clean a laptop monitor

I've been using a micro-fiber towel to wipe of my screen when dust gets on it, but now (after 2 years) the monitor of my laptop has filth on it that goes beyond dust. When it's off and you see a reflection in it, tons of these smear/sploches become visible, even when it's on you can see the un-clearness of the monitor. I'm talking anything from fly poop to spit from people talking here. Anway, the question, what can I use to clean the monitor? Water alone doesn't do it.

Use distilled water, never tap. Try it and if it indeed does not "cut it" then you'll have to buy some LCD cleaning solution. Avoid using solutions with alcohol.

Cleaning solutions... even such things used to clean windows will work fine.