From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

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.

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?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropyl_alcohol#Medical Rubbing
alcohol, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting pads typically contain a
60u70% 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.
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From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

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
60rCo70% 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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From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

On Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:17:28 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

What does the first sentence mean:
Moisten a microfiber cloth with a mixture of 70% isopropyl alcohol /
30% water.

It means that the screen cleaner is 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30%
water. More commonly, it's called "rubbing alcohol" or "medical
alcohol" and is intended for topical (applied to the skin) use. For
cleaning screens, it's awful. With a laptop, all it does on mine is
smear the surface screen grease around and leave streaks when it
evaporates. Paper towels make the mess even worse.

What works (for me) is a clean and dry microfiber cloth and some light pressure. The microfiber cloth will absorb the grease and pickup the
dust without any solvents. The problem is keeping the cloth clean. A
new cloth works well, but it doesn't take much use to make a mess. To
keep the towel from collecting dust, I keep them in plastic Zip-Loc
bags. Pushing harder when cleaning *WILL* scratch the plastic laptop
screen. The accumulated dirt and dust in the cloth turn it into
sandpaper.

"How to Hand Wash Microfiber Towels" <https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9GHJ_8sfg1M>

BTW, as a disinfectant 70% is better than 99%. Surprising, huh? The >explanation made sense, but I forget what it was.

For medicinal purposes, the approximately 30% water concentration is
needed to kill some types of viruses, bacteria and fungi.
--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272 AE6KS 831-336-2558

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From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

In sci.electronics.repair, on Wed, 4 Feb 2026 08:08:36 +0000, Jeff
Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote:

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.

I think your answer makes the most sense, but I want you to know that
since I posted, I found that SCAI (so-called AI) doesn't see it that
way. So I'm not the only one who is confused. I searched on
which is bette to clean led screen, tap water o 70% IPA ****
I got: AI
70% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) mixed with distilled water is generally
better for cleaning stubborn oils and residue off LED screens
.....
Best Solution: A mixture of 70% IPA and distilled water (50/50 mix


****when I correted o to or, I got different results, even though it
seems to know I meant "or".

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"?

Yes, but there is no 100% IPA. The most they can make is 99.something%
and that requires distillation. So when it's 70%, I don't see it as a mixture, but as one substance. The water and alochol are attached in
some way. Ah, it says the water and alcohol are hydrogen-bonded between
the hydroxyl (\(-OH\)) group of the alcohol and water molecules. so
that's why when they tell you to mix, to me it sounds like they're
talking about adding even more water.

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.

You're right. The prep pads are not meant to be especially smooth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropyl_alcohol#Medical Rubbing
alcohol, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting pads typically contain a
60u70% 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/>

Very interesting. Much better than wikipedia/ipa's explanation which
was very short.
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From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

In sci.electronics.repair, on Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:40:11 -0800, Jeff
Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

On Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:17:28 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

What does the first sentence mean:
Moisten a microfiber cloth with a mixture of 70% isopropyl alcohol / >>30% water.

It means that the screen cleaner is 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30%
water. More commonly, it's called "rubbing alcohol" or "medical
alcohol" and is intended for topical (applied to the skin) use. For
cleaning screens, it's awful. With a laptop, all it does on mine is
smear the surface screen grease around and leave streaks when it
evaporates. Paper towels make the mess even worse.

Good to know.

What works (for me) is a clean and dry microfiber cloth and some light >pressure. The microfiber cloth will absorb the grease and pickup the
dust without any solvents. The problem is keeping the cloth clean. A
new cloth works well, but it doesn't take much use to make a mess. To
keep the towel from collecting dust, I keep them in plastic Zip-Loc
bags. Pushing harder when cleaning *WILL* scratch the plastic laptop s>screen. The accumulated dirt and dust in the cloth turn it into
sandpaper.

"How to Hand Wash Microfiber Towels" ><https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9GHJ_8sfg1M>

I watched it. So far I only have one of such towel, but he reminded me
that my sink is usually dirtier than the towel would be, even though I
wash new clothes in that sink, so they won't bleed on to the rest of my clothes***

Very good video short follows.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mlGIjtBVuq8
I'm pretty sure this is real.

