Having a new projector can replace the need of having a monitor mounted to the wall. However, as time passes, the lens of the projector can be filled with dust resulting in bad or blurry picture quality. The uncleaned lens of the projector creates cloudy and distorted images, reducing the sharpness of the image. Knowing how to clean the projector’s inside lens will help in case your projector’s image quality becomes blurry or distorted.
Cleaning the projecting lens is a simple process of removing the dust with an air compressor followed by chemical cleaning with the help of a regular household cleaner/solution and then simply wiping it with wipes/tissues.
There are some cleaners available that will help you restore the image quality to its glory days however any household cleaners that are normally used won’t be as effective as them. If it’s left unchecked and uncleaned, the damage caused to the lens can be permanent or may require more expensive repair as compared to cleaning.
The bright side is that cleaning a projector lens isn’t that much difficult as it just requires a bit of carefulness and cautiousness. Before you get into cleaning a projector lens, we will list down some items that you will need cleaning.
Items That Are Required:
- Compressor or Compressed Air.
- Microfiber Cloth.
- Household cleaner or Lens cleaning solution.
- Lens cleaning wipes/papers and Tissues.
How To Clean a Projector Lens- Step by Step Guide
After you have these items, you just need to follow these simple steps to clean a projector lens without harming it in the process:
Step 1: Turn Off the projector and unplug it
If you were using the projector then you would need to turn it off, unplug it from the source, and keep it like that for a couple of hours letting it cool down. As the lens is made up of glass, heated glass is brittle and can break with just a little pressure. You would need to ensure that it is cooled down before going into the next step.
Step 2: Opening The Projector
Each company’s projector is different from one another and opening it can be a problem, however, if you follow the user’s manual provided by the owner, you can easily open it. You will find a latch or button on the projector that will help you open it without damaging its exterior.
Step 3: Cleaning Inside Of Projector Using Compressed Air
You will need a compressor or compressed air to thoroughly clean the inside of the projector (you can find those from Amazon). By using a short burst of compressed air from around 3-4 inches away from the projector, you can thoroughly clean the projector. Be sure to move the nozzle around to help clean corners or places where dust may be stuck or stacked.
Step 4: Removing All Dust
While blowing the dust away using compressed air, the dust can be pushed back to the projector, you need to make sure that there isn’t any dust remaining inside the projector. After you clean the insides, you need to use a microfiber cloth to remove the dust from the exterior of the projector or any visible places where you can see the dirt. To further clean it thoroughly, you can use compressed air after using a cloth for removing any leftover dust.
Step 5: Cleaning the Exterior
Try to use a moistened cloth to clean the exterior as it can remove any traces of dust left from the projector’s case. The dust will easily stick to the moistened cloth or the dirt will remain on the projector as it was before. Be sure to check the fan vent and surrounding area as these are places where the dust is present even after using the air compressor.
Step 6: Cleaning Lens
Now it’s time to clean the lens, you can start by removing the lens cap and then put a drop or two of the cleaner of your choice on a tissue. Start gently wiping the lens in a circular motion. There is no need to worry about drying as the lens cleaner dries quickly. Once you’re sure that it’s cleaned, you can replace the lens cap.
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Things You Need To Keep In Mind While Cleaning
With a clean lens, you can have the best image quality that a projector can provide, and be sure not to use the wrong cleaning agents or tools that might damage the lens. As a projector is an electronic device, by using the wrong tools or cleaners, you can damage the lens of the internal circuit of the projector. Here are the following things that you can do to safely clean the projector lens:
- Be sure to always wipe the lens with tissue and in a circular motion outward from the middle. If you wipe the same part again and again, the dust and debris will get stuck in the corner. By wiping in a circular motion, you will avoid any dust or debris from spreading around the glass.
- Try to use products that are specified for cleaning lenses.
- Always use a clean microfiber cloth and brush as dirty ones would do no good when it comes to cleaning.
- Always try to use an air compressor in short bursts. Because constant pressure (without any breaks) may damage your lens or projector’s circuit.
- Don’t use your breath or finger to clean the lens as by using fingers you may break the lens and your breath’s acidity can damage the lens coating.
- Don’t touch the bristles of the brush when you’re using as the oils present in your finger can stick to the bristles and then get stuck onto the lens while you clean.
- Always try to spray the cleaning solution onto a tissue as directly spraying onto the lens may result in liquid sweeping into the circuit.
How Often Should I Clean My Projector’s Lens?
You now know how to clean your projector’s lens and your projector lens would remain clean as little dust gets inside the projector. It depends upon the environment the projector’s lens is being used. If you are using the projector in a dust-free environment, there is no need to clean the projector lens for a long time. On the question of how often you should clean the lens, the best solution would be when you feel the image quality is dropping or feel that the lens is dirty. By cleaning your lens, you are risking the safety of the lens and a little mistake can break it, so you should only clean it when you know it’s dirty.
How To Prevent Your Lens From Getting Dirty?
Even if you maintain your projector regularly as time passes, there will come a time when your projector lens will get dirty. However, there are a few steps that you can follow that will minimize the amount of dust getting into the projector and you won’t need to clean the lens for more time as compared to normal.
- Keep the fan clean: The fan is an important part of a projector’s working that keeps the projector cool and ensures that it doesn’t get overheated. But because of the fan, the dust gets accumulated inside the projector. So, you should use a cloth to clean the vent every time you turn on the projector after checking if there is any dust present inside the vent.
- Using Air Purifier: By using an air purifier, you are removing the dust present in the air before it reaches the projector lens. With no dust available in the air, the fans would use clean air for cooling.
- Cover the Lens When Not In Use: You should always cover the lens when you’re not using the projector. This will help minimize any chances of air getting into the lens from the surroundings while also protecting the lens from any external damage.
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Conclusion:
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