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Clean Your PSP Screen and PSP Maintenance
You've had your PSP for a while now and after many hours of storage in your pocket, backpack, softcase, hardcase or briefcase, you've noticed one or more of the following:
- Dust underneath your PSP Screen
- Scratches on your PSP Screen
- Dead Pixel or pixels on the PSP Screen
Ouch! You paid good money for this thing, the last thing you want is dust, scratches or dead pixels on your beautiful PSP! Well, here are an assortment of tips to help you deal with your problems.
Note/Disclaimer: Please be aware that not all tips have been tried, as I do not want to risk trying certain methods to clean my two PSPs only to have them in worse shape then they are now. Try these cleaning techniques at your own risk!
With that said, each of these techniques have reportedly worked. Just be careful. You might want to try them on a piece of plastic or fiberglass first, like a motorcycle helmet.
Clean the PSP Screen
So how do you clean the PSP Screen? The techniques vary, but most involve a combination of using a lens cloth and a cleaning agent to aid. Sony obviously recommends that you use the cloth that comes with your PSP Value pack. They do not recommend using a cleaning agent. For most people, if you have cared for your PSP properly, then the lens cloth will work just fine. If you've done all you can and the PSP still isn't coming clean - maybe you got some sticky goo on it while you were eating or doing something else - then these techniques might work for you. It is a good idea to cover the buttons with an easily removable tape that will not leave residue. You should clean your PSP slowly and carefully and not try to do it all at once. Again, try these at your own risk.
Lens Paper - This should be your first choice for cleaning your PSP. Lenses are certainly more fragile than your PSP screen, so you're relatively safe. This is the stuff that you can buy to clean the lens on your camera. Lens paper is made of a special material which collects dust rather than leaving it. Most stores that carry any kind of camera equipment will have lens paper, and it usually comes in a kit with some cleaning solution. Typically, you apply the solution to the paper or tissue, and then you gently rub the PSP screen with the tissue. Don't over-do it. You don't need a dripping wet cloth in order for the cleaning agents to work. Make sure you don't drip any solution into your PSP. Do not apply the fluid directly to the PSP or you might burn or damage the screen surface. Some cleaning kits like this come with a blower brush to get dust off. You shouldn't need this, but it might come in handy if you need to clean around the buttons or something. Be sure to collapse the blower so that you're actually sucking instead of blowing. You do NOT want to blow dust underneath the cover, or you're in worse trouble.
Windex - The most obvious solution for aid in cleaning. Works on glass and other smooth surfaces, so it works on your PSP too. Be very, VERY careful that you do not just liberally spray your PSP with windex. You should not get any liquid or material of any type in any hole or opening on your PSP. You could very well damage your PSP and then you're out of luck. The recommended method is to take a dust free microfiber SOFT cloth (not your PSP cloth) and apply the windex to the cloth first. Use small amounts of windex so that it does not drip off the cloth. Do not rub hard. Use gentle circular swipes. Do not go in a straight back and forth motion. Once you have gotten the gunk off your screen, wipe it clean with a part of the cloth that does not have solution on it.
Other Cleaning Agents - Do not use Kaboom! to clean your PSP. Do not use ANY kind of cleaner that has bleach in it, what so ever. Do not use heavy duty kitchen oven cleaners. Use *only* cleaning products that are meant for glass. One that you might want to try is the Honda Glass cleaner, which you can find at any Honda dealership or Honda motorcycle store. That stuff works great on just about anything, and it would probably work fine on your PSP. Just use any cleaning fluid sparingly, and ALWAYS use a clean dust free cloth. If you have a report about what to use, please email us.
PSP Dead Pixel
So you have a dead pixel on your PSP? Well, there is not much you can do about it. I purchased two PSPs from two different retailers. If it makes you feel any better, one PSP is perfect, the other had one dead pixel.(See below on how I "fixed" this problem.) Many people have reported dead pixels, meaning you and I are not the only ones. Supposedly this is due to errors in production, quality, etc. I can tell you that this is probably hog-wash. After replacing many many laptop screens, I can tell you that unfortunately it just happens. There is no way to make every single lcd screen perfect. Even when I replaced the screen on my very own laptop, it had a dead pixel. Normally when I replace these things, I could care less - it isn't my laptop, I don't have to look at it everyday. But on my own machine. I was pissed off that this one pixel was right in my way in the middle of the screen. But eventually, one day, it just went away! I do not know why this happened. All I can say is that hopefully some miracle will fix the dead pixel on your PSP. Sony may not help you at this point, so you better live with it or read on.
