Cleaning a drawing tablet
Overview
Cleaning your drawing tablet should be a regular part of how you care for it. I recommend cleaning it once a month, and more often if needed.
Manufacturer guidance
Depending on the brand and type of tablet, manufacturers provide different cleaning advice. For example, some manufacturers say it is OK to clean the tablet with isopropyl alcohol. Others explicitly say you should not use it.
Below are a few links from different brands about how to clean their tablets. This list is not comprehensive, but it is a start.
Applying cleaning solution/water
Do not wet the device with any cleaning solution or water. You do not want liquid leaking inside.
Instead, dampen a cloth with the cleaning solution or water, then wipe the device with the cloth.
Cleaning solutions to avoid
Do not use any of these:
Acetone
Bleach
How I clean my tablets
STEP 1 — First, I remove dust from tablets, pens, and monitors with a microfiber duster. Specifically, I use the OXO Good Grips Microfiber Hand Duster ($12), which I bought on Amazon. The red microfiber brush can be detached, cleaned in a washing machine, and then dried on low heat.
STEP 2 — I gently wipe down the tablet with a damp cloth, microfiber cloth, or towel.
OPTION 1: If the tablet is a little greasy, I may put a bit of soapy water on the damp cloth. I want to emphasize that the cloth is damp and not wet. You should not have any water dripping from the cloth.
OPTION 2: Since September 2024, for pen displays I have switched from soapy water to screen cleaning sprays such as WOOSH and MISTIFY. More here: Screen cleaning sprays.
Keeping your tablet clean
If your hands leave skin oils on the tablet, consider using Drawing gloves.
To avoid dust or other particles landing on your tablet, consider putting a cover over it when you are not using it.
Other cleaning guides
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