5 Easy Ways to Clean a Clear Phone Case That's Turning Yellow

Clear phone cases look great—until they get dirty. Since phone cases come into contact with all sorts of debris, light, and oils, they can stain and turn yellow very easily. Fortunately, you can prevent this from happening with some household cleaners. Dish soap is good for regular maintenance, but use rubbing alcohol or baking soda for tougher stains. Whether your case is plastic, rubber, or silicone, you can wash it to prevent it from discoloring. This wikiHow will show you how to keep your transparent phone case clean and prevent it from turning yellow with regular maintenance.

Ways to Clean a Clear Phone Case

Use hydrogen peroxide and sunlight to retrobrite your yellowed clear phone case.
Clean dirt and debris by scrubbing the phone case in soapy water with a toothbrush.
Use rubbing alcohol and a microfiber cloth to remove stains or residue.
Scrub your phone case with baking soda to remove stubborn stains.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Using Hydrogen Peroxide

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Gather your materials. Before beginning, you'll need to gather your supplies. This process of using hydrogen peroxide to fix a yellowed phone case is called retrobriting. ^{[1]
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Research source} This process works best on hard or soft plastic cases. If you have a yellowed silicone case, you might want to try a different method in this article.
- Here's what you need to get started:
  - Hydrogen peroxide
    - If you don't plan on retrobriting often, we recommend just using the normal 3% hydrogen peroxide you can get at the drug store.
    - If you get a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide, you'll also need to properly dispose of it, which may not be convenient depending on where you live.
  - An airtight, sealable plastic container
  - Nitrile gloves
  - Safety goggles
  - Small plastic cup or container
2
Place the lid of the sealable container on the ground outside. The top of the lid should be on the ground, as you'll be inverting the container to create a chamber where hydrogen peroxide vapor will form.
- Make sure to do this on a level surface, such as a patio or flat section of your driveway.
- For best results, do this method on a warm sunny day.
- Wash your phone case in warm, soapy water before attempting to retrobrite it.
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Pour a layer of hydrogen peroxide into the lid. Your lid should have a slight lip. Pour a layer of hydrogen peroxide that covers the entirety of the lid, but it shouldn't overflow.
- Make sure you're wearing your protective gloves and glasses.
The cup/container will be used to keep your phone case out of the hydrogen peroxide.
Place the case so the opening is touching the cup/container, and the back and sides are not touching anything.
If your container has latches to keep the lid on, latch them now.
For the best results, let the container sit for six to eight hours. The longer the case sits in the hydrogen peroxide vapor, the more yellowing will be removed from the plastic.
Make sure you're wearing your protective gloves and glasses before removing the body of the container from the lid.
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Remove the case and rinse it off. If you notice that the plastic still looks a little bit yellow, you can repeat the retrobriting process on another sunny day. ^{[2]
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- If you're happy with the level of yellowing removal, wash the case in warm, soapy water, and allow it to dry completely before putting it back on your phone.
- If you used 3% hydrogen peroxide, you can dispose of the hydrogen peroxide by dumping it down the drain. If you used a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide, you must dispose of it at a hazardous waste disposal facility.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Washing with Soap and Water

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Mix warm water and dish soap in a small bowl. Pour 1 cup (240 mL) of warm water into the bowl, then add about 2 to 3 drops of soap. You can use whatever dish soap you have on hand, but it’s best to use a mild soap. Stir it in until the water is soapy. ^{[3]
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- Mild dish soaps aren’t designed to cut through heavy grease and don’t have strong artificial scents. There is a chance that harsh cleaners could damage your case.
- Dish soap is great for removing mild stains and removing debris that could cause new stains to form.
2
Scrub the case with a clean toothbrush dipped in the soapy water. Remove your phone from the case first and set it somewhere far from the water. Brush the entire case, especially in spots where you notice stains. Try scrubbing around stained spots in a circle. Make sure you also get the brush into the case’s smaller spots, such as around the camera and charge port openings. ^{[4]
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- You can use a cloth or sponge to wipe the case clean, but you won’t be able to get into the nooks and crannies without a brush.
Hold it off under running water in your sink. Make sure you eliminate all of the soap, including in the hard-to-reach spots. If there is any debris left on the case, scrub it again with a toothbrush, applying more soapy water as needed. ^{[5]
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Dry the case off with a clean towel. Shake off the excess moisture, then wipe the entire case from front to back. Try to remove as much of the remaining moisture as possible. It will finish air drying faster if you’re able to wipe it fairly dry first. ^{[6]
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- Remove as much of the moisture as possible so your case can finish air drying faster.
5
Place the case on a countertop for 1 hour to air dry. Since the case will probably have some moisture on it, don’t put it on your phone right away. Set it in an open spot with plenty of air circulation. Spread out a clean towel there, then place the phone case on top of it. Let it finish drying out before putting it back on your phone.
- Make sure the case is completely dry. Water can linger in the smaller spaces, like the hole for the charging port, and end up inside your phone.
- While the case is drying, you can clean your phone screen or disinfect your phone in the meantime.
6
Wash your phone case weekly to prevent stains from forming. Your phone case comes into contact with lots of debris, so frequent cleaning is a good idea. If you have the time, take out your phone to give the case a thorough scrubbing with soap and water at least once a week. It will prevent the material from yellowing, too. ^{[7]
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- Your phone case will collect lots of debris from your pocket or purse. It also gets plenty of oil from your hands, causing it to turn yellow over time.
- Your case will last much longer if you spend time maintaining it.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Applying Rubbing Alcohol