BTW, as a disinfectant 70% is better than 99%. Surprising, huh? The >>explanation made sense, but I forget what it was.

For medicinal purposes, the approximately 30% water concentration is
needed to kill some types of viruses, bacteria and fungi.

***I knew about separating whites and colors when I was a first-year
student in college, but for some reason I washed my maroon gym-shorts
and t-shirt with my underwear and I had to wear pink underwear until
they all wore out. I don't think anyone saw me.
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From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:

[...]

***I knew about separating whites and colors when I was a first-year
student in college, but for some reason I washed my maroon gym-shorts
and t-shirt with my underwear and I had to wear pink underwear until
they all wore out. I don't think anyone saw me.

Q: How do you get a pink rabbit?

|

|

A: You put white rabbit in the wash with some red socks.
--
~ Liz Tuddenham ~
(Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)
www.poppyrecords.co.uk
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From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

In sci.electronics.repair, on Thu, 5 Feb 2026 20:48:18 +0000, liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) wrote:

micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:

[...]

***I knew about separating whites and colors when I was a first-year
student in college, but for some reason I washed my maroon gym-shorts
and t-shirt with my underwear and I had to wear pink underwear until
they all wore out. I don't think anyone saw me.

Q: How do you get a pink rabbit?

|

|

A: You put white rabbit in the wash with some red socks.

I think that would do it, but I'd like to try it first before fully
endorsing the method.

Back to my OP, I changed my search terms to include Dell, how to clean a
dell laptop screen

And I found that Dell had two pages with different answers:

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000133659/guidance-for-keeping-your-dell-technologies-equipment-clean
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.
and https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000124304/notebook-best-practices-for-care-and-use
LCD screen cleaning - Gently wipe the screen with a clean and soft microfiber cloth. Do not use window cleaner or any type of household
cleaner on the LCD screen. Use a cleaner that is designed for an LCD
screen.

So I looked up some screen cleaning kits and despite how good Amazon's
pictures are, none said what the ingredients were, because then you'd
just use the ingredients for far less money.

Despite Dell itself saying to use 70% IPA, other stories scared me, and
tap water definitely has minerals. Of course I only clean my screen
once a year or twice a year, not every day, so tap water won't leave
noticeable deposits. And even alcohol probably wouldn't do noticeable
damage even to a screen it could damage.

But I finally rmemembered that I had part of a gallon of steam distilled
water in the basement. Problem solved. Thanks for your help on the mathematical mixture question.
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From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

On Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:30:29 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

In sci.electronics.repair, on Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:40:11 -0800, Jeff >Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

"How to Hand Wash Microfiber Towels" >><https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9GHJ_8sfg1M>

I watched it. So far I only have one of such towel, but he reminded me
that my sink is usually dirtier than the towel would be, even though I
wash new clothes in that sink, so they won't bleed on to the rest of my >clothes***

Sorry. I assumed that everyone has microfiber towels and knows how to
use them. When I was still fixing computers, I bought them in bulk
for cleaning displays: <https://www.costco.com/p/-/kirkland-signature-ultra-plush-microfiber-towel-yellow-16-in-x-16-in-36-count/100356999>
<https://www.costco.com/p/-/kirkland-signature-microfiber-towel-case-324-count/100341124?langId=-1>
I didn't like spending the money, but did so anyway because my
customers expected me to clean their displays. Even if I couldn't fix
their computer, I would do my best to clean the screen, case and
keyboard.

Hint: The front surface of today's LCD screens are glass. Earlier
screens and the very cheapest LCD screens, were plastic.

What I do for cleaning LCD displays:
"How to clean a TV screen the right way" <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNlF7NLce7k>
Spoiler: De-ionized or de-mineralized water, no solvents and
microfiber cloth. If desperate, add a few drops of dishwashing liquid
(Dawn Platinum or Photo-flo) to prevent water spots by lowering the
surface tension of water.

