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Ask an expert: Tips on keeping electronics clean

Fishing and hunting guide, tournament angler, and outdoor writer Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson gives some tips for keeping electronics clean.

Q: I constantly get water marks on my sonar screens and have a hard time cleaning them. Any tips on how to best clean them?

A: Fishing and hunting guide, tournament angler, and outdoor writer Jeff "Gussy" Gustafson responds: I’m constantly fighting to keep my electronicsʼ screens clear because I rely heavily on them.

Electronics cleaner

A screen cleaner designed for marine electronics will prevent dust, fingerprints, and general grime from building up. I always keep a bottle in the boat and clean my screens at the start of every day. Doing it at the end of a day is a great habit. I have a tough time keeping up with this because I usually fish until I have to go in, and then it’s a rush to get to the boat ramp.

If you go a few days without giving your screens a good cleaning, water marks can be tough to remove. When I asked one of my friends who works for Humminbird how to do it, he told me to use a 50/50 mixture of water and white vinegar. I tried it and it made my screens crystal clear, even removing tough water marks.

I like the made-for-screens sprays for day-to-day use because they seem to leave a protective coating on the surface. Avoid using any kind of cleaner that uses detergents, alcohol, or ammonia-based solutions that can damage the protective surface or even scratch your screens. And use a good quality microfibre towel.

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Originally published in the August 2024 issue of Ontario OUT of DOORS

Jeff "Gussy" Gustafson, from Kenora, grew up on the shores of Lake of the Woods and is a fishing and hunting guide, tournament angler, and outdoor writer. He competes on the Bassmaster Elite Series in the US, the highest level in professional bass fishing.

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