Confused as to how you should clean your projector screen the right way?

We understand you could be a little conscious about this one as it’s not any other object that you randomly start cleaning. However, out of that consciousness, you can’t leave the screen untouched for a long time either.

Because no matter how great your screen is, if it’s left dusty, even the amazing speakers or your comfortable recliners won’t be able to get you that best home theatre experience you want!

Therefore, your screen needs cleaning. Period.

To help you with simple, easy yet effective tips, we have done our research, and here’s all you need to know before cleaning your home theatre projector screen.

Use compressed air can

Sometimes, removing the dust (if it’s not too stubborn) with the compressed air can is all you need to do. It is recommended to buy a can of compressed air usually from the same dealer or the showroom you bought the screen at. Make the dust easy to get off by spraying the screen with some strokes of compressed air in a can. Don’t hold the can too close to the screen as well. One inch from the screen is a good distance to go with. Also, ensure to cover your face with a mask while doing so if you have any allergies.

Prepare a solution of warm water & dish soap.

Take warm water (95%) & mild dish soap (5%) and stir them together in a big bowl so they are properly mixed. This solution will help you remove the stains or stickiness from the screen without disturbing the reflective paint on its surface. 

If this is also not getting those stains off, you might want to try denatured alcohol with the microfiber cloth. But do not let the alcohol soak into the screen. 

Wipe gently

No matter what solution you use, be gentle while wiping the screen. Use a microfiber cloth to lightly dampen and make sure to not soak it too much or get it saturated. Don’t ever scrub. Go as light as you can while putting the pressure.

Use the softest cloth

Go with the cloth that is very soft and is lint-free (the kind of cloth that does not give off any fluff when used). Considering the fact that the projection screen is very delicate, do not use any cloth that is hard or a scrubbing sponge.

With Matt White surfaces, you can go with a soft cloth/cotton/microfiber while with a high gain surface, you can use a soft brush.

Wear gloves

While cleaning off the already presented dust, fingerprints, or oily stains, you wouldn’t want to add the new ones to the screens. Therefore, before starting the cleanup process, put your gloves on. This further also saves the screen from being damaged due to your nails.

Wipe off the water immediately

While cleaning the screen with any solution or generally also, make sure to wipe off the water present anywhere on the screen. If you let the solution dry on your screen, be prepared to face some permanent stains right there.

Things to avoid:

Harsh chemicals:

If you’re going to use any solution other than water and the dish soap one, make sure to recheck it twice if there are any corrosive, wax, or abrasive chemicals present in it. These chemicals can instantly ruin the screen’s reflection. If the stains could be taken off with the simple water and the mild dish soap mixture, nothing like that. 

Air drying:

Air drying the screen will create spots on it. Therefore, as we already instructed, use any soft cloth/cotton/microfiber to gently dampen the surface to wipe the screen.

Masking tape

Some suggest using masking tape to soak the dust while some say it could potentially damage the surface of the screen. Giving the benefit of doubt to the latter, we suggest not to use masking tape as a cleaning tool for your projector screen.

Any special care to be taken with Retractable Screens?

No.1 tip to avoid dust on retractable screens is keeping them rolled up when you’re not using them. The times you clean it, make sure to never roll it up as soon as you clean. Give it enough time to dry and then roll-up.

Some measures to follow with these special screen types:

Matte White Screens and Woven Screens

With these screens, use mild liquid soap with water as a solution only if the grime is too tough to get rid of. After cleaning, use a very soft cloth to wipe the surface gently. Rinse that cloth often with clean water.  Once done, you can give the Woven screen for dry cleaning if required.

Coated Screens

These screens are advisable to clean using a dry process. Unlike every other screen, avoid using any water or detergents to clean Coated screens. Make sure to clean it from top to down with a fine soft brush or a microfiber cloth applying limited pressure. Don’t use the dirty or used cloth to wipe the screen hence shake off the cloth after each stroke or change it if it’s too dirty.

Ensure to clean the back portion of the screen too!

One of the most underrated yet important tips many articles and posts fail to cover is focused on covering the back of a portion of your screen too while running the cleanup. This area is usually ignored indirectly but the interesting fact is it is where the stickiest and the heaviest dust is built up. So, next time you initiate a clean-up for your projector screen, don’t forget to vacuum the backside too.

How often should you clean a Projector Screen?

Most of the premium projection screens do not need to be cleaned too often as they are made up of high-quality material and if are kept in a clean, dust-free environment. However, if the screen is placed in an auditorium where there are many sources of dust and dirt, it is recommended to clean your premium projector screen every 6 months. Other than this, in case you notice a speck of dirt or water on the surface anytime, make sure to take immediate action. Otherwise, it’s all good.

The last and the most important tip for the day:

Remember every projection screen demands a different kind of handling and maintenance. The reason simply being the material used to manufacture every screen is different.  So, it’s always a good idea to take some insights on cleaning the screen from the dealer at the time of the purchase. If they aren’t sure either, you can directly connect with the manufacturer and understand the instructions as per your screen. After all, none of us wants to do any harm to the screen while all we were intending to do is to clean it.

Hope these insights can help you keep your home theatre projector screen clean, bright and get you that most amazing viewing experience for years to come.

If you still have any queries on your mind, feel free to put them in the comments below and we would be more than happy to help!