How to clean a silicone phone case in 5 minutes

A case is a very important accessory that protects the surface of the gadget from scratches, dirt and other damage. Many people are interested in how to clean a silicone case, because with regular use and lack of timely care, it quickly darkens, turns yellow, becomes cloudy and becomes covered with persistent stains.

A variety of colors of a protective phone accessory can satisfy the taste of any buyer.

In this article we will talk about how to wash a silicone case at home and return it to its original appearance.

Preventative cleaning

It will not hurt to know that every week you need to carry out preventive cleaning - it will help clean a clear or colored case and get rid of simple dirt - for example, fingerprints.

• Pour warm water into a container;
• Add liquid soap or detergent - a few drops are enough;
• Stir the soapy liquid and place the item for 10 minutes;
• Rub it additionally with a soft sponge.

Ready! These manipulations will help not only clean the silicone case, but also maintain its proper condition.

Find out if you can wash sneakers in a washing machine in another article.

But what if you are faced with serious problems? Let's discuss how to clean a silicone phone case from yellowing or a panel that has darkened.

How to stretch a silicone case

When choosing a case, you should pay attention not only to the price and quality of the product, but also carefully select it according to the size of the phone.

What to do if the accessory is smaller than needed? The easiest way is to return a product that does not fit and purchase another one.

Silicone is a fairly elastic material, and slight “stretching” will not cause significant harm to it. Warm up the case using a household hair dryer and put the protection on the phone. The heated case will stretch, and you will not have to purchase a new accessory.

Soda

If there are serious stains from paint or traces left by glue on the panel for an Apple or Android smartphone, you need to use soda. The recipe is very simple:

• Dilute a small amount of baking soda with water to a paste;
• Apply the mixture to the affected areas;
• Leave for several hours;
• Remove the dried crust and rinse the product under running warm water.

This product allows you to clean the brilliant green and helps rid the silicone case of glue. But be careful - rub the mixture in without pressing and use a soft cloth or sponge. You can learn how to remove scorch marks from an iron on synthetic materials by following the link.

Basic tips for caring for a silicone case

Silicone cases are very popular. Manufacturers create protective accessories of completely different types, depending on the model and type of gadget: bumpers and covers, sports and others. A properly selected model with proper care can serve you for years.

Silicone is a fairly flexible and dense material. Silicone rubber products are valued for their strength, lightness and durability. The main disadvantage of the material is its ability to absorb dirt and change color or degree of transparency.

We recommend choosing protection made from matte silicone; products made from it retain their presentable appearance longer.

Silicone protective products come in shiny and matte finishes. Matte ones are considered less burdensome to care for. Therefore, if you are faced with the task of buying an accessory for a phone or other device, we recommend choosing a matte model.

What not to do

To avoid damaging the product, follow these rules:

1. It is forbidden to bleach silicone with bleach, as this will definitely ruin the product.
2. It is not allowed to use pure acetone and gasoline to clean and restore shine to the protective accessory.
3. It is not recommended to scrub off dirt with sandpaper, a metal scraper or hard brushes. Remember that the silicone surface is very delicate and should be treated with care. For the same reason, you should not use abrasive powders or other aggressive cleaning products.
4. It is forbidden to leave the product in direct sunlight, as well as near radiators and radiators. Overheating and exposure to UV rays can cause the material to become cloudy.
5. You should not take off and put on the protective device frequently, as this can cause it to stretch.

Choose protection that matches your phone model. An accessory that is too large will not ensure the safety of the device, and a small one can cause harm by exerting excessive pressure.

In recent years, the phone has become our constant companion, and the case that protects it is subject to the influence of various negative factors, taking their blows. That is why it needs constant care and regular cleaning. Let's talk in more detail about ways to clean a protective accessory from stains.

Nail polish remover

This method allows you to easily wash the ballpoint pen from the silicone case - but be careful! Do not use the product on colored covers as they may become cloudy and lose their color brightness.

An important condition that allows you to clean the ink from the pen is the absence of acetone in the composition!

The method of application is as follows:

• Soak a cotton pad with nail polish remover;
• Gently rub the affected areas;
• Rinse with tap water and wipe dry with a soft cloth.

Intensively acting agents

If you cannot get rid of the stain using the above methods, you will have to resort to more aggressive means. For matte silicone cases, the following products are suitable:

• Chlorine bleach. But they can only be used for snow-white cases. They can remove part of the color coating from colored people.
• Alcohol or special wipes for cleaning screens, monitors or phone glasses.
• An acetone solution removed even complex grease stains and brilliant green.

Using these methods, you can quickly and reliably return your phone case to a “fresh” look.

