Clear phone cases promise to show off your iPhone's design, but let's be honest — after a few weeks, they're showing off more mysterious smudges than sleek technology. Even the best iPhones can't escape the dreaded yellowing and clouding that turns your transparent case into something decidedly less clear.
Before you start browsing Black Friday deals for a replacement, we've got good news: that grimy case can probably be saved. Whether you've got basic dish soap or a cabinet full of cleaning supplies, there's a simple solution waiting in your home. We'll show you four proven methods to bring your case back to its former glory.
And since we're on a cleaning spree, why not learn how to clean iPhone speakers and how to clean an iPhone's charging port? But first, let's start with that cloudy case problem.
1. Cleaning with dish soap
It may seem like an obvious solution, but there’s a reason we use dish soap for everyday cleaning. It cuts through grease and helps break up any residue it comes into contact with. That’s why it's an excellent cleaning agent to use on a yellowing phone case. Simply follow these steps:
Combine a few drops of dish soap with warm water in the sink to create a soapy bath. Grab a spare toothbrush and scrub the ins and outs of your removed phone case with the solution. Remember to reach into the corners and any gaps for the ports/buttons.
Repeatedly dunk your case in the water as you work to give it a thorough clean. Once you’re happy, drain the dirty water and rinse the case under clean water to wash away any remaining soap.
Now towel dry with a microfiber cloth and leave the case out to air-dry completely afterwards. Make sure that your phone case is completely dry before reapplying it to your phone, otherwise you could damage it.
2. Cleaning with baking soda
Baking soda is an excellent natural cleaner. This popular baking ingredient works well because of its abrasiveness. It can also dissolve dirt and grease when combined with water which is why it’s ideal for all kinds of cleaning hacks. In fact, here are 10 things you didn't know you could clean with baking soda.
Lay your empty phone case on a towel. This hack can be quite messy, so we recommend this. Sprinkle baking soda all over the case. Start with one side first, we will change to the other later.
Grab a spare toothbrush, wet the head, and then start scrubbing the baking soda in and around the case. Just as before, be patient and work the powder in thoroughly until it looks more like a paste.
Scrub in a circular motion and pay particular attention to any heavily stained areas. Add more water to the toothbrush as necessary while you do this. Once you’re finished scrubbing, rinse the baking soda away under running water.
Flip the phone case and repeat these steps on the other side. Make sure all of the baking soda is rinsed away before drying the case with a microfiber cloth. Leave out the case to air dry completely before refitting it to your phone.
3. Cleaning with white vinegar
How can we mention baking soda without mentioning white vinegar? After all, the two go hand-in-hand, that’s what makes them so good at cleaning. White vinegar is an amazing natural cleaner because of its strength and acidity. It can easily work its way through limescale or disinfect your surfaces. Here’s how to use it on a clear phone case:
Find a small container or bowl which is large enough to fit your phone case. Place the empty case in there with something heavy on top to hold it down. Just make sure whatever you use isn’t metal or rubber so it won’t corrode.
Sprinkle two tablespoons of baking soda over the case, followed by slowly pouring one cup of white distilled vinegar on top. Prepare for it to fizz at first — this is part of the cleaning process. If the case isn't quite fully submerged, add more vinegar as necessary. Leave to soak for a couple of hours.
Rinse your case thoroughly once time is up. Dry with a microfiber cloth as well as leaving to air dry completely before using the case again.
4. Cleaning with rubbing alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is particularly useful if you want to disinfect the phone case as well as clean it. This solution will kill germs on contact and leave a brilliant shine because it dries so quickly. However, rubbing alcohol has been known to discolor some phone cases, so be sure to check the care guidelines before using and spot test in a small inconspicuous area first.
Apply rubbing alcohol to a microfiber cloth. You can do this via a spray bottle or just alcohol wipes as an alternative. Wipe down your empty phone case with the solution, front and back, being sure to work into the corners and charging port hole.
Once you’ve done that, remove the alcohol with a clean, microfiber cloth. It dries pretty quickly, so this shouldn’t take long. Leave the case out for a couple of hours to air dry fully before putting it back on your phone.
5. Can you use bleach?
Bleach is an extreme solution which has been known to damage phone cases, depending on the material composition. For that reason, we wouldn’t recommend using it unless you’re willing to take that risk.
Instead, try repeating the above methods and keep an eye on the progress. It may take more than one application to get your phone case looking as new again, but your persistence should be rewarded.
nce you’ve got your phone case to that stage, remember to keep cleaning it every few weeks to prevent it from going yellow again.
We have a huge range of expertly crafted buying guides to help you make the right choice when selecting a protective case for your phone. If you're an iOS user, make sure you check out our guides to the best iPhone 15 Pro cases, best iPhone 16 cases and best iPhone 16 Pro cases.