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Dampen a clean microfiber cloth lightly in rubbing alcohol. Remove your phone from the case first. Then, pour the rubbing alcohol onto a small cloth. Use only a little bit of the rubbing alcohol. Shake and wring out the excess moisture before cleaning your case. ^{[8]
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- Rubbing alcohol, or isopropyl alcohol, is good against medium stains you can’t remove just by washing with soap and water. Even if it fails to remove a stain, it eliminates bacteria.
- Rubbing alcohol can potentially discolor some clear cases, so double-check with the manufacturer before using it. Test it out in an inconspicuous spot first. Use it only when necessary and don’t soak your case in it.
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Scrub the stains on the case in a circle with the damp cloth. Move the phone case into your sink and clean it there. Wipe the case in a circle, putting extra effort into any tougher stains you see. Make sure you also get the hard-to-reach spots, like the case’s corners and openings.
- Another option is to use a spray bottle to apply rubbing alcohol directly to the case. Be careful to avoid soaking the case, since you only need to apply a little bit of the rubbing alcohol to clean it.
- If you have rubbing alcohol-soaked cleaning wipes, you can use those as well.
Take a second cloth and go back over the entire case. Make sure you remove all of the rubbing alcohol. Any remaining dirt or debris on the case should also come off. Remember to also clean out the tough-to-reach areas, like around the case’s inside edges. ^{[9]
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Wait about 1 hour for the case to air dry before putting it on your phone. Set the case out in an open area, like on a countertop or table. Open nearby windows or turn on fans if you have to in order to get a good draft blowing through the room. Once the case finishes drying, you can safely put it back on your phone. ^{[10]
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- Rubbing alcohol dries much faster than water does, but you should leave the case to dry for a while to protect your phone from moisture damage.
- If your phone audio sounds muffled without the case, you can try cleaning your phone speaker .

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Using Baking Soda

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Sprinkle baking soda over the entire case. Take your phone out and set it aside. Place the case in your sink or on top of a clean towel. Position it so the stains are face up. Then, cover the surface with baking soda. Make sure the stains are completely covered in baking soda. ^{[11]
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- You can’t really use too much baking soda, so keep adding more until the case and its stains are well-covered.
- Baking soda is effective on tough stains that you’re unable to remove any other way.
2
Scrub the phone case with a wet toothbrush. Take a clean toothbrush and dampen it in a little bit of water. Then, move it in a circle over the case. Make sure you get the spots that are tough to reach, such as the edges and openings. ^{[12]
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- If the toothbrush starts to dry out, dampen it in more water. You can hold it under running water in your sink or dip it into a bowl filled with water.
Move the case into your sink if it isn’t there already and turn on the warm water. Wash off the entire case, using a toothbrush to knock loose any remaining debris. Keep scrubbing and rinsing it until all of the baking soda is gone.
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Wipe the case dry with a clean cloth. Shake out the excess moisture first. Afterward, clear off as much of the remaining moisture and any leftover debris as well. Pay particular attention to smaller areas like the case’s corners and openings. ^{[13]
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- Eliminate as much of the moisture as possible to ensure your case air dries as fast as possible.
5
Wash your case with soap and water if it still looks dirty. Mix about 1 cup (240 mL) of warm water and 2 to 3 drops of liquid dish detergent in a bowl. Stir the water until it’s nice and soapy. Then, wipe down the entire case with a sponge, cloth, or even a toothbrush. Clear off any remaining debris
- The baking soda will remove tougher stains, but you may still see some lighter ones left afterward. You may also notice some leftover baking soda that has to be cleared out with soap and water.
6
Air dry the case for about 1 hour before using it again. Choose a spot in your home that is out in the open, such as a kitchen table or countertop. Wipe the case dry as much as possible first. Then, place a clean towel over the surface and lay your phone case on top of it. The case will finish drying out as you wait. ^{[14]
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- Make sure the spot you choose has plenty of air circulation. You can open windows or turn on nearby fans to get air flowing through the room.
- Keep in mind that the case won’t dry out as quickly in dark or cool areas.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Purchasing a New Phone Case

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Buy a new phone case. If your clear case has turned yellow and the previous methods haven't helped, you'll need to buy a new phone case . Clear phone cases have a natural yellow tint that may not be noticeable at first. As the case is exposed to elements such as UV rays, heat, and light, the yellow will darken. The material and quality of the case and exposure will determine the speed of degradation.
- Consider a case of a different material, such as an Otterbox case . If you want to purchase another clear case, you can also decorate it .

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Tips

There are many strategies people have for removing serious yellowing from phone cases, but they aren’t very effective. Bleaching, for instance, doesn’t really work and can permanently ruin your case.

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Once a clear case starts turning yellow, you can’t restore it to its original condition. The only way to prevent a case from yellowing is through regular cleaning.

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If your case is yellow or otherwise looks a little unpleasant, your best bet is usually to replace it. Cases are relatively inexpensive, and old ones are difficult to maintain once they start wearing out.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Paint a high-potency hydrogen peroxide solution like hair dye developer or Sole Bright all over the case, then wrap it in clear plastic wrap. You can then heat it with a blow dryer to restore it to its original clarity.
I have cleaned my clear phone case with washing machine powder and hot water.

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Warnings

You can easily transfer moisture from the case to your phone if you’re not careful. To avoid problems, always take the phone out before cleaning its case, then let the case fully air dry before putting it back in. ^{[15]
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