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Screen Protector Bubbles & Dust: normal?!

Although I paid the outmost attention while I was installing it, my Boxwave Crystal got some dust and bubbles (especially in the edges). I noticed that these imperfections cannot be seen when the screen is on, but for the heck of it, I want to ask: is it normal or am I simply incompetent?! :?

After getting a fine scratch on my (then) new 3970 I put on a PPC Techs protector and had the same trouble as you.
When I replaced the 3970 with a 4700 earlier this year, I had the screen protector waiting before I unpacked the iPAQ... Same tiny fluff and bubbles.
Now, after putting them on the two 9100's we have, I still can't get them perfect
Guess that just means we're both hopeless
Dox

I don't think anyone can get them perfect.
put mine on today. thought it was perfect but still bloody dust under it. sigh.
Lewis

It's a pain to do I must admit but I've managed to get mine almost "perfect" over about 99% of the screen. It's just around the extreme edges that I've got some bubbles and issues where I'd forced it to go down onto the screen but the rim of the case was just in the way.
If you find that you can't do it first time, then get some sticky tape and put that on the side that sticks to the screen. make sure the tape on one of the edges is right up to the end of the screen protector and the other end of the tape folded over so you've got something to pull the tape off of the screen with when applying.
The tape magically takes off the dust so that when you're applying it to the screenal you need to do is try to make sure no dust particles exist.
You could always try hiring out a chip fabrication unit where they're hermatically sealed too...

I've done a few Ultraclear versions and got it down to a fine art.
1. Be calm. Allow youself plenty of time. If you make a mistake, take a deep breath and start again. Don't rush or you'll end up ruining the film. Even though I've done this several times, I still allow myself half an hour.
2. Trim the narrow edge off an old credit card so it has a straight edge with sharp corners, and get some screenwipes or lint free cloth.
3. Do the fitting in a steamy room. I use the bathroom with the hot shower going. This drops all the dust particles in the air and elimates static which attracts dust/fluff to the protector.
4. Wash and rinse your hands thoroughly to remove all grease and soap.
5. Clean the PPC screen with a screenwipe then barely damp cloth. The humidity from the steam will help you to get a mirror finish.
6. Wash the protector under a warm running tap until thoroughly clean. Hold by the edges to avoid fingerprints and flick several times to remove excess water. You will end up with a few tiny droplets of water left that you can't shift. Don't worry as these help the sealing process. Don't wipe them off as this will just load it up with fibres!
7. Apply to PPC screen middle first. Immediatley wipe out bubbles by sweeping you finger from the middle to the edges. Smooth out firmly but lightly with the credit card using the sharp corners to expel air and water from the extreme edges.
8. If the protector is not straight, so the screen surround is fouling the edges, DON'T force them down - you'll just permanently distort the film so the edges will never lie flat on the screen. The tiny water droplets trapped under the protector may allow you to slide the film slightly so it pops in place - if not, peel off gently taking care not to bend the film, and start from scratch again - that means right back to the cleaning stage.
9. Once you've got it lying flat, smooth any small bubbles out with the credit card. Don't apply too much pressure as this could scratch or cause the film to move. Instead, use light, repeated strokes.
10. Wipe gently round the edges with the cloth to remove any excess expelled water so it doesn't find it's way into the device.
10. The little bit of moisture under the card will dry out within 24 hours. Resmooth the film regularly in that period with the credit card, to eliminate any small bubbles, or lifting of the edges, that appear as it dries. If you have to use the device, carry the credit card with you for the first couple of days so you can smooth it immediatley before any dust gets under the edges.
11. Keep the backing films in a safe place. You'll need these to gently slide under the protector shoud you ever need to remove it and re-apply.
Result - perfectly clear protector that is virtually invisible.

Ineedtoys said:
3. Do the fitting in a steamy room. I use the bathroom with the hot shower going. This drops all the dust particles in the air and elimates static which attracts dust/fluff to the protector.
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I also use the bathroom but hadn't thought of the steam - nice idea.
I find it easier to handle the protector by creating a 'T' of adhesive tape which I place on the centre of the protector before removing the backing, that way I can hold it without touching the edges - the opaque scotch tape is the best and can be used to remove the protector too.

Great ideas everyone. Thank you for your feedback!
After trying some more times I got it right with slight dust, hair, bubbles. I'm pleased.

thanx
thank you guys for cool advice, i'll try it soon ..

