Dirty screens? This $15 cleaner is used in Apple stores - and now I see why

From your laptop to desktop monitor to your smartphone and tablets, Whoosh's cleaning kit is the best I've tried.

Dirty screens? This $15 cleaner is used in Apple stores - and now I see why
Dirty screens? This $15 cleaner is used in Apple stores - and now I see why Photo: ZDNet

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We're surrounded by screens.

Some sit in one place, collecting dust and grime, while others get touched and pawed at frequently, accumulating oils from our skin and anything else hitching a ride on our fingers.

Personally, I find a dirty screen to be a major distraction, as my eyes are inevitably drawn to discrepancies.

The problem is, wiping down screens with most cloths just ends up leaving streaks and smears.

I've tried numerous methods, from proprietary wipes to specialized cleaning cloths, and some have provided passable results, but none have felt quick and easy.

Until now.

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A few weeks ago, a reader recommended a product called Whoosh , claiming that "this is the stuff that Apple uses." After consulting a few acquaintances who work at Apple stores, it appears that while they indeed have used Whoosh, its adoption isn't universal.

Whether Apple uses it or not isn't my concern.

What matters to me is how effective it is.

Whoosh Screen cleaner spray and wipe
This screen-cleaning kit is specifically designed to clean your smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other consumer electronic screens.

I chose Whoosh's 3.4 fl oz screen cleaner spray with microfiber cloth .

There are bigger and smaller kits , but the medium-sized one seemed a good place to start.

The spray bottle holds a milky liquid that is odorless and non-toxic, and according to the packaging doesn't contain alcohol or ammonia.

I checked out the US MSDS (Materials Safety Data Sheet) and EU REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) data sheets, which confirm the claims on the packaging, but do not shed light on the ingredients, which the MSDS lists as a "trade secret."
The solution is a trade secret.

Along with the spray bottle, the kit includes a microfiber cloth and instructions that provide an overview of how to clean your screens.

The instructions are quite comprehensive, so I recommend that you read them carefully.

The cloth is double-sided -- one side features a textured cleaning surface, while the other is designed for drying and polishing.

As microfiber cloths go, it's of excellent quality, and doesn't shed fibers.

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I've also read some concerns online about the label on the cloth being abrasive and potentially scratching displays.

Personally, I doubt it, but if you're worried, just cut the label from the cloth.

High-quality, double-sided microfiber cloth.

Here are a few more general tips:
I've tested this on smartphones (with and without screen protectors), tablets, laptops displays, and TVs, and was blown away by how well it worked at keeping displays clean.

The winning combination here is the cleaning formula that cuts through grease and grime, and the quality microfiber cloth that effortlessly lifts this dirt off the display.

My advice is simple -- buy a kit!

Once you see your clean, streak-free screen, you won't regret it.

I'm so impressed that I'll be picking up a 16.9 fl oz spray bottle and a 12-pack of microfiber cloths .

You can also use the solution to clean devices in general, not just the screen.

Just apply a few sprays on the cloth and give the gadget a good wipe.

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Source: This article was originally published by ZDNet

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