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ThatiPhoneKid

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 15, 2017
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I use my iPad a lot and am not usually too careful when using it, anyway I had ink on my hand which transferred to the back and the screen of my iPad, I wiped it off my screen with a dry cloth and wiped the back but there is still a little bit on the back and I can’t seem to get it off. I don’t want to use water as the iPad isn’t water resistant, how could I remove this? Thanks
 
First thing I'd try is this which I buy at Amazon UK:

"Ecomoist Natural Screen Cleaner 100ml with Fine Microfiber Towel"

I use it to clean all parts of most electronic devices and not just screens. I've been very satisfied so far.
 
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First thing I'd try is this which I buy at Amazon UK:

"Ecomoist Natural Screen Cleaner 100ml with Fine Microfiber Towel"

I use it to clean all parts of most electronic devices and not just screens. I've been very satisfied so far.

Ill have a look for this
 
I use my iPad a lot and am not usually too careful when using it, anyway I had ink on my hand which transferred to the back and the screen of my iPad, I wiped it off my screen with a dry cloth and wiped the back but there is still a little bit on the back and I can’t seem to get it off. I don’t want to use water as the iPad isn’t water resistant, how could I remove this? Thanks

Small amount of Nail polish remover on a cotton ball. This will easily take off all of the ink. It will not hurt your iPad either. It will not remove the finish or anything.
 
It should wear off over time from the back side.


Nail Polish could ruin the coating on the glass.

I have a very tiny bit of ink on the glass, if I left it should it wear off the glass? I’ll try nail polish on the aluminium back as not too bothered about the back of the iPad. Thank you all for your helpful replies
 
I wouldn’t use nail polish remover or alcohol. Whoosh is a screen cleaner available on Amazon which I’ve used in the past and it’s very good and harmless. In any event here’s what apple says and I would try that first:

Clean iPad immediately if it comes in contact with anything that may cause stains or other damage—for example, dirt or sand, ink, makeup, soap, detergent, acids or acidic foods, and lotions. To clean:

  • Disconnect all cables, then do one of the following to turn iPad off:
    • Models with the Home button: Press and hold the top button until the slider appears, then drag the slider.

    • Other models: Simultaneously press and hold the top button and either volume button until the sliders appear, then drag the top slider.

    • All models: Go to Settings
      492fec5aff74dbdef9b526177c3804b4.png
      > General > Shut Down, then drag the slider.
  • Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth—for example, a lens cloth.

  • Avoid getting moisture in openings.

  • Don’t use cleaning products or compressed air.
 
I wouldn’t use nail polish remover or alcohol. Whoosh is a screen cleaner available on Amazon which I’ve used in the past and it’s very good and harmless. In any event here’s what apple says and I would try that first:

Clean iPad immediately if it comes in contact with anything that may cause stains or other damage—for example, dirt or sand, ink, makeup, soap, detergent, acids or acidic foods, and lotions. To clean:

  • Disconnect all cables, then do one of the following to turn iPad off:
    • Models with the Home button: Press and hold the top button until the slider appears, then drag the slider.

    • Other models: Simultaneously press and hold the top button and either volume button until the sliders appear, then drag the top slider.

    • All models: Go to Settings
      492fec5aff74dbdef9b526177c3804b4.png
      > General > Shut Down, then drag the slider.
  • Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth—for example, a lens cloth.

  • Avoid getting moisture in openings.

  • Don’t use cleaning products or compressed air.
This is really helpful, thank you
 
Mr Clean Magic Eraser for me. Does wonders for cleaning my Apple Smart Keyboard too. I soak it in warm water and a couple of drops of dish soap then squeeze out as much moisture from the sponge as possible before using it for cleaning. I then rinse the sponge again with warm water and repeat before wiping the iPad and keyboard dry with a clean towel. Things look brand new afterwards with no drama since there’s no excessive moisture being applied. Using the sponge dry on the soft inside of the cover works great too.

I don’t recommend using it on screen though, could be too abrasive for the coating.
 
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Herewith a customer's review for Mr. Clean Extra Power Magic Eraser at Amazon.co.uk:

"Partner ordered this as his MacBook had a stain on and he had read that this was one of the only things that would be safe enough to use on it. He had tried baby wipes,nail varnish remover, wet sponge etc but nothing had worked....so anyway, he got this to try and it worked!

He has since used it on most things in our house.. bathroom tiles, kitchen walls, kids pen marks, greesy oven tray, doors,toys... basically, it's brilliant and with 4 kids in our house, I will be buying more!!"

Note: I have not provided a link as this post might not have displayed for possibly quite some time otherwise.

--------

Update:

This listing received an A grade at Fakespot (new scan). However, the product only gets 3.1 out of a possible 5 stars from 42 Amazon customers (33% give 1 star).
 
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I think the big missed point is why is there no screen protector on the front?

IPad, iPhone 101.
 
If you’re talking about the normal ink for paper use than it can be easily cleaned with a water moisted tissue.

Even if the ipad is not water proof it won’t diffuse through the glas:)

As long as the tissue is just moist and not water dripping you won’t have a problem

Definitely wouldn’t recommend nail polish remover cos of the oleophobic coating.

Regarding your question if ink can damage the ol. coating. Nobody knows for sure as we don’t know what chemicals are inside.

But just wipe it off and see yourself.
 
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If you’re talking about the normal ink for paper use than it can be easily cleaned with a water moisted tissue.

Even if the ipad is not water proof it won’t diffuse through the glas:)

As long as the tissue is just moist and not water dripping you won’t have a problem

Definitely wouldn’t recommend nail polish remover cos of the oleophobic coating.