Fact: Some PSPs will develop bad pixels.
It's true. Over time, all things wear out, and PSPs are no exception. If you have a dead pixel and you've previously owned your PSP for two years without problems, consider yourself lucky. At this point, you're in the boat with everyone else. Read on.
What you can do about a dead pixel on your PSP:
- Are you sure it's not just dust underneath the PSP screen?
- First off, try and take it back. You paid good money for a product and you want it to be perfect. You deserve it to be. Hopefully you kept your receipt. If not, they might still just swap you out for a new one. This is what I did with mine. I took it back and got another one.
- Warranty Replacement. If you have had your PSP for less than one year, it is under warranty. Hopefully you did everything Sony asked you to do, and you kept your receipt. Read this article at GameSpot.
- If you can't take it back, or it has been longer than a year, the other alternative is to sell it. You might have a friend or a relative who wants a good deal on a PSP. You can give them a good deal, or maybe just as a gift. Or, sell it on ebay. Of course, you should note in your auction that it has a dead pixel. You'll get less for the PSP, but at least you don't have a PSP with a dead pixel anymore when you buy a new one.
How do I know if I have a dead pixel?
Fortunately, someone has created a series of images you can upload to your PSP through a USB cable, and you can check and see if there is a dead pixel. Download the Dead Pixel Checker
Dirt or Grime in and around your PSP Buttons
If you have greasy or just plain dirty hands, eventually the stuff that gets underneath your mouse will get into your PSP. Nasty stuff. Here's a few tricks that might help you clean them out.
Paper - If you take a very thin piece of paper, you can try to maneuver it around the various buttons and catch some of the grime. Be carefull that you do not push the grime or dirt in deeper.
Toothpick - The old standby of auto detailing might work for you. Get a very fine toothpick and try to dig out the dirt. Again, be carefull not to push it in deeper. You might want to use a vaccuum to assist in the process.
PSP Screen Scratch Removal
How to remove the scratches from your PSP screen. There have been an number of ideas that people have pushed around. I haven't had a scratch yet, fortunately, so I have not tried any of these ideas. If it is a very very minor scratch, you should try the Honda glass stuff discussed above. It is an extremely fine polisher which should help.
Displex - Ikon65 wrote an article about using Displex to remove what he calls "micro" scratches from the PSP screen. You can read that article here. With picture goodness. Also shows how to cover up your buttons before you go to work.
Toothpaste - People are saying that Colgate or Baking Soda Toothpaste will get rid of scratches. Fixes walls at my apartment for sure, why not? I personally wouldn't try this, but you're welcome to.
Car Wax - An article discussing how to fix CD scratches talked about filling in the scratch with car wax. This is for CDs, not for your PSP Screen. Do not try this. It might work on your scratched UMD though, let me know!
PSP Screen Dust
Possibly one of the worst problems you could have aside from a dead pixel. I have this problem now and am working on a solution. I attempted to take off the faceplate, but I was unable to easily remove the plate, so I decided I better do some more research first. If you are going to attempt this, do it in a CLEAN environment. If you have successfully cleaned under your screen, let us know. Bookmark this page now, and keep coming back to check on the status.
PSP Screen Protectors
There are various types of "PSP Screen Protectors" available. You can get cases, leather covers, plastic covers, vinyl stickers, etc. You should use a combination of a leather, plastic cover or case for when the PSP is not in use, and a vinyl or other material screen sticker protector for when the PSP is out of its casing. As for the stickers that you apply the the PSP, I cannot say that one is particularly better than the next. Look for one that covers at least the screen, and some that go around the buttons too. You can buy PSP Skins which do double duty of protecting your PSP and making it look cool. I have checked what is available, and any of the screen protectors, cases or covers available through the following links are good.
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