Drivel: No, I'm not a clean freak.
--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272 AE6KS 831-336-2558

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From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

On 2/9/26 08:53, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

On Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:30:29 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

In sci.electronics.repair, on Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:40:11 -0800, Jeff
Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

"How to Hand Wash Microfiber Towels"
<https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9GHJ_8sfg1M>

I watched it. So far I only have one of such towel, but he reminded me
that my sink is usually dirtier than the towel would be, even though I
wash new clothes in that sink, so they won't bleed on to the rest of my
clothes***

Sorry. I assumed that everyone has microfiber towels and knows how to
use them. When I was still fixing computers, I bought them in bulk
for cleaning displays: <https://www.costco.com/p/-/kirkland-signature-ultra-plush-microfiber-towel-yellow-16-in-x-16-in-36-count/100356999>
<https://www.costco.com/p/-/kirkland-signature-microfiber-towel-case-324-count/100341124?langId=-1>
I didn't like spending the money, but did so anyway because my
customers expected me to clean their displays. Even if I couldn't fix
their computer, I would do my best to clean the screen, case and
keyboard.

Hint: The front surface of today's LCD screens are glass. Earlier
screens and the very cheapest LCD screens, were plastic.

What I do for cleaning LCD displays:
"How to clean a TV screen the right way" <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNlF7NLce7k>
Spoiler: De-ionized or de-mineralized water, no solvents and
microfiber cloth. If desperate, add a few drops of dishwashing liquid
(Dawn Platinum or Photo-flo) to prevent water spots by lowering the
surface tension of water.

Drivel: No, I'm not a clean freak.

Woah...that's a world -class straight line! :-)

--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

In sci.electronics.repair, on Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:53:27 -0800, Jeff
Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

On Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:30:29 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

In sci.electronics.repair, on Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:40:11 -0800, Jeff >>Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

"How to Hand Wash Microfiber Towels" >>><https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9GHJ_8sfg1M>

I watched it. So far I only have one of such towel, but he reminded me
that my sink is usually dirtier than the towel would be, even though I
wash new clothes in that sink, so they won't bleed on to the rest of my >>clothes***

Sorry. I assumed that everyone has microfiber towels and knows how to
use them. When I was still fixing computers, I bought them in bulk
for cleaning displays: ><https://www.costco.com/p/-/kirkland-signature-ultra-plush-microfiber-towel-yellow-16-in-x-16-in-36-count/100356999>
<https://www.costco.com/p/-/kirkland-signature-microfiber-towel-case-324-count/100341124?langId=-1>
I didn't like spending the money, but did so anyway because my
customers expected me to clean their displays. Even if I couldn't fix
their computer,

LOL

I would do my best to clean the screen, case and
keyboard.

Hint: The front surface of today's LCD screens are glass. Earlier
screens and the very cheapest LCD screens, were plastic.

What I do for cleaning LCD displays:
"How to clean a TV screen the right way" ><https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNlF7NLce7k>

Thanks a lot for the links.

Spoiler: De-ionized or de-mineralized water, no solvents and

I have a friend who drinks distilled water, in place of plain water!
When he came to visit, I'd buy a gallon of distilled water. After his
last visit, the plastic bottle sat on the basement floor for weeks or
months, without any problem. I took it to the kitchen and set it on the formica counter, and in one night it sprang a leak and ruined the
particle board under the formica (this was 1979 stuff with s seam
between the top and front.) So why did it leak after leaving the
cement basement floor and sitting on the formica???

He moved farther away and doesn't come to visit anymore, so I thought I
had no distilled water and didnt' want to buy a gallon for one
tablespoon's worth, but I found a gallon in the basement, not on the
floor, 2/3rds of it used. ???? Don't know why I have it. The car
battery couldn't use over 2 quarts. I no longer iron clothes and need it
for the steam iron.

So now the screen, which almost never touch, is clean and I even cleaned
the phone, though that will get dirt again soon.

microfiber cloth. If desperate, add a few drops of dishwashing liquid
(Dawn Platinum or Photo-flo) to prevent water spots by lowering the
surface tension of water.

Drivel: No, I'm not a clean freak.

