How to Clean Touchscreens in Cars

Touch screens have become standard in almost every car on the market over the past 15 years. They’re also one of the most high traffic areas in a car—you touch them everyday to do everything from adjusting the A/C to turning on the ignition, leaving them covered in a film of dried sweat, oil and dead skin that looks horrible and makes the touch screen less responsive. 

This means a dirty touchscreen can be very dangerous. If you’re struggling to toggle the A/C or skip a song while driving because the touchscreen is too dirty, you could be distracted enough to crash your car. 

And while cleaning the touchscreen would be the most simple solution, it’s not a good idea to just start cleaning without knowing how to properly handle a touchscreen. After all, touchscreens are very sensitive and can be damaged by too much moisture or pressure when cleaning them.

So how do you properly clean a touch screen without damaging the touch function? How often should you realistically be cleaning your touch screen? And how do you protect a touch screen to keep it from getting dirty in the future? In this article, we’ll break down all the steps necessary to correctly clean, protect and maintain your touch screen so it stays pristine and functioning. 

How to Clean Touch Screens in Cars: A Step-by-Step Guide

Before you start cleaning the touch screen in your car you need to gather the correct tools and accessories necessary for the job:

• Glass cleaning solution: Gentle cleaners work best. Avoid anything with high alcohol, bleach or ammonia concentrations. 
• Soft, microfiber towel: Touch screens are sensitive and can be damaged by abrasive wipes like paper towels. Use soft, lint-free, clean microfiber towels.

Once you’ve gathered all your supplies, it’s time to start cleaning the touch screen. 

WARNING: Do not spray directly onto the touchscreen or apply too much pressure while cleaning. Automotive touchscreens are typically resistive touchscreens, meaning they’re made of two thin sheets of plastic separated by an air gap that close a circuit when pressed together. Pressing the screen too hard can cause a dent or scratch that makes registering touches impossible. Introducing moisture, on the other hand, can damage the sensors that register presses. So be careful!

1. Power down the touch screen prior to cleaning. Otherwise you may accidentally activate or adjust various car functions during cleaning. 
2. Be sure the screen is cool to the touch. Touch screens can get hot after driving, which can cause the cleaning solution to dry or evaporate too quickly. Allow 10-15 minutes for the screen to cool down if you find it’s hot to the touch. 
3. Spray a light mist of glass cleaner onto the microfiber towel. Do not spray the touch screen directly, as this can cause liquid to seep inside and break the touch screen. 
4. Clean screen gently with the microfiber towel, avoiding excessive pressure. Pressing the touch screen too hard can make the touch function stop working. 
5. Flip the microfiber towel and wipe again until all glass cleaner residue is wiped away. Be sure to wipe away fully — otherwise the solution will dry on the surface and leave stains. 

This method should take care of most contaminants (body oil, sweat, food, etc) that are commonly found on touch screens.

What Should I Use to Clean the Touch Screen in My Car?

Generally speaking, you want to use a gentle, low aggression solution like Dr. Beasley’s Glass IQ on a touch screen surface. Avoid aggressive solutions like high concentrations of alcohol (85%+) or anything with bleach or ammonia. These can cause discoloration or damage the touch function.

Can I Use a Homemade Solution to Clean My Touchscreen?

If you don’t have a glass cleaner on hand, there are (less effective) solutions you can make at home to clean your touch screen:

• Water: Very light contamination and dust can be wiped away with nothing more than a little water.
• 1:1 Vinegar/Water Mixture: For heavier contamination, a simple solution of vinegar and water will clean a touch screen well without being too aggressive. 

How Often Should I Clean My Car’s Touchscreen?

When it comes to cleaning, the more often you do it, the easier it is. The same goes for touchscreens in cars. We recommend wiping your touchscreen down at least once every two weeks or as needed to avoid excessive contaminant build-up that will require aggressive cleaning. 

How To Protect Your Car’s Touchscreen From Getting Dirty

When it comes to protecting your car’s touchscreen against smudges and fingerprints, your first thought might be to get a screen protector. 

But screen protectors often do nothing to protect against contamination—in fact, some screen protectors are actually more prone to fingerprints and smudges than bare touchscreens. They’re also prone to distortion due to interior temperature fluctuations and glare from the sun. 

Instead, it’s best to apply some type of temporary protective coating that applies while you clean. There are a few glass cleaners out there that can do this, including the Dr. Beasley’s Glass IQ we mentioned above. A coating like Glass IQ will protect against smudges and fingerprints while offering hydrophobic water beading properties. 

Here’s a step by step guide to protecting your touch screen. 

1. Spray Glass IQ onto a clean microfiber towel. 
2. Wipe on touchscreen surface.
3. Flip the towel and wipe away any residue. 

Do this whenever you clean your touchscreen and you’ll always have a layer of protection against everyday smudges and smears. 

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With more and more of your vehicle’s everyday functions controlled by touchscreen, it’s more vital than ever to ensure yours is clean, free of contamination and protected. Just remember:

• Always turn off your touchscreen before cleaning. 
• Make sure the touchscreen is cool to the touch before cleaning. 
• Don’t spray directly onto the touchscreen.
• Don’t press too hard on the touchscreen while cleaning. 
• Don’t use a screen protector to protect the touchscreen. 

Follow these important reminders and you’ll be able to clean AND protect your touchscreen without damaging it in the process. 

Have any questions about cleaning your touchscreen? Have a particular smudge or stain that won’t budge? Comment below and we’ll get you the help you need!