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Alcohol

Alcohol will help clean marker strokes - there are two common options for using a universal liquid.

If there are small spots left:

• Moisten a cotton swab or cotton swab with alcohol;
• Rub selected areas;
• Dry the product.

If the affected area is large enough:

• Mix alcohol with water in a 1:1 ratio;
• Soak the cover in the solution for ten minutes;
• Remove it and rub the stains with a soft sponge;
• Rinse under water and dry.

Please note that this method will help clean a white or transparent case; colored items may be damaged. And it’s even better to know the washing symbols on clothing labels - they’re all here.

How to deal with old dirt and stains

When the above methods do not give the desired result, you can use less gentle cleaning options.

• Essential oils are effective in the fight against dyes (marker, ink).
• Using sunflower oil, glue stains and traces of tape will come off.
• A melamine sponge will remove stubborn dirt.
• Alcohol-containing substances will help remove hand marks and paint stains.
• A weak bleach solution will return a decent appearance to even a very dirty product that has not been washed for a long time.

If the stains are small, take an eraser and wipe off the stains, then wash the case with soap.

Toothpaste

“The silicone case has turned yellow, how can I clean it?” – such cries for help can often be found on the Internet. If none of the other available remedies are suitable, you can use toothpaste, which you can probably find on the bathroom shelf.

• Squeeze a little paste from the tube onto selected areas;
• Rub it in with light movements (you can use a brush with soft bristles);
• Leave for 10 minutes, then rinse with tap water.

Let's discuss how to wash a silicone phone case if it starts to get dark?

Removing dirt stains from a phone case

To remove dirt stains, the same method is used for many materials. The surface must be wiped with a damp cloth (sponge) soaked in a soap solution. How can you wash a leather smartphone case? Both liquid soap and dishwashing detergent will do. Do not use strong chemicals (bleaches, powders) - they can not only damage the texture of the case, but also ruin its color.

Smooth cases made of natural and artificial leather can be easily cleaned with a damp sponge. However, do not forget that light-colored accessories are more difficult to clean than dark-colored cases.

How can you clean silicone?

And in conclusion, let’s make a short list of products that are undesirable to use when cleaning a silicone case.

These include:

1. kerosene, gasoline and other fuels and lubricants,
2. products containing acetone (see above), as well as acetone itself in its pure form,
3. cleaning products that contain chlorine, which is dangerous for both matte and transparent, as well as painted covers,
4. abrasive substances.

Be careful: To avoid damaging the soft cover, do not clean it with hard brushes (including toothbrushes) or medium-bristled brushes, especially steel wool, which should be used with great care even when cleaning kitchen utensils.

And finally, one last piece of advice. If the “home remedies” listed above do not help, purchase products designed specifically for removing stains from silicone to clean your case.

But the choice of professional products and the rules for their use at home is a completely separate topic!

The main reasons for dirty covers

Over time, dark spots inevitably appear on the silicone coating.
The silicone accessory protects the phone well from damage. However, the shiny surface often leaves fingerprints, which looks like a greasy stain. Dust collects on the walls and between them.

Over time, the glossy surface fades, so it is recommended to give preference to matte products.

If the case has lost its appearance after 30 days of use, this may indicate low quality material. A careless attitude quickly renders it unusable.

Products that have been cleaned with chemical compounds begin to turn yellow and break. Due to the fact that the phone is constantly carried in a bag and it comes into contact with other things, the surface begins to darken.

It's not just cases made of silicone that turn yellow. This quality is also typical for other products. Therefore, the main purpose of cleaning is bleaching. The cover must be washed periodically to extend its service life. Timely cleaning of the coating will protect the phone from the influence of the external environment.

Accessories made of polycarbonate do not lose their original color, unlike silicone. But the disadvantage of this material is that it needs to be washed much more often.

Why does it turn yellow?

The flexible polymer has some disadvantages: silicone cases have a porous structure and therefore dirt quickly appears on it.
And with prolonged contact with oxygen and under the influence of ultraviolet rays, the material tends to change color - it turns yellow, becomes cloudy or darkens. High temperatures (extreme heat, proximity to heating devices, etc.) have a negative effect on silicone.

Despite its durability, the phone accessory quickly loses its original appearance and becomes untidy. Fortunately for owners of the accessory, the elastic polymer can be easily cleaned with simple but very effective means. If one method does not help achieve the desired effect, then you can always use another.

Important! To prevent the silicone item from deteriorating and to serve longer, it is not recommended to leave it for a long time near heat sources (heating radiators, electric heating elements, direct rays of the sun).