How to Make Transparent Case Clear Again
Is that transparent phone instance yous bought starting to wait a tad yellowish effectually the edges? Unfortunately, this is an all-too common scenario and it´s of import to know both why it occurs AND how to deal with it!
Quick summary (how to clean a clear instance that has turned yellow) – if your phone case has simply started to yellow or if you think that the main culprit might be plain one-time dirt, requite information technology a thorough scrub with water and dishwashing soap. For more stubborn stains, soak the instance in vinegar and baking soda OR encompass with hydrogen peroxide (this should always be a last resort)!
Why practise phone cases turn xanthous?
There are diverse reasons why articulate phone cases turn yellow, ranging from exposure to certain chemicals to the presence of microorganisms such equally fungi and bacteria. In 99% of instances, however, phone case discoloration is the result of exposure to sunlight and UV rays.
This isn´t all that surprising if you call up about the event that sunlight has on other materials. I´m sure we´ve all left something outside for too long and experienced colour fading, be it an item of clothing, a childhood toy or only something that y'all ´lost´ in a long-forgotten nook of the garden!
Unfortunately, both plastics ordinarily used to make articulate phone cases (TPU and polycarbonate) are negatively affected by UV rays.
According to the science buffs over at Zeus, even the slightest impurity in polycarbonate (the become-to fabric for transparent difficult cases) ´volition initiate colour instability´.
When oxygen is present (pretty much always, so!), a process called photo-oxidization occurs. This causes both yellowing AND the breaking of chemical bonds, which leads to a brittle structure.
So, not simply is yellowing a sight for sore eyes, merely it is also a sign of degradation.
Don´t believe me? Give these before and after exposure snaps an eyeball –
So, practise all clear cases turn yellow?
Well, information technology depends on the textile the instance is made from.
The vast bulk of clear cases are fabricated from either TPU (a soft, flexible polymer) or polycarbonate (a tough, rigid polymer) and both are susceptible to photo-oxidization (i.e. they both go yellow when exposed to UV rays).
There are, though, other options on the market which are less likely to turn an unsightly shade of yellow –
The ´Clear Case´ past Pela is made with ´institute materials´ and doesn´t suffer the same sickly yellow fate as its poor plastic counterparts!
More progressive companies make use of anti-yellowing agents in their cases. Basically, they add things chosen ´UV stabilizers´ during the manufacturing process; these absorb the UV radiation and prevent it from damaging the polymer itself.
Both Speck´s ´Presidio Perfect-Clear´ and Apple tree´due south ´Clear Case´ are made from ´anti-yellowing materials´ … so no need to fret about yellowing if your telephone´s wrapped in either of these!
How long does it take for a clear example to turn yellow?
Well, it´due south nigh impossible to say equally each instance is unlike AND there are a number of factors which make up one's mind the rate of yellowing –
1 Treatment of case – if you and your phone instance spend the weekends basking in the sun, definitely don´t look it to stay clear forever!
two Quality of plastic – cheap plastics contain more impurities and are therefore more than susceptible to color change and degradation.
three Presence of ´UV Stabilizers´ – these work to counter the effects of photodegradation.
Every bit yous can see, there are many different variables at play and so it´southward kind of difficult to requite an verbal timeframe.
In general, the cheaper the case, the faster it´s likely to plow yellow!
Ways to clean a clear telephone instance
´Bones´ cleaning method -
The post-obit method is perfect if your phone is starting to await yellow or if you lot recollect it might simply be a little muddy.
Y'all will demand:
slightly yellowed phone case
one-time toothbrush
one loving cup / mug total of warm h2o + a few drops of dish washing soap
Method:
one Dip toothbrush in soapy water
ii Utilize to instance and scrub affected expanse until clean
iii Rinse and dry out
Note – this method is unlikely to be effective if discoloration is due to sunlight
The vinegar & baking soda method -
This is one of the best means to clean your yellowed phone case WITHOUT using bleach or peroxide.
You will need:
yellowed phone instance
container (or sink)
onetime toothbrush
2 tablespoons baking soda
1 cup vinegar
one cup water
Method:
1 Identify old, yellowed phone case in a container or sink
ii Cover with ii tablespoons of baking soda, 1 cup of vinegar and i loving cup of water
3 Allow sit for i-ii hours (or until the example starts to look ´clear´ again)
4 Brush the example down with an erstwhile toothbrush, this should remove any balance
five Rinse with water and admire your (hopefully successful) handiwork!
The peroxide method -
Peroxide is incredibly constructive when it comes to waging war against yellowed plastic.
Yous probably already know that information technology´southward pop with hairdressers and blonde-haired surfer dudes, but it´s also a UV stabilizer which means that it will really work to reverse the yellowing procedure!
Delight be careful when using peroxide equally it can be corrosive to both easily and skin, we recommend the use of gloves at all times.
You will need:
old, yellowed phone instance
gloves (perchance goggles)
hydrogen peroxide 12%
ziplock purse
former toothbrush
Method:
1 Put on gloves and maybe even goggles if you´re using uber-strong peroxide
ii Glaze phone case with a thin layer of peroxide
iii Place in ziplock bag and leave to sit down in sun for i-ii hours, turning over at half hour intervals
4 Rinse and dry out telephone instance, check if desired effect has been accomplished
5 Repeat procedure if necessary, checking / turning over phone example at half hour intervals
NOTE – information technology is advisable to examination the effect of the peroxide on your case BEFORE going the full hog (just every bit a barber would practise if y'all were getting your hair dyed). Just apply a lilliputian peroxide to the corner of your case and follow the steps above.
The ´bleach bath´ -
If all else fails or you don´t want to use peroxide, you tin can endeavor the ´bleach bathroom´ method. Once again, bleach is an extremely strong chemical then apply it sparingly and with care!
You volition need:
sometime, yellowed telephone example
gloves
bleach
Method:
1 Fill up a container or sink with x parts water, i part bleach
two Place phone case in container (don´t forget to put on your gloves)
iii Soak until clear over again
4 Rinse and dry
Annotation – the utilize of bleach (and peroxide) should be a concluding resort and is merely recommended if you´re actually set on ´saving´ a detail instance. Please bear in listen that excess bleach volition ruin your case!
How tin yellowing be avoided?
Most ´plastic´ phone cases will experience some yellowing, especially with heavy utilize.
The in a higher place methods should help to address the event in most instances and, considering all that´s going on in the world, it´s probably a proficient idea to give your phone example a quick scrub down anyway!
Really the best style to avoid yellowing is to purchase a instance manufactured using anti-yellowing agents. Call up that yellowing is actually a sign of degradation and, well, nosotros really need our phone case to be tough and durable … information technology´s there to PROTECT our device, after all!
It might price you a little more at the fourth dimension, but a well-fabricated case may salvage you a dime in the long run!
Source: https://phonecasefunk.com/case-faqs/how-to-clean-a-clear-phone-case-that-has-turned-yellow-the-ultimate-guide/
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