So, your clear phone case has turned yellow and you don’t know what to do? Well, in this article, we look at different ways to clean your yellow case and prevent it from further yellowing. Let’s dive in.
How to clean a clear phone case that turned yellow
So how can you restore a bit of transparency on your yellow case? Let’s take a look.
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Use dish soap
This is arguably the simplest and most affordable solution. To clean the yellow case:
- Mix a few drops of dish soap with warm water.
- Scrub the mixture on the phone case with a toothbrush. Ensure to do it gently.
- Clean all areas such as cutouts and crannies. You should clean the interior and the exterior.
- Finally, rinse the case and dry it with a soft cloth.
You can leave it to air dry for an hour or so. If possible, repeat this process once or twice a week.
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Use baking soda
Secondly, you can use baking soda to scrub the phone case. It is fantastic at removing stains and the yellow color. You need to sprinkle a small amount of baking soda on the case. Using a wet toothbrush, scrub the exterior and interior gently. Once done, rinse the case and dry it with a soft cloth. Let it aid dry before using it on your phone.
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Use scrubbing alcohol
Finally, you can use scrubbing alcohol not only to prevent yellowing but also to disinfect it. Pour the alcohol into a spray bottle, using the bottle to spray the alcohol on the case. Alternatively, you can use a cloth soaked in alcohol.
With the exterior and interior coated, take a soft dry cloth to remove the alcohol. Once done, let it air dry for about an hour. This will ensure it is dry enough to use on your phone.
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Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Plus, sites like Blackview and Techwalla recommend soaking yellowed cases in diluted hydrogen peroxide (3-6%) – but keep it short (≤30 mins) and rinse immediately after.
Science bit: Peroxide bleaches stains by breaking down discolored molecules in the plastic. But it won’t fix structural damage, and heavily yellowed cases may not fully recover since the plastic itself degrades over time.
⚠️ Apple explicitly warns against hydrogen peroxide cleaners – they can eat away protective coatings and seals.
Why does a clear phone case turn yellow?
Contrary to most phone users’ beliefs, clear phone cases are not made from clear material. Rather, they are made of yellow material. What makes them clear is a dye applied during production. As you’d expect, the phone case will naturally turn yellow with age.
The common culprit is cases made of silicone. Silicone is an inexpensive low-quality material compared to other materials such as TPU. Silicone cases will therefore become yellow within a few years of use. This is due to material degradation. So, what causes your clear phone case to turn yellow? Let’s find out.
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Ultraviolet rays
This is the main reason why your phone case turns yellow. This is especially true for people who use their phones outdoors. The phone is constantly exposed to UV rays and radiation. Due to this exposure, oxidation occurs causing the clear case to turn yellow gradually.
Besides, exposure to extreme changes in temperature and humidity can accelerate oxidation. Here, the UV rays gradually break down the polymer leaving short chains that allow yellowing to occur. In addition, heat can cause the case to turn yellow. Not only the sun’s heat but also body heat from your hands.
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Natural oils
Another common reason for yellowing is natural oils. Naturally, when you sweat, you release oils which when they come into contact with the case, release bacteria. The bacteria causes yellowing if you don’t clean your case regularly.
Furthermore, sweat on your hands is also a combination of grease, which causes your case to turn yellow. Besides natural oils and ultraviolet rays, elements such as dust can accelerate the yellowing of your case. So, how can you prevent your clear case from yellowing? Let’s find out.
How to prevent a clear phone case from turning yellow
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Clean your phone case regularly
As mentioned, dirt and natural oil cause your phone case to turn yellow. To prevent this from happening, you need to clean the case regularly. This can be once every two days or daily if you work in harsh environments.
You can clean the case with dish soap. All you need is warm water, soap, a toothbrush, and a soft cloth. If you want a thorough cleaning, you can use a stain remover such as baking soda. To kill germs, a case disinfectant such as Isopropyl alcohol will do the trick. In short, you should not go for more than a week without cleaning your case.
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Keep your case away from direct sunlight
As discussed, ultraviolet rays cause the case to become yellow. It would therefore be natural to keep it away from sunlight to mitigate this. If possible, you can place your phone in a pouch when outside, or use case skins when using your phone. Ensure not to place the phone near a window as this will gradually cause the case to turn yellow. We’d recommend you place the phone with the case in a cool and shaded area.
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Avoid extreme heat
While it is unavoidable to expose your phone to heat – our body is constantly producing heat, whether through our legs or hands – you can control how much heat your phone is exposed to.
For example, if your phone accidentally falls in the water and you want to dry it, you don’t use a blow-dryer. Rather, you expose it to sunlight.
Likewise, using extremely hot water to disinfect the case will only accelerate the yellowing process. Using lukewarm water is a viable option.
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Purchase clear cases with anti-yellowing properties
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ESR Air Armor Clear Case
ESR Air Armor Clear Case is made using as much ultra-clear, never-yellowing polycarbonate as possible. But please take notice because polycarbonate is a hard plastic, they also had to incorporate a small amount of flexible TPU: a 0.5-mm layer (the thinnest on the market) on the sides to improve the grip and on the bottom edge to allow the case to be put on and taken off.the case is made almost completely from ultra-clear polycarbonate that never yellows, enabling users to keep their iPhone looking like new for even longe.
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Conclusion
As you can see, you can use dish soap, scrubbing alcohol, or baking soda to clean a case that has turned yellow. Fortunately, you can clean your case regularly to prevent yellowing of the case. In addition, keeping it away from heat and UV light will ensure it stays clear for long.
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