Have you seen those shelves of expensive electronic cleaners? Yeah, stop buying those. They’re for guys who base their world outlook on GQ’s most recent issue. Be smarter than that.
Each of these tips shows you how to avoid those anti-static, anti-smear, anti-streak, super-pricey cleaners.
Best Way to Dust Your TV
Dryer sheets. You heard me. Get a box of cheap, unscented dryer sheets (about $3 for a hundred sheets). Dryer sheets serve two purposes: they make clothes smell pretty, and they reduce static cling. You only care about the second purpose.
Take two or three sheets and rub your TV top to bottom with the clothes. Not only will you remove any dust on the TV, but the sheets leave behind a thin anti-static coating that prevents dust from returning. These sheets as well as the most expensive anti-static electronic cleaner.
How to Dust a DVD or Blu Ray Player
On the device’s housing, you can use a dryer sheet, just like on the TV. The housing isn’t what people worry about; it’s the the laser lens of the device. Get a light coating of dust on that, and your player is a paperweight.
I hate to say it, but eventually you’ll have to get a disc-style cleaner for your player. However, in three years, I have never used one once, and I watch several movies a week. How? I keep a small microfiber cloth by my Blu ray player. Every single time I pop a disc in, I quickly rub the cloth over it. Takes literally two seconds, and I guarantee it’s the reason I have never had problems. That, and I never leave the disc tray open. It’s like sticking your tongue out while sanding drywall.
Dust Your Stereo or Stereo Speakers the Easy Way
Once again, dryer sheets for the housing. You will not believe how well these work. Stereos often don’t have the easy-to-clean square housing of other devices. I guess that means the dryer sheet thing won’t work back there, huh? Wrong.
First, if you haven’t cleaned a stereo in awhile, you’ll need to run a vacuum over it. I would avoid buying the compressed air cans. I think a home vacuum works just well and costs nothing. Once that’s done, get yourself a 1-inch paint brush. Take the dryer sheet and rub the paint brush up and down, working the sheet between the bristles as well. When you finish, guess what? You just built yourself an anti-static brush! Wipe the nooks and bends of your stereo system, cords and all. It will be weeks before dust rears its head again.