NinjaDonkey said:
The tape magically takes off the dust so that when you're applying it to the screenal you need to do is try to make sure no dust particles exist.
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Click to collapse
I can confirm after numerous efforts to get rid of the dust, this is by far the best and most crucial solution-step! I managed a 90-95% success with the protector leaving some openings only at the edges, but in the middle nothing. Thanks for the info!!!

the recessed screen cleaning tips

at first i didnt really see this as a disadvantage because i thought the recessed screen would keep scratches away and stuff...
but on a touch device it really is a pain to keep clean and to clean at all because the dirt gets dragged into the edges and is hard to get out.
any tips how to get the screen really clean in a short time ? Right no its driving me nuts to clean the screen everyday for several minutes...with a screen like the Touch Pro i could just wipe the dirt away

I wish I could give some advice but I think were all stuck. I think the majority of people either get a case or some of those screen protectors, wether im in the minority or not, I hate putting things in cases or putting extra bits and pieces on. Mine does get lots of finger prints on the screen but I find a good rub with a micro fibre cloth when I get home works a treat, though the corners can be a pain.
I get quite worried pressing too hard because it's touch screen, but it's the only thing to really get it clean.
You could always use some specialist screen cleaner but having to buy the stuff all the time can be an annoyance.

use something wet. barely wet. not too wet

First blow off the dust if any. Wash your hands, wipe your hands in a soft tissue and with this wet tissue, wipe the screen. This is what barely wet means. This leaves no dried water marks on screen too.
Regards,
Carty..

guap said:
use something wet. barely wet. not too wet
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I use Clearview TFT Screen cleaner, just spray a tiny bit on the microfiber cloth, its great stuff

Q-tip
I use a Microfibre cloth for the main screen, but then i have q-tips that I use to get in the corners. Works perfectly...

Tape can be used to lift fingerprints and dust off the screen.

Run a slightly damp Q-Tip cotton-bud round the edges to get the gunk out

the edges are the difficult part, the rest is quite easy to keep clean.
Ill try the Qtip for the edges, thx for all the input

For years I have always used lens cleaner (that you would use for cleaning spectacles) It's really cheap and removes grease without smears, and is perfectly safe.
Whilst in the opticians or chemist grab a lens cloth too (again the same you'd use on your specs) works a treat and again really cheap.
Finally I have a little carbon fibre brush which gets the dust and fluff from those recesses.
Oooohh such pampering for my beloved X1

Screen Protector Reusable???

I had a Tilt and a screen protector that was just a plastic. It's reusable because I would just tuck the plastics into the edge of the screen.
Now, I got a Brando Screen Protector at home, which states reusable.
How are these washable/reusable screen protectors work with our phones? Is it pretty secure to wash and put it back on? I did it a lot with my tilt but I have no idea about the screen protectors regarding the Fuze.
currently I have a crappy one I bought from BestBuy and it is all scratched up, so thinking about switching to my Brando one.
Thanks in advance!
Rytt

With most screen protectors you can wash them in light soapy water (maybe dip it in a cup with light soapy water). Shake the screen protector to shake off excess water, then use a blow drywer to dry off the rest of the water. You might have to do this a few times. You might catch some more dirt. (!)
Sometimes this works...sometimes it doesn't and you're just screwed and ending up having to buy another.
I've been using Martin Fields and haven't have a problem with washing them. You just need to be in an area that is dust free and clean.

bfspider said:
With most screen protectors you can wash them in light soapy water (maybe dip it in a cup with light soapy water). Shake the screen protector to shake off excess water, then use a blow drywer to dry off the rest of the water. You might have to do this a few times. You might catch some more dirt. (!)
Sometimes this works...sometimes it doesn't and you're just screwed and ending up having to buy another.
I've been using Martin Fields and haven't have a problem with washing them. You just need to be in an area that is dust free and clean.
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How does it stay on your screen then if you wash it in water?
Doesn't the sticky part of the SP stop sticking?

