Televisions want the same routine on a much longer cycle — every few weeks, and always with the set off and cool. Laptop keyboards are a separate job: tip the machine gently and brush between keys with a soft, dry brush, then wipe the key tops with a barely damp cloth. Do not let moisture run down between keys. The trackpad usually just needs the damp-then-dry treatment, because what feels like a fault is often a film of hand oil.
Can I use the screen wipes you buy at the supermarket?
Some are fine and some contain alcohol that will gradually strip an anti-reflective or oleophobic coating, and the packaging rarely makes this obvious. If you want the convenience of a wipe, check that it is explicitly labelled as safe for coated displays and alcohol-free, and still finish with a dry microfibre pass so nothing is left to evaporate into streaks on the glass.
What about the sticky patches on my keyboard and trackpad?
Sticky almost always means something sugary, and the fix is softening rather than scrubbing. Press a barely damp microfibre cloth onto the spot for ten or fifteen seconds so the residue dissolves, lift it away, then dry the area — repeat twice if needed rather than applying more water, and keep the machine powered down until everything is completely dry.
Make it a ritual rather than a project: Friday afternoon, screen off, two minutes, cloth back in the drawer. A clear screen at the start of Monday does something quietly disproportionate to how organised your week feels.
