Sticky Side of a Screen Protector

Cleaning the sticky (adhesive) side requires a different approach from cleaning the outer surface. In rare cases, the sticky side of tempered glass gets a dirt particle or so — this is mainly due to dirt originally being on the smartphone screen which was not cleaned before applying the protector.

Cellotape / Packing Tape Method

The best way to clean the sticky side is to use cellotape. Just stick the tape onto the sticky side and remove it slowly — it will pull away the dirt automatically. You can use it for a small area or the whole surface depending on where and how much the dirt is. Then quickly apply the protector on your phone. Take some packing tape, stick it to the sticky side, and peel it off. Repeat for the whole screen protector.

Microfibre Wipe Method

Manufacturers and traders suggest using a clean dry/wet microfibre wipe to wipe the dust on the sticky side. Do not rub the wipes — instead, press it lightly on the dust particle area with the corner of the wipe (or fold the wipe twice to form a thick corner). The dust particle will get attracted to the wipe due to the wipe's static nature.

Finger or Tape as Alternative

If you don't have a wipe, you can use your finger, fingernail, or a tape for the same purpose. However, in these cases, glue from the region might come off from the tempered glass and you might see some air bubbles when applied, so work very carefully.

Cleaning Products Recommended for Screen Protectors

Several cleaning products and tools are commonly used on screen protectors:

• Isopropyl rubbing alcohol — place some on a microfiber or lint-free cloth, wipe as needed, then dry.
• Eyeglass lens cleaner or Windex — used on the outer surface of the protector.
• A soft eye glass cloth and a screen protector spray.
• A soft cloth dampened with water, followed by a dry soft cloth used for glasses.
• An alcohol pad, followed by wiping with a screen cloth.
• Rubbing alcohol 70% or anti-bacterial wipes.

Tips for Preventing Dust Under a Screen Protector

In rare cases, the sticky side of tempered glass gets a dirt particle or so. This is mainly due to dirt originally being on the smartphone screen which was not cleaned before applying the tempered glass. If you get dust underneath during application and removing the protector results in even more dust and grease, the tape method is effective for removing that contamination before reapplying.

If cleaning proves too difficult, tempered glass screen protectors are generally inexpensive. If something gets under them, they can be cleaned with a strip of painters tape. Additionally, some brands offer warranties — dropping them an email may result in a replacement being sent, no problem.

Because tempered glass is so similar to your phone's screen in terms of texture and finish, the same cleaning tips could also apply to your bare phone screen. Complete with precision cutouts, smoothly beveled edges, and a premium oleophobic coating, a well-maintained tempered glass screen protector will serve you and your device well.