How to clean your RV’s TV screen and remote control without damaging it

OK, I’ll admit it. I’m a little afraid to clean it because we depend on it for weather reports and occasionally to see what’s happening in our world. I’m talking about our RV’s television, of course. I noticed shortly after a visit from our young grandchildren that I really needed to clean the RV’s TV screen and its remote.

Fingerprints, smudges, and dust on our TV screen. Oh, my!

I didn’t realize how dirty our TV screen had become until one morning last week. I had all of the window shades up with the windows fully open and I happened to glance at our television screen as I walked past. The TV was turned off at the time, so the screen display was dark.

As I stepped back from the television, the bright light shining through the windows caused a glaring reflection on the screen. This reflection clearly revealed an army of little fingerprints marching across the lower half of the television screen. Looking closer, I couldn’t help but notice multiple smudges and dust fuzzies clinging to the upper part of the screen, as well. Resting in its designated place nearby was our remote, and it was smudgy, too! Clearly it was time to clean the RV’s TV and remote!

You can purchase television screen wipes like these on Amazon. However, I prefer to use simple ingredients that I have on hand.

Caution: Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when cleaning any electronics.

Step-by-step directions

Here are the step-by-step directions to follow when cleaning your RV’s TV, its components, and the remote. Using the wrong product(s) or incorrect cleaning method can harm your television. Read through all of the following cleaning steps before you begin. That way, you’ll be sure to have the right equipment on hand and know the correct procedures for cleaning without damaging your unit.

How to clean your TV screen

1. Turn off the television, unplug it, and allow it to cool, if warm. You can see the dust and smudges more easily on a dark screen than if you attempt to clean it with the TV on.
2. Use a dry microfiber cloth to gently remove any loose surface dust from the screen. (These are the cloths I like and use regularly.) Begin at the top. Carefully dust in a back-and-forth motion until you reach the bottom of the screen, refolding the cloth as you go to ensure you’re always using a clean part of the cloth. (Note: Gentleness is key! You don’t want to scratch the screen or damage it by rubbing too vigorously.)
3. Next, spritz distilled water onto a clean microfiber cloth. (Never spray directly on the TV screen because that can cause damage.) The cloth should be damp, not saturated. (Distilled water is recommended because some tap water contains minerals that may damage the screen or leave behind hard water streaks.) Use a gentle, circular motion to clean the entire screen. Remember to refold the cloth and re-dampen it, as necessary. Always keep a clean part of the cloth against the screen.
4. If plain water does not successfully clean smudges away, use one drop of dish detergent, like Dawn, mixed with distilled water. You do not need more than a drop. Manufacturers recommend a ratio of 1:100 (detergent to distilled water). Once again, use a gentle, circular motion to clean away smudges.
5. Follow by using a third clean microfiber cloth to wipe away any streaks.

Hint: Use a clean, dry cotton swab to wipe any edges or crevices around the screen that you cannot access with the microfiber cloth.

Other TV parts

Use a clean microfiber cloth to dust off the power cords, TV power plug, and sound bar, along with other television components.

Vacuum attachments like these can help you remove dust and dirt found in your television ports. These ports may be located in the back, side, or bottom of your TV. HDMI ports, gaming systems, streaming sticks, and external speakers all use these connection ports. If dust accumulates in these ports, it can become difficult to make a proper connection.

Note: As an alternative to a vacuum, you may use compressed air. Do not insert the nozzle directly into the port as this can damage the pins inside. Position the can at least an inch away from the port and spray at an angle, so as not to push the dirt further inside the port.

Television remote

Your television remote can harbor snack crumbs, bacteria, and dust, so it should also be cleaned regularly. Here are the steps for cleaning your remote.

1. Remove the batteries. If you remove the remote’s batteries, you can avoid accidentally changing your settings as you clean.
2. Use a damp (not wet) disinfectant wipe to carefully clean around the remote’s buttons along with the buttons themselves. Also wipe down the back of the remote, carefully removing any smudges or grime.
3. Allow the remote to air dry or remove any dampness with a clean microfiber cloth. Reinsert batteries when the remote is completely dry.

Are there other areas in your RV that you’re hesitant to clean? Or have you discovered clever ways/products that make cleaning easier? Tell me in the comments below.

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