Caring For & Feeding Your Monitor

Generally, monitors require little care. You might occasionally want to clean your CRT screen to keep it free from dust. You can do this with a soft cloth and some glass cleaner. Spray the glass cleaner on the cloth, not the monitor. Make sure your monitor is off before cleaning.

Sometimes you may have problems seeing what is on the screen. It could be that your brightness and contrast are out of adjustment. Adjust these settings. But be careful not to turn them up all the way, as this can strain your monitor and wear it out faster.

To prevent phosphor burn, which leaves a "ghost" image on your screen after your monitor is turned off, you can buy a screen saver. This is software that either "blanks" your screen or changes the image on your screen after a specified amount of time.

Screen savers can also prevent people from reading your screen while you are away from your desk. Some include a security feature called password protection. Once the screen saver is activated, you must type in a special code or password to be able to get back to your original screen. Screen savers are also colorful and fun. They come in a variety to match almost any taste.