Why Paper Towels and Tissues Are Ruining Your Monitor
Modern monitors are delicate machines. Unlike old CRT screens, today’s displays feature anti-glare and specialty coatings designed to improve picture quality. While these coatings enhance your viewing experience, they are extremely vulnerable to scratches—even invisible micro-scratches that accumulate over time.
The Problem With Paper Products
- Paper towels, tissues, and old t-shirts are surprisingly abrasive.
- Under magnification, their fibers act like sandpaper, dragging microscopic particles across the screen.
- The result: permanent micro-abrasions that scatter light, reduce clarity, and increase glare.
Manufacturers like Samsung and HP explicitly warn that repeated use of paper products will destroy screen coatings. The damage isn’t visible immediately but builds up with every cleaning session. Eventually, your display may look hazy, as if you’re viewing it through frosted glass.
Why Premium Screens Suffer Most
Specialty coatings on high-end monitors account for a significant portion of their cost. Damaging them effectively downgrades your expensive display to a lower-quality screen permanently. Once scratched, anti-glare coatings cannot be repaired.
The Right Way to Clean Your Screen
- Use only microfiber cloths
- Lint-free and non-abrasive
- Lift dust instead of grinding it into the coating
- Add distilled water if needed
- Tap water leaves streaks and mineral deposits
- Apply water to the cloth, never directly to the screen
- Cleaning technique
- Turn off the monitor first
- Use gentle, circular motions
- Apply minimal pressure
- Let the screen air dry completely
- Maintenance schedule
- Clean every 1–2 weeks
- Store microfiber cloths in a clean, lint-free location
How to Spot Damage Already Done
- Persistent haze or glare, even after cleaning
- Micro-scratches most visible on bright, solid backgrounds (e.g., white documents)
Unfortunately, there is no way to reverse this damage—prevention is the only solution.
Key Takeaways
- Paper products permanently scratch modern screen coatings
- Damage accumulates invisibly, making displays look hazy over time
- Only microfiber cloths with distilled water should touch your monitor
- Premium displays are most vulnerable, and scratched coatings are irreparable
