Why does the transparent phone case turn yellow and how to clean it?

When it comes to protecting my phone, I always choose a clear case. Clear phone cases not only provide excellent grip, but are designed to make the original look and design of your phone stand out. Additionally, they come with features like raised edges to protect the display and phone body in the event of an accidental drop, and some even come with a stand, which comes in handy in many situations.

However, there is one big drawback to cleaning phone cases – they tend to turn yellow over time. No matter how careful you are, they will eventually look discolored and you’ll find yourself replacing them every few months. In this article, we’ll take a look at why clear phone cases yellow over time, what are the factors behind this, and how to clean them to maintain their transparency.

Why do clear phone cases turn yellow over time?

Over time, the clear protective case on your phone can yellow due to a range of factors, including the material it’s made from and the heat it’s exposed to. However, the two main reasons for the yellowing and color cast in these cases are:

exposure to UV rays

The main reason why clear phone cases turn yellow is exposure to ultraviolet light. While using a clear case with dirty hands can also cause discoloration, the main reason is exposure to UV rays. Over time, the materials used to make these cases react with UV radiation. When your phone is exposed to sunlight or other sources of UV rays, the yellowing process is accelerated, causing the clear protective case to lose transparency and become discolored. While reducing exposure to UV rays can slow this process, it’s difficult to avoid in daily use.

This article was produced in partnership with Supcase, but its contents have not been previously shown to the company. All content is independently written and meets Pocketnow’s strict editorial standards.

Natural oils and sweat on hands

Another factor that causes clear phone cases to turn yellow is the build-up of natural oils and sweat on your hands. When you use your phone throughout the day, your hands leave oil and moisture on the case. This buildup will eventually cause the crust to become discolored and yellow.

While it’s normal for our skin to produce oil and sweat, especially when you’re in warmer weather or when you’re using your phone for long periods of time, the combination of these factors can speed up the yellowing process on clear phone cases.

Many phone case manufacturers have recognized this problem and have begun making clear cases out of materials that are less likely to yellow over time. They are made from a special material that has anti-yellowing properties and does not change color as quickly as other clear cases. Here are some of the top cases with anti-ant yellowing properties from top brands like Supcase and Spigen:

• 

  Supcase UB ultra-thin transparent MagSafe protective case

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  The SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Mag Case is MagSafe compatible and features a hard PC back and shock-absorbing TPU bumper for superior protection and a premium feel. It has a transparent design, comes in three stylish colors, and features precise cutouts and raised bezels.

• 

  Spigen Ultra Hybrid (Galaxy S24 Ultra)

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  The Spigen Ultra Hybrid is available in a variety of colors, including a Zero One version, which lets you see the stylishly designed interior components. The case uses Air Cushion technology to protect against cracks and dents, and has raised edges to protect the display and camera on the back.

• 

  Allotkin Pixel 8 Pro transparent protective case

  If you’re looking for a thin, clear Pixel 8 Pro case with anti-yellowing properties, consider the Oterkin case. It showcases your choice of Pixel 8 color and has raised edges to protect the screen and camera.

How to clean a clear case that has turned yellow

So, what should you do if your clear phone case has turned yellow? Can it be cleaned? If so, what to do? Well, there are a few methods you can try to clean a yellowed clear case. However, it should be noted that using these methods to clean the surface of the case can only partially clean the case, but cannot reverse the irreversible damage caused by ultraviolet rays. However, you can try the following methods to clean the clear case:

Clean with isopropyl alcohol

One of the best ways to clean your case is with rubbing alcohol. Just add a small amount to a paper towel or cleaning cloth and use it to clean the case. You can even use it to clean your screen.

Clean with baking soda and water

If you don’t want to use isopropyl alcohol to clean the case, you can also consider making a baking soda paste in your kitchen to clean the case. Simply mix baking soda with water to make a paste and apply it to your yellowed clear phone case. You can use a brush or cloth to scrub the paste off the case, then rinse thoroughly with water to remove any residue.

Use toothpaste to clean

A similar solution to the above, but if you don’t have baking soda, you can try using non-gel toothpaste to clean your case. Simply apply toothpaste to your phone case and scrub gently in circular motions with a damp cloth or toothbrush. Then rinse away any toothpaste residue with water.

Clean with soap

Finally, you can also use mild soap and water to clean yellowed clear phone cases. Simply mix a little mild liquid soap with water to create a soap solution. Then, dip a soft cloth or sponge into the solution and gently wipe the surface of the case. After that, rinse the case with clean water and dry it with a towel.

Unfortunately, if you still notice a yellowish tint to your phone case, your cleaning methods will only go so far. Irreversible damage caused by UV rays cannot be eliminated with the above solutions. In this case, the only solution is to buy a new clear case. You can choose one of the above options (which ages more slowly due to special anti-yellowing material), or buy a different type of case that may better suit your needs.