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.

Aggressive cleaning agents

Aggressive substances act quickly: they bleach, disinfect, but destroy the structure of the material and act for a short time. Therefore, accessories cannot be cleaned with bleach: the shine will disappear; colored cases will be unevenly covered with cloudy stains. Aggressive compounds are rarely used - only when gentle ones are useless. Before the procedure, dilute with water, and after treatment, rinse thoroughly.

Stubborn dirt can sometimes be removed with purified flammable compounds - gasoline for lighters or kerosene (before treatment, the effect is checked in an inconspicuous area). Soak a sponge with diluted fuel and wipe the dirty area. After rinsing, the case is treated with diluted vodka or lemon juice to neutralize the unpleasant odor.

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?

How not to clean silicone

If the cover has turned yellow, they try to restore the original color using home remedies, excluding the following aggressive substances:

• petrol;
• acetone;
• chlorine bleaches;
• kerosene;
• abrasive powders.

Solvents diluted with water are used when mild detergents are useless.

Chlorine bleaches attack fiber structure

Dirt from silicone must not be cleaned with rough or sharp objects:

• metal scrapers;
• sandpaper;
• knives;
• hard brushes;
• sponges with an abrasive layer.

Friction causes cracks to form. Material covered with scratches quickly becomes clogged with dust and dirt particles, which are difficult to get rid of.

Interesting article, read: - How to quickly and easily clean an ancient coin in 3 minutes: tips with video.

Does the method depend on the type of ink?

Gel and ballpoint pens require different cleaning methods. The difference is also how long it takes to scrub.

A gel pen is made by mixing gel, water and dye . Once you touch the tip to the paper, a greasy stain will remain on it. After a few minutes, the water will evaporate, but the recording will remain.

The writer can wet the ink again and it will “float.” Therefore, removing gel on other materials (plastic, leather) is not so difficult.

This won't work with a ballpoint, it dries out immediately . This is achieved by adding special oil. To get rid of ink, a special solvent is often required. Improvised means (eraser, citric acid) will not work well.

Usually the case is made of plastic and silicone, less often - of leather, wood and suede. Each type of material has its own cleaning method.

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.

Features of the material

Silicone is a polymer obtained from the chemical bond of oxygen and silicon molecules. Due to its environmental friendliness and wear resistance, it has gained wide popularity in various fields of human activity.

The material has such advantages as:

• strength;
• ease;
• durability;
• flexibility;
• density;
• safety.

The listed qualities make silicone phone cases very convenient, because they do not crack like plastic products and do not look bulky like leather “books” or metal covers.

However, silicone also has disadvantages:

• ability to quickly absorb dirt;
• color change under the influence of external factors, especially if the product is light;
• tendency to cloudiness;
• oxidation upon contact with air.

Of course, silicone cases are durable, but due to these features they lose their beautiful appearance very quickly. Luckily, phone accessories can be cleaned and brightened. If one method does not help achieve the desired effect, it is worth trying several.

Pollution prevention

The surface of the lining is covered with microscopic pores that quickly become dirty. To prevent the appearance of dirty stains, the case is constantly looked after:

• wipe daily with wet wipes;
• a mobile phone in a silicone shell is placed in a separate pocket of the bag;
• the item is taken with clean hands;
• prevent cracks and scratches from appearing: damage collects dust and becomes intensively covered with grease;
• regularly clean with products containing alcohol or liquid soap;
• During lunch, the smartphone is removed from the table.

Fresh stains are easier to remove than stubborn dust, so they try to clean the surface right away.

Silicone quickly absorbs dirt, changes color, and becomes stained. Therefore, the covers are properly looked after: cleaned, removed dust and stains; do not use aggressive substances or sharp objects. Preventive measures delay the appearance of defects and extend the service life of the accessory.

Removing yellowness

Light and transparent silicone cases acquire an unpleasant yellowish-reddish tint over time. To remove it, you can use any chlorine-free bleach. A whitening gel toothpaste without abrasive particles or coloring granules will also help.

The product is applied to the surface of the product with a soft toothbrush and left to act for some time, from 15 minutes to half an hour. Then the cover should be washed and the result evaluated. If necessary, repeat the procedure.

You can bleach a light silicone case with soda. A mixture of ammonia and water will also help. It should be applied with a foam sponge to the surface of the product and left to act for 20-30 minutes.

Expert opinion

Irina. Housewife.

Ask a Question

Attention! After removing stains, rinse the cover under warm running water and wipe dry.