I believe you.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

On Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:42:38 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

In sci.electronics.repair, on Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:53:27 -0800, Jeff >Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

On Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:30:29 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

In sci.electronics.repair, on Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:40:11 -0800, Jeff >>>Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

"How to Hand Wash Microfiber Towels" >>>><https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9GHJ_8sfg1M>

I watched it. So far I only have one of such towel, but he reminded me >>>that my sink is usually dirtier than the towel would be, even though I >>>wash new clothes in that sink, so they won't bleed on to the rest of my >>>clothes***

Sorry. I assumed that everyone has microfiber towels and knows how to
use them. When I was still fixing computers, I bought them in bulk
for cleaning displays: >><https://www.costco.com/p/-/kirkland-signature-ultra-plush-microfiber-towel-yellow-16-in-x-16-in-36-count/100356999>
<https://www.costco.com/p/-/kirkland-signature-microfiber-towel-case-324-count/100341124?langId=-1>
I didn't like spending the money, but did so anyway because my
customers expected me to clean their displays. Even if I couldn't fix >>their computer,

LOL

In the not so distant past, it was customary for automobile repair
shops to wash the vehicle before returning it to the customer. The
practice largely ended when began experiencing extended droughts.

I would do my best to clean the screen, case and
keyboard.

Hint: The front surface of today's LCD screens are glass. Earlier
screens and the very cheapest LCD screens, were plastic.

What I do for cleaning LCD displays:
"How to clean a TV screen the right way" >><https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNlF7NLce7k>

Thanks a lot for the links.

Spoiler: De-ionized or de-mineralized water, no solvents and

I have a friend who drinks distilled water, in place of plain water!
When he came to visit, I'd buy a gallon of distilled water. After his
last visit, the plastic bottle sat on the basement floor for weeks or
months, without any problem. I took it to the kitchen and set it on the >formica counter, and in one night it sprang a leak and ruined the
particle board under the formica (this was 1979 stuff with s seam
between the top and front.) So why did it leak after leaving the
cement basement floor and sitting on the formica???

What type of plastic was the water bottle made from? I've had
drinking bottles harden and crumble without external influences. This
bottle did NOT get much UV exposure, yet disintegrated when I touched
it after about 8 years of indoor storage: <https://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/pics/bicycles/water%20bottle%20fail.jpg>
Photo from Dec 2010, before the water bottle crumbled: <https://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/pics/home/BL-shop7.jpg>

He moved farther away and doesn't come to visit anymore, so I thought I
had no distilled water and didnt' want to buy a gallon for one
tablespoon's worth, but I found a gallon in the basement, not on the
floor, 2/3rds of it used. ???? Don't know why I have it. The car
battery couldn't use over 2 quarts. I no longer iron clothes and need it
for the steam iron.

When I tried drinking de-mineralized (or de-ionized) water, it tasted
ummm tasteless. There was no taste at all. It was the liquid
equivalent of eating paper.
"Does 100% Pure Water Have a Taste? Drinking Type II Deionized Water Experiment"
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FElDa62zwwE>

Drivel: I used to obtain my tap water from two large redwood water
tanks. The water came from a local spring. I decided to look inside
the tank via some covered access holes in the top of the tanks. I
found several dead squirrels floating in one. The local tap water had
the reputation for being the best tasting water in the area.

We had a big fire in the area in Aug 2020. The fire melted many of
the plastic water pipes that were just sitting on the dirt. The
chemical analysis of the water what horrid. The prime contaminants
were benzene and other VOC's, which forms when plastic melts. See Pg
14:
<https://www.slvwd.com/water-quality/files/slvwd-2020-ccr-final-0>
more:
<https://www.slvwd.com/water-quality/pages/consumer-confidence-reports>
The problem was quickly fixed by re-routing some of the water mains
and eventually replacing the pipes.

<https://slvpost.com/slv-water-and-czu-fire-recovery-an-update-from-the-san-lorenzo-valley-water-district/>
"The District lost seven miles of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
pipe in the CZU fire."

So now the screen, which almost never touch, is clean and I even cleaned
the phone, though that will get dirt again soon.

Primary heating in my house is from a wood burning stove: <https://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/pics/home/wood-burner.jpg>
I would always put a large tea pot, full of water, on the stove. The
idea was that it would raise the humidity in the house and prevent
chapped lips. Instead, it deposited white calcium carbonate (lime)
dust all over the house. The tea or coffee tasted awful because of
the high lime concentration.

microfiber cloth. If desperate, add a few drops of dishwashing liquid >>(Dawn Platinum or Photo-flo) to prevent water spots by lowering the
surface tension of water.

