How and what to clean a silicone phone case at home
Every modern person has a cell phone or smartphone - an expensive device that is protected from scratches, dirt and damage with a convenient silicone case. The device is firmly attached to the gadget, does not require complex maintenance. There are many easy ways to quickly remove dirt and yellow deposits from a silicone case. The main thing is not to delay cleaning, otherwise it will not be easy to cope with old dirt.
How to manage your silicone phone case
A silicone case won't last forever without regular and proper maintenance. Like everything, it loses its attractive appearance over time, becomes dark or yellowish. Transparent silicone products require special care. For preventive purposes, they should be cleaned, washed with mild agents.
Unacceptable use for cleaning:
- abrasive paper;
- metal fiber sponges;
- hard-bristled brushes;
- knives, scissors, needles, other piercing and cutting objects;
- harsh chemicals.
The bottoms listed will melt, scratch or puncture the silicone, therefore the accessory should be thrown away.Matte smartphone cases are becoming increasingly popular, they are less prone to dirt and look neat for longer. But they also need to be cleaned regularly as a preventive measure. Cleaning methods are similar to those used for transparent products.
Effective ways to whiten
Silicone is easy to clean and the surface of the material is sensitive to many safe cleaning agents.
Liquid soap
To make a silicone case of any color and thickness look like new, you can wash it in a solution of liquid soap or shampoo.
Proceed with cleaning as follows:
- Water is poured into the dishes. A small amount of product drips down to start foaming.
- The lid is immersed in a container with a solution.
- Let stand 30 minutes or an hour. The stronger the pollution, the longer it lasts.
- Wipe the dirtiest areas with a soft sponge.
- The product is taken out, rinsed with running water. Mop up.
A soda
A product found in every kitchen, it cleans the toughest stains that soapy water can't tackle. However, baking soda should be cleaned with care, as its hard grains can scratch the surface with vigorous and careless actions.
How to properly clean a silicone product with baking soda:
- Pour soda powder with water until a pasty mass is obtained.
- Apply oatmeal to the contaminated surface, but do not rub.
- Leave for a few hours.
- Carefully remove the dried soda mass.
- Rinse the lid with water. Mop up.
Alcohol
Only the silicone waterproof cover is cleaned with ethyl alcohol. If the accessory is thin, it is better to use isopropanol.
Clean the silicone case like this:
- Mix alcohol and water in equal proportions.
- The product is immersed in the solution for 15 minutes.
- Take out. They are passed with a soft sponge over the most contaminated areas.
- Rinse the product with water.
How to clean a white case at home
White silicone cases tend to yellow more than others. Yellowing - the accumulation of dirt particles mixed with sebaceous secretions from the skin of the fingers in the smallest recesses of the silicone surface. For cleaning use a gentle action, in which there are no aggressive components and abrasive particles. A foam sponge or a soft bristle brush is used as a cleaning tool.
Remover
Nail polish remover easily removes even stubborn and corrosive stains. But you can only use the liquid to clean the transparent silicone accessories. On the colored case, the product leaves cloudy streaks, or even completely removes the dye, which leaves pale streaks.
Do not use any liquid containing acetone to clean the silicone case.
The silicone product is cleaned as follows:
- Moisten a cotton swab with liquid.
- Transport it carefully to contaminated areas.
- The cover is washed under running water. To wipe.
Toothpaste
You can quickly whiten a silicone accessory with regular toothpaste. If the cover is colored, you should not use the whitening one. The best option for a white accessory is a paste without abrasive inclusions and dyes. For cleaning, take an unnecessary toothbrush with soft bristles.
Squeeze a pea from the dough. Carefully, trying not to press, wipe the surface. The product is rinsed under running water and wiped dry.
lemon acid
Only durable, high-quality lids made of a thick layer of silicone can be cleaned with citric acid. Inexpensive thin products are more likely to crack when exposed to corrosive acid. To prepare the solution, use citric acid powder or granules. Take a teaspoon of the substance in a glass of water, stir well. The solution is used to wipe the contaminated surface.
Features of work with individual contaminants
To effectively remove dirt from a silicone case, you need to find out the cause and how long ago it occurred. Considering these factors, select the right cleaning method.
So darkened
A good way to get rid of browning is to clean with gasoline. A refined and high-quality product is purchased on the construction market. Moisten a cotton swab with gasoline, wipe the silicone surface as thoroughly as possible. In order not to damage the silicone product and the skin of the hands, take into account the following recommendations during cleaning:
- put on strong rubber gloves before the procedure;
- the lid is not immersed in gasoline, cleaning is carried out by wiping the surface;
- wipe slowly and gently, without squeezing the cotton;
- after cleaning, gasoline deposits are removed from the surface of the accessory under running water.
To eliminate the unpleasant odor from silicone after cleaning with gasoline, ammonia is used and the product is wiped with it.