No, actually it works really well just rinsing it under warm water (I didn't use any soap). I'd say 100% that it's definitely re-usable.
I was wiping fingerprints off mine on a wool blanket and a corner came up, half the screen protector came off, and the underside rubbed against the blanket, picking up a ton of dirt and fibers.
I took it off and rinsed it off pretty forcefully, and even used my fingernail to scrape the dirt and fibers off. When I was done it felt like the adhesive was mostly gone while damp but as it dried it was sticky again. I flicked off most of the water and put it on the freshly windexed phone (spray the towel once, not the phone!). There were still some tiny water droplets on the protector when I put it on but I gently squeezed them to the edge as I put it back on and they all squeezed out.
The protector still has a slightly mottled appearance which I figured was from scraping all the adhesive off in some areas but it turns out it's tiny amounts of moisture under the protector. Over the next 24 hours the mottled appearance dried and faded and the protector was like new again, 100% crystal clear. It even still great adhesive abilities even though I was literally scrapping at it under the warm water.
At the mall I notice the people that do the invisi-shield covers do it the basically the same way but use a hair drier to get rid of the mottled appearance quicker.
Bottom line. I scrubbed the protector pretty good because I thought it was a lost cause and afterward is was as good as new (better since it's on straight now with no edges to catch), so don't be too afraid to wash an re-use it if the underside gets dirty. Plus I make it sound like there is a risk of getting your phone wet but only if you drop it in the sink. The amount of water on the protector after flicking it few times is no more than if you get a few snowflakes on it and wipe them off with your hand.

Kerensky97 said:
No, actually it works really well just rinsing it under warm water (I didn't use any soap). I'd say 100% that it's definitely re-usable.
I was wiping fingerprints off mine on a wool blanket and a corner came up, half the screen protector came off, and the underside rubbed against the blanket, picking up a ton of dirt and fibers.
I took it off and rinsed it off pretty forcefully, and even used my fingernail to scrape the dirt and fibers off. When I was done it felt like the adhesive was mostly gone while damp but as it dried it was sticky again. I flicked off most of the water and put it on the freshly windexed phone (spray the towel once, not the phone!). There were still some tiny water droplets on the protector when I put it on but I gently squeezed them to the edge as I put it back on and they all squeezed out.
The protector still has a slightly mottled appearance which I figured was from scraping all the adhesive off in some areas but it turns out it's tiny amounts of moisture under the protector. Over the next 24 hours the mottled appearance dried and faded and the protector was like new again, 100% crystal clear. It even still great adhesive abilities even though I was literally scrapping at it under the warm water.
At the mall I notice the people that do the invisi-shield covers do it the basically the same way but use a hair drier to get rid of the mottled appearance quicker.
Bottom line. I scrubbed the protector pretty good because I thought it was a lost cause and afterward is was as good as new (better since it's on straight now with no edges to catch), so don't be too afraid to wash an re-use it if the underside gets dirty. Plus I make it sound like there is a risk of getting your phone wet but only if you drop it in the sink. The amount of water on the protector after flicking it few times is no more than if you get a few snowflakes on it and wipe them off with your hand.
Click to expand...
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Thanks! I will put on my Brando shortly! Hope it works as wells as you said!

cleaning screen with dishwasher soap?

I've put a little of dishwasher soap into the a spray bottle and spray on the cloth then used that to wipe the phone. I then rinse the cloth with water and made sure i squeeze all the water out of the cloth and wipe away the soap. then wipe it again with a dry cloth. Would the dishwasher soap be able to damage the screen? I did notice that the digitizer area seem to appear more prominent now after i did that (as in it doesn't blend in with the black sides as much as before)

Dont use dishwater soap to wash your screen..
I guess it causes scratches...
sent from my phone using hands and brain...

just use your breath and a microfiber cloth....

Your nexus 4 should be taken off your hands for such negligence.... Ever heard of micro fibre ...?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Good god almighty that's a lot of work to clean your screen/protector. I just drop a dab of spit, wipe with undershirt and I'm done. > 5 seconds

i'm kind of a clean freak, but yeah i think i made a big mistake. There's probably some kind of chemical coating on top fo the screen that keeps it black and blend in with the whole phone.

would someone be kind enough to upload a picture of their nexus 4 with the screen off for me to compare?

There's usually an oleophobic type coating which helps repel oil from your skin and keeps it easy to clean. I would just use water and a microfiber cloth, if it's some kind of grease on a rare occasion, I use something like diluted rubbing alcohol on a cloth to remove the grease, use as sparingly as possible.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda premium

CharliesTheMan said:
There's usually an oleophobic type coating which helps repel oil from your skin and keeps it easy to clean. I would just use water and a microfiber cloth, if it's some kind of grease on a rare occasion, I use something like diluted rubbing alcohol on a cloth to remove the grease, use as sparingly as possible.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda premium
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Thanks for the tips. I did notice that it was super smooth and slippery when i first get it and it was nearly impossible to put on finger print.
Let me be more specific of what I did, I use a drop of soap called Palmalive Ultra(http://www.colgate.com/app/Palmolive/US/EN/Product-Ingredients.cwsp used for washing dishes) and mix it in a container about the size of a table spoon. Do you think that is able to take out the oleophobic coating or damage the screen? Also doesn't the smoothing coating eventually wears off in a week or so?

