Why this deserves a plan
Touch exhibits are handled by many people every day, including young children who may put hands near their mouths. Visitors notice dirty screens and sticky handsets, and some avoid them. Smears and fingerprints also lower picture quality, especially in bright rooms. A cleaning plan is therefore part of keeping an exhibit usable, not an afterthought.
This article offers general guidance only. Your institution may have its own health and safety policies, and local public health authorities may issue advice that changes over time. Follow those first.
Check the manufacturer’s guidance
Screens, coatings and plastics differ, and the wrong product can cause permanent harm: clouded surfaces, peeled coatings or cracked plastic. Before choosing a routine, look for the cleaning instructions that came with the display or the touch layer, and keep a copy where staff can find it. If the instructions are missing, ask the supplier. Never assume that a product sold for household use is safe for a display.
Some general cautions that apply widely:
- avoid abrasive cloths, paper towels with rough texture and scouring pads, which can scratch
- avoid spraying liquid directly onto a screen, since it can run into edges and seams and reach electronics
- avoid strong solvents and undiluted cleaners unless the manufacturer specifically allows them
- always power down or put the screen into a cleaning mode first, which prevents accidental touches from triggering the software
Basic routine
A simple routine is more likely to be followed than an elaborate one. A typical pattern is:
- Switch to a cleaning mode or power the screen off.
- Dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with the approved cleaning solution, rather than spraying the screen.
- Wipe the surface gently, covering edges and the frame, where grime collects.
- Dry with a second clean cloth to avoid streaks.
- Restart the screen and check that touch works.
Use a fresh cloth, or a freshly laundered one, each time. A dirty cloth spreads what it picks up.
How often to clean depends on traffic. A busy interactive in a family gallery may need attention several times a day, while a quiet one in a research room may need far less. Watching how visitors use an exhibit, and noting when smears become noticeable, gives better guidance than a fixed rule. Schedule the heaviest cleaning for busy periods and before opening.
Choosing materials
Cloths. Microfiber cloths are widely used for screens because they are soft and pick up oil well. Keep separate cloths for screens and for other surfaces.
Cleaning solutions. Many manufacturers allow mild solutions. Some permit a diluted alcohol-based product; others warn against it, as alcohol can damage certain coatings over time. This is why the manufacturer’s note matters. Do not mix cleaning products with each other.
Wipes. Pre-moistened wipes are convenient, but they vary in moisture and chemistry. Check that a given wipe is compatible with your screens before adopting it.
Antimicrobial products. Some surfaces are sold with antimicrobial finishes. Claims vary, and a finish does not replace regular cleaning. Treat such claims cautiously and ask for evidence before relying on them.
Design choices that help
The easiest cleaning problem is the one designed out:
- Flat, sealed surfaces. Smooth glass fronts with no raised bezel or open gaps are easier to wipe than frames with crevices.
- Fewer physical controls. Buttons, trackballs and knobs have joints where dirt collects. If physical controls are used, choose sealed, wipeable ones.
- Durable coatings. Some touch surfaces resist fingerprints or tolerate frequent cleaning better. Ask suppliers about the claimed durability under repeated wiping.
- Shared handsets and headsets. Where audio is delivered through handsets or headphones, cleaning is harder. Wipeable earpieces, replaceable covers or a different approach, such as audio guides on visitors’ own devices, may be easier. Reducing the need for shared audio hardware also helps keep noise contained, a point linked to sound bleed.
- Contactless options. Gesture interaction or QR codes that move interaction to visitors’ phones avoid shared contact altogether, though they bring their own accessibility and reliability issues.
Touchscreen exhibits are a familiar format, but it is worth asking whether every one needs touch. Some content works as well with a non-touch screen and a physical control that is simple to clean.
Provide supplies and visible signals
Staff are more likely to clean if materials are close and the task takes seconds. Keep cloths and approved solution within reach but out of visitors’ hands, since children may drink or spill them. Some venues offer hand sanitizer near interactives. If you do, check that it cannot drip onto screens, because it may harm some surfaces.
Signs asking visitors to be gentle can help but should not be the only measure. Consider visitors who cannot use sanitizer, or who cannot touch screens at all, and think about alternatives such as tactile models, which are discussed under accessibility.
Include cleaning in training and records
Write the routine on a single page: what to use, what to avoid, how often, and who is responsible. Include it in staff training, and make sure that volunteers and cleaning contractors who are not exhibit specialists get the same instructions. Cleaning crews working after hours are a common source of accidental damage when they use the same products on screens as on windows.
Log what was done and when, and note any wear on the surface. A screen that shows scratches, hazing or peeling is a signal to review the routine. Put the cleaning plan into your maintenance plan so that it is reviewed along with other upkeep.