Clean Silicone Phone Case

27 Jul 2021
Clean Silicone Phone Case

When purchasing staple accessories such as a silicone phone case, it’s a good idea to look after it. But how do you clean see-through phone cases? How do we keep it new and shiny all year round so that we refrain from spending money that could have been saved for a rainy day? 

Not only is it a financial concern, but the fact that covid-19 runs rampant around the world; everyone is on high alert to eliminate bacteria growth on all surfaces by cleaning their phones during the outbreak.

A phone case is one of those surfaces where bacteria can easily be accumulated causing unwanted illnesses. 

That said, it raises the question, should you wash your phone case? Or would disinfectant wipes be a better option? In this article, we will give you some ideas on how to clean a plastic phone case so that it can last you a long time. 

How to clean a silicone phone case

Warm water and soap will do the trick. 

  1. Combine 1 cup of warm water with two drops of liquid soap and give it a swish so that the water dissolves the soap.
  2. While the water is still warm take a clean toothbrush and gently scrub your phone case in circular movements.
  3. Dip the toothbrush and scrub repeatedly to ensure dirt and germs are removed ensuring a thorough clean.
  4. If you have stubborn dirt, a small sprinkle of baking soda directly onto the case could help remove stubborn dirt.
  5. Make sure you hit all the awkward spaces.
  6. Once all dirt is removed rinse the phone case under running warm water until all soap is removed.
  7. Inspect the case to ensure no dirt has been left behind. Then dry completely before inserting your phone to avoid any moisture damage.

A clean silicone phone case is good hygiene. But sometimes, even though it’s clean, it can lose its color, like when it goes a bit yellow. 

How do silicone phone cases turn yellow?

When your phone case turns yellow, it means that your phone case is aging. So why do silicone phone cases turn yellow?  It is a natural process for silicone polymer to turn yellow. It does this when it is exposed to ultraviolet light which breaks down the chemical bonds used to make the product. 

Constant exposure to heat will weaken the phone case and eventually after a very long time, it will disintegrate and the reason why clear phone cases turn yellow. 

Because the yellowing of your phone case is a natural process of molecules breaking down within the product, it makes the process practically irreversible. 

But, many whitening agents have been known to successfully aid the removal of yellow in the product. It could also just be dust and particles sticking on the surface in which case the job would be easier than anticipated.

How can I make my silicone white again?

How to clean a silicone phone case

Thankfully the process of removing the yellow by cleaning the silicone phone case is quite simple, and we have options:

Bleach

  1. Remove the phone from the silicone phone case 
  2. Insert 2 cups of hot water (not boiling) into a container. Add a teaspoon of bleach.
  3. Put on some gloves.
  4. Submerge the silicone phone case in bleach water.
  5. Soak for 20 minutes. You will note the color change.
  6. Remove from the solution.
  7. Wash with mild soap and rinse.

Baking soda

  1. In a container, form a paste with baking soda.
  2. Wet the cover with a bit of water.
  3. Rub some baking powder onto the case forming a paste with the water.
  4. Rub the phone case in circular motions. 
  5. When clean, wash in soapy water and then rinse under clean running water.
  6. Completely dry cover before inserting your phone.

Lemon

 

  1. Slice a lemon in half and squeeze the juice into a container.
  2. Soak the phone case in lemon juice.
  3. Allow it to soak for at least an hour.
  4. After an hour, put a bit of bleach on a brush and rub gently.
  5. Rinse thoroughly and dry.

Toothpaste 

  1. Cover the case in toothpaste, then lightly scrub it using a sponge. 
  2. Then, rinse the toothpaste off the phone case.
  3. Put on some gloves and coat in paint thinner. 
  4. Give it a light scrub using the sponge. 
  5. Lastly, rinse in clean water.

Vinegar

  1. In the sink, add a tablespoon of bleach, two cups of vinegar, and water.
  2. Allow the silicone phone covers to soak for 30 minutes.
  3. Use a brush to gently scrub the phone case.
  4. Rinse with clean water and dry.

Permanent stains on your phone case?

Stains like permanent markers are hard to remove off of a phone case. So how do I get permanent marker off a phone case? Rubbing alcohol should be able to do the trick. 

The ink just dissolves into rubbing alcohol so all you have to do is rub it with slight pressure. You can get rubbing alcohol at any optical shop. Repeat this process as needed up to three times.

Scratches on your phone? 

If sand gets under it, can a phone case scratch your phone? it most certainly can. Surfaces scratches will form on your phone and it could also do some real damage.

So what do you do if you get sand in your phone? Well, the best option would be to blow the sand out with a hairdryer. Be sure to take it off hot air. Another option would be to submerge the case in water and then to give your phone a wipe-down with soft disinfectant wipes. 

Conclusion 

Although we will go to extreme lengths to get the longest wear out of our purchases, sometimes we just need to detach. Buying a new phone case is certainly worth the spend. 

 A phone case truly needs so much more credit than it is given. The fact is that so many people live their lives via their phones in today’s world; it could actually be a lifesav