The Fastest Fix For Scratches On A Flat Screen Television

Over the years, televisions have become an essential part of our homes. Beyond simply providing entertainment, televisions are also an easy way to bring a family together after a long day. History claims that the invention of the television happened sometime between the 1940s and 50s. Over the years, televisions became more advanced with the onset of cable, VCR, and DVD. Eventually, televisions developed into the flat screen styles that we see today.

Techwalla claims that it didn't take long for flat screen television to quickly grow in popularity. In fact, within only a few short years, flat screen televisions could be found in a majority of homes across the United States. Just like any other modern electronic device in your home, TVs are somewhat fragile and prone to scratches. Luckily, a scratched television isn't irreparable and there are several techniques you can attempt to revive your screen and get right back to enjoying your favorite shows.

Before jumping into any scratch removal techniques, it is important to first properly clean your flat-screen television. Consumer Reports specifically state that because flat-screen televisions are made from more fragile materials, they must be cleaned with extra precautions.

To start, you need to turn off and unplug your television. Then, Consumer Reports recommends using a soft dry cloth to gently remove any dust. The best type of cloth for this is a microfiber cloth — don't use paper towels or any type of material that contains fibers as these can cause scratches. For a flat-screen television, it is advised to avoid cleaners that contain harsh or abrasive chemicals, like alcohol, ammonium, or acetone. Television cleaning kits are also available, and although these kits are great for ensuring you are using safe products, a microfiber cloth and regular dish soap are a much more cost-effective solution.

Mr. Maid explains that to use this technique, mix a solution of half isopropyl alcohol (which should contain at least 90% pure alcohol,) and half water. For the best results, Mr. Maid suggests using distilled water instead of regular tap water. It is also important that the container you use is completely clean since any dirt or chemical residue left in the container has the potential of causing even further damage.

Using a clean microfiber cloth, first, soak it in the solution, then tightly ring it out. Next, rub gently, in circular motions, over any scratches on your television screen. It might take a bit of rubbing, but eventually, the scratch should slowly start to disappear as the alcohol evaporates. If the scratch doesn't disappear after a while, or if it becomes worse, then it may be too deep for this method and you should stop scrubbing immediately and seek professional help.

Petroleum jelly is another, more gentle, technique. Similar to isopropyl alcohol, start by giving your television a thorough clean. Then, apply some petroleum jelly to a q-tip and apply it to the scratch. With the q-tip, continue to gently rub the petroleum jelly onto the scratch in circular motions. After a while, you should notice the scratch slowly starting to disappear. When the scratch has disappeared, you need to thoroughly clean your television screen of all the excess petroleum jelly before resuming use.

If you don't happen to have any petroleum jelly on hand for this particular technique, Techwalla claims that toothpaste is a good alternative that you are bound to have inside your home. Although Techwalla specifically mentions Colgate toothpaste, any commonly used toothpaste can be used. Regardless of if you choose to use petroleum jelly or toothpaste, the same process should be used as stated above.

Surprisingly, TV To Talk About claims that using an auto rubbing compound, such as this 3M auto care rubbing compound, is another great way to remove scratches from your TV screen. When using this product for your flat screen television, you must first ensure the screen is safely and properly cleaned first. 

With a soft clean cloth, you can gently rub the auto rubbing compound onto the scratched portion of the screen. Continue gently rubbing until the scratch has vanished, then clean the area again with the isopropyl alcohol and water mixture to properly get rid of the left-over auto rubbing compound that may be left on the television screen. Finally, finish off by spraying some lacquer over the freshly renewed surface and letting it completely dry before resuming your television's regular use.

Finally, when nothing else seems to have a positive effect, using a simple eraser may be worth a try. What Home Theater claims that a simple pencil eraser, or any type of soft rubber material, can slowly erase a scratch on a flat-screen television. This technique, however, is not recommended to be used alone.

What Home Theater recommends always starting with one of the other techniques before jumping in with an eraser. For example, you can start off by rubbing the scratch gently with the mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water before using an eraser to finish off the task. When picking out an eraser, choose one that is rather soft or you may risk further damage to the television. While rubbing with the eraser, be gentle with your strokes and move in a circular motion. Like all the other techniques, if you start to notice the scratch getting worse, stop the process immediately and seek the help of a professional for further guidance.