How to look after screens: phones, laptops, monitors and more

Since on average we are spending between 6 to 8 hours of our day in front of a screen, it makes a lot of sense to learn how to properly look after them, not only to ensure a better visual experience and comfort for our eyes, but to also extend our screen’s lifespan and save money in the process.

So, whether you are looking for tips about how to look after the screen on your phone, on your ipad, laptop or monitor, these tested recommendations from our own technicians will help you out:

1. Keep it clean.
Over time dust, dirt and other particles can accumulate on your screen and cause damage. Try to clean it once a week, the best way is by using a soft cloth with a screen cleaning solution or a mix of distilled water and isopropyl alcohol. Avoid using paper towels (or other rough materials) as they can leave scratches on the surface. Same with harsh chemicals, such as ammonia-based or abrasive cleaners, they can damage the screen's coating so better avoid them.

2. Keep it light
Keep your screens clear of stacks of items. When it comes to laptops, one of the most common reasons for cracked or marked screens is objects being piled up on top of them creating pressure on the screen against the keyboard. This includes both objects and the occasional "my pet used my laptops as a pillow/bed" ;) Keep in mind also to avoid moving your laptop around with objects placed between the monitor and the keyboard like stack of papers, pens, phones and such. It might be comfortable to move a lot of things at once, but it will probably help crack your screen or brake the hinge.

3. Avoid the sun
Summer days are coming and it is very tempting (if you are working from home) to take your laptop outside and work in the sunshine. However, placing the screen in direct sunlight (or near strong light sources) can lead to discoloration or even permanent damages.

4. Use a screen protector:
Especially when it comes to phones, a screen protector can save your device from scratches, smudges, dirt and can even soften the blow from a drop and avoid the screen being cracked. There are different types of screen protectors available, the most popular are the tempered glass ones.

5. Turn it off
A simple practice to extend the lifespan of your screens is to turn them off when you are not using them or activate the screensaver mode. This conserves energy avoiding a quick deterioration.

6. Adjust brightness and contrast:
High and extreme brightness settings can decrease the lifespan of screens so keeping a comfortable level of brightness and contrast can not only extend the life of your screen but also avoid straining your eyes.

Got any more tips we can test? Let us know on Twitter (@InnoVentUK)