qpqpqp said:
Thanks for the tips. I did notice that it was super smooth and slippery when i first get it and it was nearly impossible to put on finger print.
Let me be more specific of what I did, I use a drop of soap called Palmalive Ultra(http://www.colgate.com/app/Palmolive/US/EN/Product-Ingredients.cwsp used for washing dishes) and mix it in a container about the size of a table spoon. Do you think that is able to take out the oleophobic coating or damage the screen? Also doesn't the smoothing coating eventually wears off in a week or so?
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it's just your imagination. if it's safe to use on your skin of course it's safe on glass

patrickjaden said:
it's just your imagination. if it's safe to use on your skin of course it's safe on glass
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Click to collapse
I hope so. Toothpaste for example, you can use it in your mouth, but that stuff will scratch glass like it was mawed by a bear. Its not just glass, I'm worried that it might take off the coating on top of the glass.

Just use water? I think dish soap is mild enough to use

I suggest everyone just use water. For me its too late. By the way does your phone still have that slippery feel like when you first got it?

Use eye glasses spray cleaner and microfiber cloth.

[Q] Is it safe to clean the screen with rubbing alcohol?

I've always cleaned my laptops, keyboards, tablets and phones with rubbing alcohol from a spray bottle at least 2x a month to clean the face butter off my screens and grime off my keyboards & mice. Is it safe to do this on the Note 3 since it has the oleophobic coating?

Neo3D said:
I've always cleaned my laptops, keyboards, tablets and phones with rubbing alcohol from a spray bottle at least 2x a month to clean the face butter off my screens and grime off my keyboards & mice. Is it safe to do this on the Note 3 since it has the oleophobic coating?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say yes but I just realised my Note 3 has had a screen protector on it since day 1...

Neo3D said:
I've always cleaned my laptops, keyboards, tablets and phones with rubbing alcohol from a spray bottle at least 2x a month to clean the face butter off my screens and grime off my keyboards & mice. Is it safe to do this on the Note 3 since it has the oleophobic coating?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tend not to use rubbing alcohol on my devices. For touch screen, you would probably be OK but like anything, it's liquid and if there is any microscopic gap anywhere in the device due to standards of build quality, you would not wish to inadvertently liquid damage your device. I would recommend getting a screen protector and ease any concerns you may have.
Hope this helps!

Neo3D said:
I've always cleaned my laptops, keyboards, tablets and phones with rubbing alcohol from a spray bottle at least 2x a month to clean the face butter off my screens and grime off my keyboards & mice. Is it safe to do this on the Note 3 since it has the oleophobic coating?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use the wipes and spray I used for my glasses.
You should be fine using it, it's glass. Just don't use too much. If you put the spray on the cloth first so that it's just damp as opposed to wet, it's perfectly safe.
Send From My Samsung Galaxy Note 3 N9005 Using Tapatalk

Same with me. I spray very minimal of glass cleaner on some tissue paper before wiping it on my Note3 screen. That way, you can control the amount of moisture your phone will be expose to as oppose to spraying the alcohol directly on your phone's screen.

For alcohol only the artificial like the Isopropanol or isopropílico not the alcohol normal from wine.
I use my mount whit my bafo/breath and clean whit a spyglass handkerchief (no paper).

ValenteL said:
For alcohol only the artificial like the Isopropanol or isopropílico not the alcohol normal from wine.
I use my mount whit my bafo/breath and clean whit a spyglass handkerchief (no paper).
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LOL.... I prefer spirits actually, vodka or rum can work wonders.... But then after a few I'm a messy drinker....:silly:

Well, I use rubbing alcohol because it evaporates really fast!

Be careful because the note 3, like many other phones now a days, come with a factory oleophobic coating. That's what makes newer phones seemingly easy to keep clean. The more alcohol based chemicals you introduce to the screen, the harder they will be to keep clean because you would have worn off the oleophobic coating.

Careful! I always use rubbing alcohol to clean my iPhone (has screen protector) and it gets the job done (esp the oil) got a note 3 for less 2 then weeks n I believe I wiped it with RA 3 times.I notice the silver bracket around the phone is loose (if you look closely u can see a small GAP in between the screen n the silver bracket . So be careful RA can dissolve glue even super glue.
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