The main purpose of a silicone case is to protect your phone from scratches and damage. If you find dirt on it, don't worry, this is proof that it is doing its job correctly. After all, most people use smartphones repeatedly every day. If you want to restore the protective coating to its perfect condition, regular cleaning is recommended. In the following lines you will learn how to clean the silicone case.
Cleaning methods
Regular dirt and dust can be easily washed off with a sponge soaked in warm water and then wiped with a soft cloth.
Expert opinion
Evgenia Taran
Always use the soft side of the sponge; the rough side may scratch the surface.
When choosing a cleaning cloth, choose materials designed for cleaning glasses or monitors. For tougher stains, isopropyl alcohol will work. If the coating is monochrome, without a pattern, acetone-free nail polish remover will help.
Important! Avoid window cleaners, ammonia or solvents, and rough or hard brushes! Clean your cases regularly to prevent small particles of dirt from scratching your phone's body or screen.
Particular attention should be paid to cleaning the protective coating on the Apple iPhone. Before you wash the silicone protective coating on your iPhone, remove it from the device. Using a soft, damp cloth that does not leave fine fibers on the surface, wipe it inside and out. Avoid using window and household appliance cleaners, aerosols, solvents, ammonia, abrasives, and hydrogen peroxide.
Diluted bleach
If you purchased a light-colored silicone case for your digital assistant, you'll likely notice signs of yellowing after a while. This is due to the fact that the protective coating is exposed to dirty surfaces, air, hands contaminated with persistent substances, in particular fats. Exposure to sunlight also contributes significantly to the yellowing of the cover. If you're hoping to come up with an easy recipe to get rid of yellowing, you'll be a little disappointed. Although you can find “guaranteed” tips on how to remove yellowing on the Internet (for example, putting the case in bleach), most of them are not recommended to be tried on something as important as a silicone case. Bleach can irreversibly destroy silicone, and you can say goodbye to any design on it as well.
Rules for regular care
To avoid the need to thoroughly clean the silicone case, you should follow a few simple care rules:
- Direct sunlight and prolonged overheating of a silicone product negatively affect its transparency and geometry. Even high-quality silicone becomes cloudy from excessive temperature, which spoils it very quickly. Also, its proportions are violated, it shrinks or “melts” - such damage is irreparable.
- Try not to carry the phone in places where the cover can get dirty - near food, drinks, in a pencil case (it is quite difficult to wash the handle). Do not handle the phone with dirty hands - try to avoid direct contact with silicone.
- It is strictly forbidden to use aggressive detergents and solvents; they quickly react with silicone and destroy it irrevocably.
- Use only for its intended purpose - do not place it on a phone model for which it is not intended. Try to remove and insert the case as little as possible - there is no need to carry it additionally.
- Keep wet wipes handy to wipe away fresh stains. Clean it at least once a month with a soft cloth dampened in a mild detergent.
Advice! It is advisable to observe the above points from the first day of purchase - this will significantly extend its service life.
How to remove old stains
Old contaminants covering the silicone case can reduce its protective functions. Small particles of dirt and dust located on top fall under the surface of the protective coating, causing the risk of scratches on the screen.
You can remove outdated dirt using the following means:
- acetone, a chemical solvent;
- juice, lemon acid;
- technical gasoline;
- chlorine-free bleach;
- detergent with abrasive microparticles.
When cleaning, keep in mind that these products should be used with extreme caution as they may damage the silicone surface. It may lose transparency and shine. Some of these products can dissolve the surface, causing it to deform, after which the only solution is to throw out the cover.
Methods for removing dirt from polyurethane or eco-leather
The spots are very visible
- You can use the same method with soapy water as for silicone and leather cases.
- You can use lemon juice to remove ink stains.
- To remove greasy stains, a 20% alcohol solution is suitable: you should wipe the stains with it. Repeat if necessary.
Under no circumstances should you use products containing chlorine, hard brushes and sponges, bleaches or products containing acids.
To clean plastic, you need to use special cleaning products for plastic - they are safe and very effective.
Helpful tip: try to avoid contact of any smartphone accessories with your jeans - if they leave stains, it will be very difficult to remove them.
How to return whiteness
As a rule, methods that can be used to clean the transparent, rubber, or plastic surface of a case can restore whiteness when a white product has yellowed or grayed.
Soap solution
Soap will help return the color to the white case. Prepare warm water, add a little liquid soap and lather. Place the silicone case in the solution for 30–60 minutes, then wipe off the heaviest dirt first, then the entire surface. Rinse with clean water. If necessary, repeat the procedure.
Expert opinion
Irina Kovtun
Be sure to dry the case to prevent stains.
Milk-protein bath
A bath of warm milk not only cleanses the product of dirt, but also restores freshness to the white cover. Do it as above.
How to clean leather or leatherette
Bag case with button
Leather products are quite practical; compared to their silicone counterparts, they are easier to care for. However, they are also susceptible to contamination.
Methods for removing contaminants:
- The soapy water method described above is very good for cleaning leather cases.
- If the white cover is dirty, you can do this: wipe the product with full-fat milk or, if the stains are old, with a mixture of milk and raw egg white. This will help not only remove stains, but also whiten.
- Shoe care products are suitable for cleaning and caring for leather products.
- Grease stains can be removed with potato starch paste: spread it evenly over the contaminated areas, leave for half an hour, then rinse.