Drivel: No, I'm not a clean freak.

I believe you.

Something must be wrong. Nobody believes me.
--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272 AE6KS 831-336-2558

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From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

On Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:39:09 -0800, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>
wrote:

On Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:42:38 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

In sci.electronics.repair, on Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:53:27 -0800, Jeff >>Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

On Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:30:29 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

In sci.electronics.repair, on Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:40:11 -0800, Jeff >>>>Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

"How to Hand Wash Microfiber Towels" >>>>><https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9GHJ_8sfg1M>

I watched it. So far I only have one of such towel, but he reminded me >>>>that my sink is usually dirtier than the towel would be, even though I >>>>wash new clothes in that sink, so they won't bleed on to the rest of my >>>>clothes***

Sorry. I assumed that everyone has microfiber towels and knows how to >>>use them. When I was still fixing computers, I bought them in bulk
for cleaning displays: >>><https://www.costco.com/p/-/kirkland-signature-ultra-plush-microfiber-towel-yellow-16-in-x-16-in-36-count/100356999>
<https://www.costco.com/p/-/kirkland-signature-microfiber-towel-case-324-count/100341124?langId=-1>
I didn't like spending the money, but did so anyway because my
customers expected me to clean their displays. Even if I couldn't fix >>>their computer,

LOL

In the not so distant past, it was customary for automobile repair
shops to wash the vehicle before returning it to the customer. The
practice largely ended when began experiencing extended droughts.

I would do my best to clean the screen, case and
keyboard.

Hint: The front surface of today's LCD screens are glass. Earlier >>>screens and the very cheapest LCD screens, were plastic.

What I do for cleaning LCD displays:
"How to clean a TV screen the right way" >>><https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNlF7NLce7k>

Thanks a lot for the links.

Spoiler: De-ionized or de-mineralized water, no solvents and

I have a friend who drinks distilled water, in place of plain water!
When he came to visit, I'd buy a gallon of distilled water. After his
last visit, the plastic bottle sat on the basement floor for weeks or >>months, without any problem. I took it to the kitchen and set it on the >>formica counter, and in one night it sprang a leak and ruined the
particle board under the formica (this was 1979 stuff with s seam
between the top and front.) So why did it leak after leaving the
cement basement floor and sitting on the formica???

What type of plastic was the water bottle made from? I've had
drinking bottles harden and crumble without external influences. This
bottle did NOT get much UV exposure, yet disintegrated when I touched
it after about 8 years of indoor storage: ><https://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/pics/bicycles/water%20bottle%20fail.jpg>
Photo from Dec 2010, before the water bottle crumbled: ><https://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/pics/home/BL-shop7.jpg>

He moved farther away and doesn't come to visit anymore, so I thought I
had no distilled water and didnt' want to buy a gallon for one
tablespoon's worth, but I found a gallon in the basement, not on the
floor, 2/3rds of it used. ???? Don't know why I have it. The car
battery couldn't use over 2 quarts. I no longer iron clothes and need it >>for the steam iron.

When I tried drinking de-mineralized (or de-ionized) water, it tasted
ummm tasteless. There was no taste at all. It was the liquid
equivalent of eating paper.
"Does 100% Pure Water Have a Taste? Drinking Type II Deionized Water >Experiment"
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FElDa62zwwE>

Drivel: I used to obtain my tap water from two large redwood water
tanks. The water came from a local spring. I decided to look inside
the tank via some covered access holes in the top of the tanks. I
found several dead squirrels floating in one. The local tap water had
the reputation for being the best tasting water in the area.

We had a big fire in the area in Aug 2020. The fire melted many of
the plastic water pipes that were just sitting on the dirt. The
chemical analysis of the water what horrid. The prime contaminants
were benzene and other VOC's, which forms when plastic melts. See Pg
14:
<https://www.slvwd.com/water-quality/files/slvwd-2020-ccr-final-0>
more:
<https://www.slvwd.com/water-quality/pages/consumer-confidence-reports>
The problem was quickly fixed by re-routing some of the water mains
and eventually replacing the pipes.

