Tips for Maintaining the Interactive Whiteboard

Posted: Jun. 25th, 2015

The interactive whiteboard has revolutionized classrooms and businesses in multiple industries. In classrooms, they have been used to motivate students and help them understand various learning concepts. In the business setting, whiteboards have become an integral part of boardroom presentations, training, and group discussion sessions. Here, we share some of the most important maintenance tips that you can use to extend the life of your interactive whiteboard.

Always Use Interactive Pens or Finger Gestures Whenever Possible

The screen on your interactive whiteboard is easily the most important part of the whiteboard. The board normally comes with interactive pens that enable you to write, move, erase, and control on-screen applications with ease when writing or making selections. The board is also equipped with Touch Recognition that enables you to use your fingers or palm to write and erase content, move objects, access menus on the screen, and an assortment of other on-screen functions.

Dry erase markers and permanent markers are sometimes used on the whiteboard for different purposes, especially when interactive pointers are not available. You should always try to reduce the use of dry erase markers because some of the cleaning procedures to remove dry erase ink may reduce the lifespan of your interactive whiteboard or even damage it accidentally. You should also avoid permanent markers on your interactive whiteboard screen because it is difficult to remove the ink from the whiteboard.

Tips for Cleaning the Interactive Whiteboard

Sometimes, you may find yourself in a situation that calls for the use of a dry erase marker on your interactive board. You may even accidentally use a permanent marker on the board and find yourself in a fix. In this section, we share some tips on how to remove dry erase and permanent ink from your board.

To remove dry erase or permanent ink, you will need: Soft rags, Glass cleaner or whiteboard cleaning spray if available (Remember to spray on the rag and not directly on the screen when cleaning), Dry eraser for dry erase ink, Canned air, Dry erase markers.

Preventive Maintenance Tips

Schedule a weekly or biweekly cleaning procedure where, using the dry eraser, you clean the whiteboard exhaustively to ensure its surface remains smooth and clean. If you do not have a dry eraser, you can get one at most office supply stores.

Comprehensive Cleaning Tips

Use any brand of high-quality glass cleaner to wipe off stubborn ink marks that remain from regular cleaning or those that remain for a day or longer. Ensure you only use alcohol-free liquids when cleaning the surface of the board.

Removing Permanent Marker Ink

In cases where a permanent marker is used on the interactive whiteboard, use the dry erase marker to write over the permanent marker ink. In most cases, the dry marker ink will dissolve permanent ink marks on the board where you can simply wipe it off. Otherwise, you can use isopropyl alcohol to remove permanent ink when all else fails. Soak a small amount of the alcohol on a piece of cloth or rag and rub off the marks in a circular motion. Remember to practice caution when using alcohol on the device because alcohol tends to damage the soft coating on the board when the latter is exposed to alcohol for an extended period.

Cleaning the Sensor

The interactive pens used to write on the board use sensors to interact with the board. When they stop functioning, you should suspect dust accumulation as the cause. Simply use canned or pressurized air to remove dust particles.

Cautionary Tips

Always pay attention to what you use to write on the interactive whiteboard. To prevent accidental use of permanent markers, keep the markers away from the board and make it difficult to access them within the proximity of the whiteboard.

Ballpoint pens can damage the surface of the board by scratching the surface of the screen and ruining touch sensitivity of your board. Therefore, keep them away from your board at all costs.

Safeguard against Dust, Technology’s Silent Killer

For any electronic device, maintenance is a key determinant of the device’s longevity. One of the major areas you regularly look at during a maintenance run is accumulated dust because of its potential to damage components of electronic devices. Dust is especially dangerous for devices such as the interactive whiteboard because it accumulates for a long period without catching our notice. By the time we catch it, it may have ruined electronic components or degraded the surface of your device.

Screens are particularly susceptible to dust when left to accumulate over time. Be sure to incorporate dust removal tasks during routine maintenance to ensure your device works well for as long as possible.

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