- Stains of unknown origin can be removed by mixing turpentine and medical alcohol in equal proportions, applying to the product, leaving for half an hour, then wiping with alcohol again.
After completing all the manipulations, you can coat the case with glycerin - this will give it shine.
How can you clean silicone cases?
Wanting to quickly clean a phone case, some enthusiasts take on the process with enthusiasm. However, not all washing methods are suitable. There are means by which you can hopelessly ruin an accessory.
The soft surface of the phone case requires gentle cleaning. Hard scourers, sponges, brushes, sandpaper or metal scrapers are not suitable for this procedure.
Sharp, cutting objects or abrasive cleaners can easily damage the silicone. In places where cracks and scratches form, dust, dirt and grease deposits will constantly accumulate. It will be difficult for such an item to return an attractive appearance.
Important! Liquid and powder detergents that contain chlorine change the structure of the polymer. Under the influence of an aggressive agent, transparent products turn yellow, darken or become cloudy, and colored products lose color.
Have you already cleaned your silicone phone case?
Not really
Cleaning heavy soiling with aggressive substances
These methods can only be used in extreme cases, when stains on the surface cannot be treated. However, be prepared for the fact that the case may be damaged. Use the following tools to solve the problem in a radical way:
- chlorine bleach;
- sandpaper;
- abrasive powders.
It must be remembered that the chances of cleaning the case with these means and completely ruining it are the same.
Use dishwashing detergent, boric alcohol and industrial alcohol. You need to clean silicone like this:
- Wipe the product with a cotton sponge, moistening it with industrial alcohol.
- Prepare a solution from a small amount of water, boric alcohol and dish soap.
- Place the case in the cleaning composition for 1–1.5 hours.
- Clean off dirt with a toothbrush.
- Rinse the product under running water and wipe dry.
If the silicone from which your accessory is made is of good quality, it is highly likely that it will not suffer. Cheap products in most cases do not withstand the effects of aggressive substances.
Cleaning a case made of natural and artificial leather
High-quality and expensive leather cases are easy to clean and wash, but for such procedures it is better to use plain water.
A solution of starch and water helps remove dirt well, and it’s easy to add shine and shine using silicone-based car polishes for leather surfaces.
As a last resort, a leather case can be painted using a special cream paint for leather products, which will give it an updated look.
When thinking about how to clean a leatherette phone case, it is better to use conventional cleaning products, such as a soap solution or wax shoe polish.
How to care for a silicone case
So that you do not have to frequently change the “protection” on your mobile device, you must adhere to the following rules:
- When purchasing an accessory, pay attention to the quality of the material from which it is made. The higher quality the silicone, the longer the case will last you.
- Buy special wipes to care for the cover, especially if it is light in color.
- The accessory should be cleaned regularly; ingrained old dirt and yellowness significantly spoil the appearance and are not easy to remove.
If your case needs cleaning, this work must be done in accordance with the recommendations; you should not do “home experiments”.
How to clean a suede case
Suede cases also differ from silicone and genuine leather cases. To clean a suede case, you need:
- Use an eraser for minor stains;
- Leave it over steam for 5 minutes, and then use a cleaning brush to remove the dirt. This method is suitable for deep contamination;
- Dark suede is also great for cleaning with kerosene. True, this only works with natural suede, since dyed suede is very likely to deteriorate.
Special foams are excellent for cleaning suede covers. The shoe store is open to cases made from this material.
Which products are suitable for different situations?
Cleaning the silicone bumper on a touch phone from yellowness can be done using improvised and special means, such as:
- toothpaste;
- ammonia with water and soda - will whiten and make it transparent again;
- lemon juice;
- Vanish, Boss.
Tip : Old yellowing should be cleaned 5 minutes longer than usual.
How to remove ballpoint pen paste, marker, ink:
- alcohol-containing substances;
- stain removers without chlorine;
- essential oils.
Sunflower oil is suitable for removing glue or traces of tape.
To help erase drawings:
- essential oils;
- melamine sponge;
- alcohol-containing liquids;
- a weak chlorine-free bleach solution.
Tip : a small fresh stain can be removed with a regular office eraser. You need to wipe off the dirt with it, and then wash the case with soap.
What to consider when processing
Most phone cases sold online are made of plastic or synthetic material. However, if the case is made from more unusual materials such as wood and leather, be sure to check the packaging for cleaning instructions.
Baking soda is abrasive and may scratch some surfaces.
What else:
- Remember to remove the case from your phone before cleaning it. Water and electronics do not mix.
- If the case has decor, do not use the solution to clean the outside of the case. Baking soda may scratch the paint or make it fade. Use the solution only on the inside.
Baking soda is a simple and effective cleaning method that constantly saves your home.
What not to do to avoid damaging the silicone case
Silicone must be handled with care. Let’s immediately determine what cannot be used when cleaning it:
- acetone;
- detergents containing chlorine - the silicone will turn yellow or become cloudy;
- gasoline and kerosene;
- sharp objects (knife, needles, etc.) and tools that scratch the surface (sandpaper, metal sponges, hard brushes);
- powder without water - small particles will only leave scratches and abrasions on the case, it will become dirty even more often and eventually lose its presentable appearance.
For cleaning, use only soft tools - dish sponges, a soft cloth and a soft brush (for example, a toothbrush).
