However, cleaning a MacBook screen — or any computer screen — is actually very quick and easy to do. All it takes is a few household items which you might already have in hand. Here, we will take you through what to use and what to do step-by-step.

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How to clean a MacBook screen  

According to Apple (opens in new tab), the following method can be used on any type of MacBook screen, including the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. It’s also safe to use on the iMac, Mac Pro and Mac Mini display. However, if your iMac has a nano-texture glass display, skip to the final section.  Water 70-percent isopropyl alcohol solution (optional)

  1. First of all, shut down and switch off your MacBook — make sure it’s not plugged into the wall either, for safety. 
  2. If smudges persist, you can dampen another soft microfiber cloth with water and gently wipe the screen in a side-to-side motion. Make sure you don’t scrub, as this could damage the display, and only ever apply water to the cloth — not directly to the screen. The cloth should only be damp, not sodden, and avoid getting moisture into any of the openings. 
  3. Leave to dry completely.   And that’s it. Your MacBook’s screen should be looking like new again! The same method can also be used to clean other laptop displays, although only use water to clean those — no wipes or IPA solution. You can also gently buff out any streaks and speed-up the drying process using a dry microfiber cloth.   

How to clean the rest of your MacBook 

If you want to clean the rest of your Macbook or iMac, it’s a very similar method:

  1. Make sure it’s shut down and unplugged. 
  2. Use a dry lint-free microfiber cloth to wipe away immediate dust from the exterior, including the keyboard. 
  3. If it needs a more thorough clean, you can dampen the cloth with water, just like above, but be sure not to get any moisture into the openings. Also make sure you don’t spray any liquids directly onto your MacBook.  
  4. If you want to sanitize your MacBook, or water just hasn’t done the trick, you can also use 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipes, 75 percent ethyl alcohol wipes, or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. These can be applied to the hard, nonporous surfaces including the keyboard. Just be sure to keep the moisture away from the openings once again. 

How to clean nano-texture glass 

To clean this kind of display, you should only use the cloth supplied with your iMac or Pro Display XDR. No other type of cloth should be used on nano-texture glass, according to Apple. Replacements are available if you’ve lost yours ($19, Apple (opens in new tab)). If smudges persist, you can dampen this cloth with a 70-percent isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solution and then wipe the marks away.  If your iPhone is blocked up with dust and pocket lint, be sure to check out our guides on how to clean an iPhone’s charging port and how to clean an iPhone’s speakers.