I traded in my nice screen cloth for a car accessory, and I’m never going back

I’m sure we’re all familiar with the kind of lightweight microfiber cloths you get with your glasses, screen cleaning kits or a screen protector. They’re small and handy, but that’s all I have to say about them. Usually all they do is smear grease around your screen, and it takes a lot of effort to get your phone clean again. You can make it easier on yourself by spraying the screen with some water or isopropyl alcohol, but that’s something else you’ll have to carry around with you, and the isopropyl will eventually damage the oleophobic coating on your screen.

Screen cleaning wipes are better at cleaning your phone, but can only be used once and can also damage your screen coating.

So, what’s the solution? A normal plush microfiber that you probably already have in your car or kitchen. A few weeks ago I was in the kitchen playing YouTube on my tablet. The screen needed a cleaning, so I grabbed the nearest cloth, a soft microfiber one, and I was amazed at how effectively it worked. I completely cleaned my Galaxy Tab S10 Plus in one go, something I could never achieve with the so-called screen cleaning method.

They are not only more effective, but also cheaper. On Amazon, a pack 6 microfiber cloths for screen cleaning cost just over $9, with each measuring 6.5″ x 3.25″. Meanwhile, a package 24 full size microfibers costs $13 and measures 16 x 12 inches. I know this sounds like a big cleaning cloth to keep in a bag or pocket, but that’s an easy fix with a pair of scissors. As you can see in the picture above, I cut one of the large microfiber cloths from my car into a pocket-friendly square, making it just as easy to take with you.

Changing what you use to clean your screen is cheap, simple, and most importantly, effective. If you have an older phone or a more budget-friendly device that doesn’t get as bright as a modern flagship, keeping your screen free of debris can make outdoor viewing easier. It is also a must-have for foldable phones. I love the Z Fold 7, but the plastic inner display is more prone to fingerprints than any glass screen.

What do you use to keep your devices fresh? We look forward to hearing from you.