Interactive panels, projectors, and shared devices get touched by a lot of hands every day. Cleaning them regularly keeps them working and keeps staff and students healthier, as long as it is done the right way. The wrong cleaner or technique can strip the anti-glare coating off a panel or push liquid into the electronics. Here is the routine we recommend for the displays and equipment we install and support in schools and offices across western North Dakota.

Before you start

• Power the device down and unplug it. This protects you and the panel, and it makes smudges easier to see on a dark screen.
• Grab a clean microfiber or lint-free cloth. Paper towels and tissues can scratch the surface.
• Have your cleaner ready, but keep the spray bottle away from the screen.

Cleaning an interactive panel or SMART Board

• Lightly dampen the cloth with your cleaner. Never spray anything directly onto the screen.
• Wipe gently in one direction. Do not scrub or press hard, especially on touch panels.
• Keep liquid away from the edges of the screen, the buttons, the speakers, the infrared frame, and any vents. If cleaner runs down the frame, wipe it off right away.
• Let the screen air dry completely before plugging the panel back in.

What to use

Mild solutions work best. A little dish detergent in water, a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol solution, or a screen-safe wipe will handle fingerprints and marker residue on most panels. Standard disinfecting wipes and sprays are fine for the frame, the stand, remotes, keyboards, and mice, as long as the cloth is damp rather than wet.

Check the manufacturer's care guide for your specific model before using anything stronger. Some anti-glare coatings do not tolerate ammonia or bleach, and a few manufacturers void the warranty if you use them.

What to avoid

• Spraying anything directly on a screen, keyboard, or vent.
• Ammonia-based glass cleaners, bleach, and abrasive cleaners on the display surface.
• Mixing cleaning products. Some combinations, like hydrogen peroxide and vinegar, create corrosive fumes.
• Soaking or submerging any part of the equipment.

Keyboards, mice, remotes, and carts

These are the dirtiest surfaces in most classrooms. A disinfecting wipe works well as long as it is not dripping. Wipe keys, buttons, and handles, then let them air dry. For keyboards, tip them over and tap out crumbs first. Compressed air clears the rest.

How often

Shared touch panels and keyboards benefit from a quick wipe at the end of each day during cold and flu season, and at least weekly the rest of the year. Projector lenses only need attention when the image looks hazy, and they should be cleaned with a dry lens cloth, never a wet one.

Questions about your equipment?

If you are not sure what is safe for a specific panel or display, call us at 701-483-7075 or submit a ticket and one of our engineers will point you to the right care guide for your model.