Phone Case Turning Yellow? Why It Happens and How to Clean It

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Clear phone cases turn yellow over time. The usual causes are UV light, heat, and oils and dirt from your hands and pockets. Some yellowing can be cleaned, but heavy discolouration of the plastic itself usually cannot be reversed.

Why It Happens

  • Sunlight and UV: exposure slowly yellows many clear plastics.
  • Heat: leaving the phone on a dashboard speeds it up.
  • Oils and dirt: skin oils and pocket lint stain the case.
  • Material: some clear cases are more prone to yellowing than others.

What May Help

  • Remove the case and wash it with warm water and mild dish soap, using a soft brush.
  • Wipe with a cloth and a little isopropyl alcohol for surface dirt, then rinse and dry.
  • Some people use a paste of baking soda and water on the surface, rinsed off afterwards. Test on a small area first.

What Not to Do

Avoid harsh chemicals such as bleach, which can damage the case and leave it brittle. If the plastic itself has yellowed, cleaning will not restore it.

How to Slow It Down

  • Keep the phone out of direct sun and hot cars.
  • Wash the case now and then.
  • Look for a case that mentions being anti-yellowing, and be aware that no clear case is fully immune.

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