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Re: How to clean a Dell laptop screen?

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On 04/02/2026 06:17, micky wrote:
> What does the first sentence mean:
>      Moisten a microfiber cloth with a mixture of 70% isopropyl alcohol /
> 30% water.        The cloth should be damp, but not dripping wet. Excess
> moisture should be removed if the cloth is wet before wiping the
> product. Using any material other than a microfiber cloth could damage
> your product.
> https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000133659/guidance-for-keeping-your-dell-technologies-equipment-clean
> 
> When you buy isopropyl alcohol it's already 99 or 70% isopropyl alcohol
> and the rest is water. Is that what they mean, 70% isopropyl alcohol,
> straight out of the bottle?  Or do they want you to dillute it further?
> 
> If they mean straight out of the bottle, they should have a omitted "a
> mixture of".   Mixture implies that the user is supposed to mix it.
> Because there is no reference to "mixture" on the front of the bottle.
> It's called "70% isopropyl alcohol".  No mention of water, but I happen
> to know that thats what the other 30% is.

So if the "other 30%" of the 70% isopropyl alcohol is water, then by 
applying your same logic the "other 70%" of the 30% water is water. Does 
that mean you're now mixing equal parts of 70% isopropyl alcohol and 
"100%" water, or any other proportions you might like to try? Of course 
not. It means what it says - a mixture which contains 70% isopropyl 
alcohol, with the other 30% being water.

Would it be easier to understand if it was written "take 70 parts of 
100% isopropyl alcohol and 30 parts of water and mix them together"?

> And if they mean straight 70%, can I just use the same alcohol prep pads
> that phlebotomists use before they draw blood, that I already have.  I
> use them before I inject myself once a week for diabetes, and they are
> labeled. "saturated with 70% isopropyl alcohol".   And they are also
> gamma sterilized.  Wouldn't Dell like that?

I think they're more concerned that anything other than microfibre cloth 
might contain minute pieces of grit or other hard material which might 
scratch the screen. You might not feel any minute pieces in the 
sterilising pad when it's rubbed on your skin.

> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropyl_alcohol#Medical  Rubbing
> alcohol, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting pads typically contain a
> 60–70% solution of isopropyl alcohol or ethanol in water. But mine use
> isopropyl alcohol, IPA.
> https://www.amazon.com/Swan-Isoprophyl-Alcohol-70-16/dp/B0006GBEFS
>  
> BTW, as a disinfectant 70% is better than 99%.  Surprising, huh?  The
> explanation made sense, but I forget what it was.

<https://blog.gotopac.com/2017/05/15/why-is-70-isopropyl-alcohol-ipa-a-better-disinfectant-than-99-isopropanol-and-what-is-ipa-used-for/>

-- 
Jeff

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Thread

How to clean a Dell laptop screen? micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-02-04 01:17 -0500
  Re: How to clean a Dell laptop screen? Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> - 2026-02-04 08:08 +0000
    Re: How to clean a Dell laptop screen? micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-02-05 13:29 -0500
  Re: How to clean a Dell laptop screen? Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2026-02-04 09:40 -0800
    Re: How to clean a Dell laptop screen? micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-02-05 13:30 -0500
      Re: How to clean a Dell laptop screen? liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) - 2026-02-05 20:48 +0000
        Re: How to clean a Dell laptop screen? micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-02-08 13:48 -0500
      Re: How to clean a Dell laptop screen? Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2026-02-09 08:53 -0800
        Re: How to clean a Dell laptop screen? wmartin <wwm@wwmartin.net> - 2026-02-09 19:07 -0800
        Re: How to clean a Dell laptop screen? micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-02-12 05:42 -0500
          Re: How to clean a Dell laptop screen? Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2026-02-12 12:39 -0800
            Re: How to clean a Dell laptop screen? Chuck <chuck23@dejanews.net> - 2026-02-13 10:06 -0600
              Re: How to clean a Dell laptop screen? micky <misc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-02-19 13:41 -0500
            Re: How to clean a Dell laptop screen? micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-02-19 13:57 -0500
              Re: How to clean a Dell laptop screen? Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2026-02-19 23:00 -0800
                Re: How to clean a Dell laptop screen? micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> - 2026-02-21 23:36 -0500

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