<https://slvpost.com/slv-water-and-czu-fire-recovery-an-update-from-the-san-lorenzo-valley-water-district/>
"The District lost seven miles of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
pipe in the CZU fire."

So now the screen, which almost never touch, is clean and I even cleaned >>the phone, though that will get dirt again soon.

Primary heating in my house is from a wood burning stove: ><https://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/pics/home/wood-burner.jpg>
I would always put a large tea pot, full of water, on the stove. The
idea was that it would raise the humidity in the house and prevent
chapped lips. Instead, it deposited white calcium carbonate (lime)
dust all over the house. The tea or coffee tasted awful because of
the high lime concentration.

microfiber cloth. If desperate, add a few drops of dishwashing liquid >>>(Dawn Platinum or Photo-flo) to prevent water spots by lowering the >>>surface tension of water.

Drivel: No, I'm not a clean freak.

I believe you.

Something must be wrong. Nobody believes me.

We had a dead skunk in our well. The taste intensified gradually so we
didn't notice it. Our uncle took a taste and spewed the water out and
almost vomited.
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From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

In sci.electronics.repair, on Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:06:17 -0600, Chuck <chuck23@dejanews.net> wrote:

On Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:39:09 -0800, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>
wrote:

On Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:42:38 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

In sci.electronics.repair, on Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:53:27 -0800, Jeff >>>Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:
......

Drivel: No, I'm not a clean freak.

I believe you.

Something must be wrong. Nobody believes me.

We had a dead skunk in our well. The taste intensified gradually so we
didn't notice it. Our uncle took a taste and spewed the water out and
almost vomited.

That's hilarious. And I can understand it too. Where I lived for 2
years, a cat got into the basement and died somewhere among the boxes
and junk. The smell was terrible, but it took a while to notice and then
to find him. I would think something equivalent to that smell would
have been in your water (and cats don't even have a built-in bag of
stinkum' like skunks do).
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From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

In sci.electronics.repair, on Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:39:09 -0800, Jeff
Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

On Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:42:38 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

In sci.electronics.repair, on Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:53:27 -0800, Jeff >>Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

On Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:30:29 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

In sci.electronics.repair, on Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:40:11 -0800, Jeff >>>>Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

"How to Hand Wash Microfiber Towels" >>>>><https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9GHJ_8sfg1M>

I watched it. So far I only have one of such towel, but he reminded me >>>>that my sink is usually dirtier than the towel would be, even though I >>>>wash new clothes in that sink, so they won't bleed on to the rest of my >>>>clothes***

Sorry. I assumed that everyone has microfiber towels and knows how to >>>use them. When I was still fixing computers, I bought them in bulk
for cleaning displays: >>><https://www.costco.com/p/-/kirkland-signature-ultra-plush-microfiber-towel-yellow-16-in-x-16-in-36-count/100356999>
<https://www.costco.com/p/-/kirkland-signature-microfiber-towel-case-324-count/100341124?langId=-1>
I didn't like spending the money, but did so anyway because my
customers expected me to clean their displays. Even if I couldn't fix >>>their computer,

LOL

In the not so distant past, it was customary for automobile repair
shops to wash the vehicle before returning it to the customer. The
practice largely ended when began experiencing extended droughts.

I would do my best to clean the screen, case and
keyboard.

Hint: The front surface of today's LCD screens are glass. Earlier >>>screens and the very cheapest LCD screens, were plastic.

What I do for cleaning LCD displays:
"How to clean a TV screen the right way" >>><https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNlF7NLce7k>

Thanks a lot for the links.

Spoiler: De-ionized or de-mineralized water, no solvents and

I have a friend who drinks distilled water, in place of plain water!
When he came to visit, I'd buy a gallon of distilled water. After his
last visit, the plastic bottle sat on the basement floor for weeks or >>months, without any problem. I took it to the kitchen and set it on the >>formica counter, and in one night it sprang a leak and ruined the
particle board under the formica (this was 1979 stuff with s seam
between the top and front.) So why did it leak after leaving the
cement basement floor and sitting on the formica???