How to remove yellowness
Light-colored phone cases get dirty faster and take on an ugly yellow hue over time.You cannot use chlorine-based bleaches to fix the problem, otherwise the spoiled accessory will have to be discarded.
There are several easy ways to bring a yellowed case back to white:
- Use toothpaste without coloring or toothpowder. Apply the product to the silicone surface, rinse off after 15 minutes. If it was not possible to completely get rid of the yellow tint the first time, the procedure will have to be repeated.
- Prepare a mixture of baking soda, ammonia and water in equal proportions. Apply the solution with a soft sponge to grease the yellowed silicone. Rinse after 20 minutes.
- Squeeze the juice from the lemon. Immediately, while fresh, wipe the surface with it, leave for 15 minutes. During this time, the acids in the juice will break down any slime particles that have adhered to the silicone. It remains only to wash the product with water, wipe it.
From a ballpoint pen
Ink marks are considered difficult to remove, but not on silicone. There are several easy ways to get rid of not only ballpoint pen marks, but also marker marks:
- The easiest and most convenient way is to use alcohol. Cotton wool is moistened with it. Gently rub over the stained areas until the ink stains disappear.
- Any essential oil is suitable as a cleanser. Just put a few drops on the dirty area, walk on the surface with a cotton swab or towel. Let the traces dissolve, then wash the cover under running water.
- An ordinary eraser not only effectively removes ink marks from the silicone surface, but also makes the accessory shiny, like new. When using an eraser, it is impossible to damage the silicone, leaving scratches and stains impossible.
- A cheap but effective way to clean your silicone phone case is with laundry soap. For the procedure, a foam sponge is wiped with a piece of soap, which is then used to wipe off the product. Once the cleaning is finished, the soap scum is washed off with water. If the contamination is not completely washed off the first time, the procedure is repeated.
If you have alcohol-based eyeglass wipes at home, you can use them to remove ink stains from the silicone case.
Old dirt and stains
If the cover has not been cleaned for a long time, it is covered with a dense layer of dirt, then it is unlikely to be possible to wash it with the above methods. We will have to use the cardinal method. It will certainly restore the silicone surface to its original appearance, but there is a high probability of its irreversible damage.
High-quality and dense silicone products usually remain intact after such cleaning, but cheap and thin ones often have to be discarded.
They clean old stains like this:
- A mixture of boric alcohol, dishwasher safe and water is made.
- The lid is immersed in the solution for 1.5 hours.
- To go out. The most problematic areas are additionally wiped with a cotton swab moistened with a solution.
- The accessory can be washed with water using a toothbrush.
Glue
Case glue contamination is rare, but it is not easy to remove the adhesive from the silicone surface. To do this, use:
- alcohol;
- essential oils;
- the vinegar;
- a soda;
- blowing hot air.
Preventive cleaning
The surface of the silicone is covered with microscopic bumps, between which dirt accumulates.To prevent the cover from turning yellow, not covered with greasy fingerprints, it is cleaned once a week as a preventive measure. To do this, use a soapy solution.
If the cover is colorless, you can use alcohol-based sanitary napkins for cleaning.
Prepare and apply a soap solution to clean the silicone case as follows:
- Warm water is poured into the dishes.
- A few drops of liquid soap are poured into the water. Or add a few shavings of grated laundry soap.
- Stir the liquid carefully.
- A lid is immersed in it for 10 minutes.
- After the specified time, they are removed, wiped with a foam rubber sponge.
- Rinse with water, wipe dry.
In this way, transparent and painted phone cases are safely cleaned for preventive purposes.
Tips & Tricks
In order for the accessory to serve longer without losing its aesthetic appearance, it must be properly maintained.
Useful tips for the care and use of silicone cases:
- It is better to buy a matte and dark case rather than a transparent or clear case. All variations of the product require regular maintenance, but matte silicone is less prone to contamination, retains an attractive appearance longer and looks better.
- It is not worth saving when buying a silicone product. High quality and expensive accessories are less likely to be damaged during the cleaning process than cheap accessories.
- Don't throw a covered phone in your purse or backpack. There it will rub against other things, covered in scratches and cracks. It is advisable to carry your smartphone in a separate pocket in your clothes or bag.
- Before placing your phone on any surface, you should carefully check that it is clean.
- Don't put your phone in a trouser or denim shirt pocket, especially if the case is lightweight or see-through. The silicone surface will quickly absorb the rich blue dye from the garment.
- Do not put a covered phone on the dining table while eating, so as not to knock it over.
- Do not leave the phone on a window sill or other place exposed to direct sunlight. Silicone is sensitive to solar radiation, deforms. A poor quality product melts even in the sun.
Caring for a silicone smartphone case is not difficult, there are many easy ways to keep it clean and restore its aesthetic appearance. The accessory should be cleaned regularly; the silicone surface should not become sticky, greasy, dark or yellow. It is enough to carry out preventive cleaning once a week to prolong the life of the product.