Regarding your question if ink can damage the ol. coating. Nobody knows for sure as we don’t know what chemicals are inside.

But just wipe it off and see yourself. Don’t be so OCD

Managed to wipe it all off with just a wet microfibre cleaning cloth, all looks fine, how can I tell and check to see if the oleophobic coating is worn off? Thanks
 
Managed to wipe it all off with just a wet microfibre cleaning cloth, all looks fine, how can I tell and check to see if the oleophobic coating is worn off? Thanks

From a piece I just found. No link as otherwise the post would be delayed. See note at end for source.

I think my oleophobic layer has worn off, what should I do?


"First thing's first, if you are unsure, whether the coating has worn off, drip a single drop of water on the display. If the drop gathers around itself and stays in an almost spheric form – you're fine. If it just splats on the display, then you've got a case of worn-out grease-repeller. A more extreme test would be to pick up a marker and draw a line across the glass. If the oleophobic coating is still there, the line will erase itself, as the marker's trail breaks up and forms many little dots, which can be wiped off the screen; if the coating is gone, the line will stay on the glass (as you can probably imagine, we don't recommend this test, but you can do it for research purposes if you happen to have an old device lying around).

If you are feeling paranoid about losing your screen's pristine feel, or if it has managed to shed its oleophobic coat for one reason or another, you can always use a screen protector. Yes, many users have a poor experience with the films, as they tend to smudge up quite fast and feel unpleasant to the touch, but this is mostly because they have tried the cheaper ones on the market. The more expensive display defenders will have an oleophobic coating of their own and will be less annoying to the purists."

----------

Note:

To find the original piece, Google this:

"Oleophobic coating – what it is, how to clean your phone, what to do if the coating wears off"
 
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From a piece I just found. No link as otherwise the post would be delayed. See note at end for source.

I think my oleophobic layer has worn off, what should I do?


"First thing's first, if you are unsure, whether the coating has worn off, drip a single drop of water on the display. If the drop gathers around itself and stays in an almost spheric form – you're fine. If it just splats on the display, then you've got a case of worn-out grease-repeller. A more extreme test would be to pick up a marker and draw a line across the glass. If the oleophobic coating is still there, the line will erase itself, as the marker's trail breaks up and forms many little dots, which can be wiped off the screen; if the coating is gone, the line will stay on the glass (as you can probably imagine, we don't recommend this test, but you can do it for research purposes if you happen to have an old device lying around).

If you are feeling paranoid about losing your screen's pristine feel, or if it has managed to shed its oleophobic coat for one reason or another, you can always use a screen protector. Yes, many users have a poor experience with the films, as they tend to smudge up quite fast and feel unpleasant to the touch, but this is mostly because they have tried the cheaper ones on the market. The more expensive display defenders will have an oleophobic coating of their own and will be less annoying to the purists."

----------

Note:

To find the original piece, Google this:

"Oleophobic coating – what it is, how to clean your phone, what to do if the coating wears off"
Thank you!
 
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Managed to wipe it all off with just a wet microfibre cleaning cloth, all looks fine, how can I tell and check to see if the oleophobic coating is worn off? Thanks
Oh, you’ll know - fingerprints galore.

If it bothers you, put on a screen protector. Most people are not fans of the film protectors. For me - I always use a good glass protector for my phone and a Power Support film protector on my iPad. I’ve had the same one on my 9.7 iPad Pro which is now around 3 years old. It’s held up well but is now showing some scratches. Should be replaced.
 
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For the still slightly ink-colored back: In cases like that I often take a wet microfiber towel with a bit off gall soap / ox-gall soap. Not really chemical stuff and very effective.

The fluorelastomer watchbands get very clean again as well, if soaked a couple of minutes in gall soap. I happened to have a very small dot of ink on one of them - after the treatment: ink gone, color "unharmed".
 
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Thank you all for your really helpful suggestions, I managed to get all of the ink off the iPad, the ink was from a gel pen so was worried the oleophobic coating was damaged, did the test @Fenhalls told me about above and it failed, so the oleophobic coating must be worn but I’m wondering if it was the ink that removed the oleophobic coating of just the everyday use it has had.
 
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Thank you all for your really helpful suggestions, I managed to get all of the ink off the iPad, the ink was from a gel pen so was worried the oleophobic coating was damaged, did the test @Fenhalls told me about above and it failed, so the oleophobic coating must be worn but I’m wondering if it was the ink that removed the oleophobic coating of just the everyday use it has had.

Have you cleaned it with perhaps an alcohol-based substance before?
 
Have you cleaned it with perhaps an alcohol-based substance before?

Nah I have always been too afraid to because I don’t really want to to get any liquid in the gaps around the iPad screen. Could it have been the ink that could have caused the oleophobic coating to diminish? Thanks
 
I find that the oleophobic coating does wear off from everyday use and the more you clean your screen the quicker the wear. I’ve tried so many screen cleaners all claiming to be safe on the screens but the coating still wears off. Easiest thing is a new protector - will feel like butter.
 
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I find that the oleophobic coating does wear off from everyday use and the more you clean your screen the quicker the wear. I’ve tried so many screen cleaners all claiming to be safe on the screens but the coating still wears off. Easiest thing is a new protector - will feel like butter.

Same. My wife’s air 2 has had a Smart Cover on it since day 1. The constant rubbing of the cover as it shifts ever so slightly while being jostled in her backpack daily eventually wore through spots in the screen coating. It took well over a year but it’s there.
 
When the protector or screen totally loses it's oleophobic coating and doesn’t feel smooth anymore, you can always use a glass polish/wax to get a smooth feel again. But nothing brings back the oleophobic coating.
 
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