What type of plastic was the water bottle made from? I've had

It's been 10 years, but it was the cloudy, white plastic used for
gallong bottles in the eastern USA. Easy to bend but lasts normally
until you've drunk a gallon of milk (or evne used a gallon of distilled
water. What I have in the basement now is 5 or 10 years old but it
doesn't sit on the cement floor, which must have had something major to
do with the problem.)

drinking bottles harden and crumble without external influences. This
bottle did NOT get much UV exposure, yet disintegrated when I touched
it after about 8 years of indoor storage: ><https://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/pics/bicycles/water%20bottle%20fail.jpg>
Photo from Dec 2010, before the water bottle crumbled: ><https://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/pics/home/BL-shop7.jpg>

It looks like you and I have the same housekeeper.

He moved farther away and doesn't come to visit anymore, so I thought I
had no distilled water and didnt' want to buy a gallon for one
tablespoon's worth, but I found a gallon in the basement, not on the
floor, 2/3rds of it used. ???? Don't know why I have it. The car
battery couldn't use over 2 quarts. I no longer iron clothes and need it >>for the steam iron.

When I tried drinking de-mineralized (or de-ionized) water, it tasted
ummm tasteless. There was no taste at all. It was the liquid

That's what everyone says but I wasn't going to argue with him. He has a
couple strange habits but is basically normal.

equivalent of eating paper.
"Does 100% Pure Water Have a Taste? Drinking Type II Deionized Water >Experiment"
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FElDa62zwwE>

Drivel: I used to obtain my tap water from two large redwood water
tanks. The water came from a local spring. I decided to look inside
the tank via some covered access holes in the top of the tanks. I
found several dead squirrels floating in one. The local tap water had
the reputation for being the best tasting water in the area.

Did these redwood water tanks provide water just to you, or to how many
homes?

We had a big fire in the area in Aug 2020. The fire melted many of
the plastic water pipes that were just sitting on the dirt. The

Unrelated but I left my spaghetti spoon/fork on the stove while I used
the oven to heat my kitchen. (I can't turn the heat up higher becuase
that part of my living room is inaccessible due to junk.)

chemical analysis of the water what horrid. The prime contaminants
were benzene and other VOC's, which forms when plastic melts. See Pg
14:
<https://www.slvwd.com/water-quality/files/slvwd-2020-ccr-final-0>
more:
<https://www.slvwd.com/water-quality/pages/consumer-confidence-reports>
The problem was quickly fixed by re-routing some of the water mains
and eventually replacing the pipes.

Good.

<https://slvpost.com/slv-water-and-czu-fire-recovery-an-update-from-the-san-lorenzo-valley-water-district/>
"The District lost seven miles of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
pipe in the CZU fire."

So now the screen, which almost never touch, is clean and I even cleaned >>the phone, though that will get dirt again soon.

Primary heating in my house is from a wood burning stove: ><https://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/pics/home/wood-burner.jpg>
I would always put a large tea pot, full of water, on the stove. The
idea was that it would raise the humidity in the house and prevent
chapped lips. Instead, it deposited white calcium carbonate (lime)
dust all over the house. The tea or coffee tasted awful because of
the high lime concentration.

I boil water too. this past Jan/feb was the coldest I remember nt he 40
years I've been in Baltimore, and my house is leakier than ever. Boiling
water really works and is more efficient and thus cheaper than heating
oil in making one feel comfortable (not in actual temperature) , about a
gallon most days.

I do get a layer of deposits in the old pot I use, but I've never
noticed anything else. No dust. I don't drink tea or coffee and if I
did I"d use a different pot!

microfiber cloth. If desperate, add a few drops of dishwashing liquid >>>(Dawn Platinum or Photo-flo) to prevent water spots by lowering the >>>surface tension of water.

Dawn is definitely different form most dish soaps. When I have cuts it
stings. Never heard of Dawn Platinum.

I'm soon, in a day or two, going to start another thread here about refrigerator repair. It would have gone in alt.home.repair but that is inhabited by barbarians now. I hope you and others will read it and
help me out, becaus I can't figure it out. I'm sure he fridge has
electric parts, maybe even electronic. And people who fix things like
to fix things in general, is that not right?

Drivel: No, I'm not a clean freak.

I believe you.

Something must be wrong. Nobody believes me.

I'll check with my therapist.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

On Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:57:55 -0500, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

In sci.electronics.repair, on Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:39:09 -0800, Jeff >Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

Drivel: I used to obtain my tap water from two large redwood water
tanks. The water came from a local spring. I decided to look inside
the tank via some covered access holes in the top of the tanks. I
found several dead squirrels floating in one. The local tap water had
the reputation for being the best tasting water in the area.

Did these redwood water tanks provide water just to you, or to how many >homes?

I would guess about 45 homes from the two original tanks. The two
tanks in question leaked to the point where they couldn't easily be
repaired. So, the local water district installed a nice modern steel
tank further up the hill. There are also two additional tanks a
little further down the hill. The two are also too old to repair.
Leakage has undermined the foundation and the tanks are now leaning
slightly downhill. Fortunately, the water district has plans in place
to replace the two rotting tanks with a 120,000 gallon bolt together
steel tank near my house (mostly for fire protection). However, since
my house is slightly above the new, I will continue to get my water
from the existing steel tank. In theory, the project should be done
in about a year: <https://www.slvwd.com/engineering/webforms/redwood-park-swim-tank-replacement-project>

microfiber cloth. If desperate, add a few drops of dishwashing liquid >>>>(Dawn Platinum or Photo-flo) to prevent water spots by lowering the >>>>surface tension of water.

Dawn is definitely different form most dish soaps. When I have cuts it >stings. Never heard of Dawn Platinum.

<https://dawn-dish.com/en-us/products/dawn-platinum-fresh-rain-scent/>

According to the AI wizard:

Key Differences Summarized
Power: Platinum packs a stronger punch against grease.
Ingredients: Platinum has additional surfactants and sometimes
ingredients like sodium hydroxide for tough jobs, potentially
affecting things like cast iron seasoning.
Value: Regular Dawn Ultra offers great value for daily use, while
Platinum is for when you need extra oomph.

I'm soon, in a day or two, going to start another thread here about >refrigerator repair. It would have gone in alt.home.repair but that is >inhabited by barbarians now. I hope you and others will read it and
help me out, becaus I can't figure it out. I'm sure he fridge has
electric parts, maybe even electronic. And people who fix things like
to fix things in general, is that not right?

If I had to think about why I answer questions on Usenet, I probably
would give up and do something else.

Drivel: No, I'm not a clean freak.

I believe you.

Something must be wrong. Nobody believes me.

I'll check with my therapist.

Ask an AI first. It's much cheaper and possibly better than a
therapist. AI also works for fixing refrigerators:
"Fridge Troubleshooting Guide" <https://chatgpt.com/share/69980624-dacc-800c-b2d2-46033ccc5281>
--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272 AE6KS 831-336-2558

--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: sci.electronics.repair

In sci.electronics.repair, on Thu, 19 Feb 2026 23:00:24 -0800, Jeff
Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

I'll check with my therapist.

Ask an AI first. It's much cheaper and possibly better than a
therapist. AI also works for fixing refrigerators:
"Fridge Troubleshooting Guide" ><https://chatgpt.com/share/69980624-dacc-800c-b2d2-46033ccc5281>

Surprised as I am, chatgpt had a seemingly good suggestion about the
front of the fridge comparment bulging. It suggested hat if there had
been dripping from the freezer, and indeed there was, it could have
reached the insulation and caused it to swell. It's going to take e few
days to get down on my knees and see if there actually is insulation
there. I don't think I saw any when I looked months ago, but I wasn't
looking for it either. If I don't see any, I'll ask the chatnik a
follow-up question. But if I don't get this done in 7 days, I'm going
away for 3 months. I'll plan to finish this up when I get back.

It also said if the fridge was over 10 or 12 years old it probably
wasn't worth fixing. I hadn't told it that mine is 46 years old and
doing well. I recently glued back the two railings, one from the fridge
door and one from the freezer door, that I had broken off. They look
very good now. And even with the bulge only a little cold air gets out.
It also suggested adding another layer to the door gasket. As hard as
that would be, It's probably more likely to work than pounding on a 2x4
to bend the fridge back into shape. OTOH, it only has to go back
probably less than 1/4". It said the insulation would not compress,
but why not cut a little bit out, if that is reall the problem. It
didn't address that.

--
Jeff Liebermann

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