How to Clean a Phone Case

Pretty much everyone has a cell phone these days, and phone cases are essential to prevent damage. Cellphone users touch their phones nearly 100 times a day, so it’s easy to see why they get so dirty. Learn how to clean a phone case, no matter the type, to remove dirt and germs.

Phones are one of the grimiest things in your possession. They contain over 25,000 bacteria per square inch and even have more germs than a toilet seat. Yet, we often overlook this everyday object when considering all the nasty things we contact daily.

You touch the grocery store door, shopping cart handle, food items, cash, or credit card terminal, and then grab your phone. You tap on the screen, perform a couple of swipes, slip it back into your pocket, and then put your hand near your face. Bet you feel like cleaning your phone case right about now.

How to Clean and Care for All Phone Case Types

Phone cases are important for protecting your investment, especially if it’s an iPhone. We’ll show you how to clean a smartphone case to remove grime and bacteria, whether it’s a plastic, leather, fabric, wood, or silicone case.

Cleaning a Clear Phone Case with Dish Soap

Cleaning a clear phone case or to clean a white silicone phone case with soap is the most basic method for removing dirt and grime. Any soap works to get the case clean. However, too much soap creates a lot of suds and makes the job harder.

Remove your phone from the clear phone case and set it aside. If the case has multiple pieces, make sure to separate them for easy cleaning. Pour warm water into a tall container and add one drop of dish soap.

Dunk a toothbrush into the soapy water and agitate it slightly to create mild suds. Use the brush’s bristles to gently clean the surface of the case, inside and out, with a circular motion. Don’t forget to clean the corners and hard to reach spaces of the case.

After the dirt is gone, rinse the case under cool water and dry it thoroughly with a soft cloth. Let it air dry for about an hour before placing it back onto your phone.

Soap and water usually work well for cleaning most plastic items, as well as being the cheapest.

Cleaning a Plastic Phone Case to Remove Stains

Plastic tends to stain easily, especially if you do not clean it right away. Baking soda is a mildly abrasive powder that absorbs stains and is safe for cleaning a plastic phone case.

Remove the phone’s case and set the phone aside. Sprinkle some baking soda over the case and use a damp toothbrush to clean away the stain. Reapply the powder if necessary, and continue scrubbing until the stain is gone.

For stubborn grime, try using a pencil eraser to rub the dirt away. Rinse the case under running water, dry it with a soft cloth, and let it dry completely before slipping it over your phone.

How to Clean a Phone Case to Kill Germs

Rubbing alcohol is one of the best solutions for killing germs and eliminating bacteria on a phone case. To clean other surfaces, consider using a recipe for homemade disinfectant.

Take the case off of your cell phone and set the phone off to the side. Apply some rubbing alcohol to a soft cloth and rub it gently over the entire surface of the case.

Make sure to clean both sides, paying special attention to crevices. Use a dry cloth to wipe the alcohol away and let the case dry thoroughly before attaching back to your phone.

If you accidentally swipe your phone case with a permanent marker, alcohol is ideal for how to get off Sharpie.

Cleaning a White Phone Case to Remove Yellowing

Kudos to you for being brave with white. White surfaces always seem to attract dust, dirt, and stains, and a white phone case is no exception. Try using a bit of bleach and warm water to help your phone’s case look brand new.

Combine the bleach and water in a container and stir the liquid to combine. Remove the case from your phone and submerge it in the cleaning solution for five to ten minutes. Use a toothbrush to scrub away grime gently.

Remove the case from the bleach solution and rinse it under cold, running water to remove all bleach residue. Use a soft cloth to dry the plastic case and let it air dry for about an hour before returning it to your phone.

Ways to Clean a Wood Phone Case

Wood is very stylish, and cleaning a phone case made of this material takes special ingredients. White vinegar is a safe cleaner that removes dirt and acts as a disinfectant that kills bacteria and viruses.

Fill a bottle sprayer with one part white vinegar and two parts water and shake it to mix well. Remove the case from your phone and set the phone in a safe area.

Spray the cleaner on one side of the case, without drenching it, and use a microfiber cloth to wipe it clean. Flip it over and clean the other side. Use a soft, dry towel to wipe away any leftover residue and replace the case on your phone after it is completely dry.

How to Clean Leather Phone Cases

There are many pros to having a leather phone case, but cleaning it is one of the cons. A small bit of mild hand soap and water does wonders to clean this material without causing damage.

Pour warm water into a bowl or container, add a squirt of mild liquid soap, and agitate it slightly to create a soapy solution. Do not apply the cleaner directly on the leather, since it’s susceptible to water staining.

Instead, dip a portion of the cloth into the soapy water, wring it to remove excess liquid, and rub it on the case using a gentle circular motion. Clean all areas of the case, front and back, and then use a dry, soft towel to wipe away all residue.

To restore the leather and condition it, finish up by using saddle soap. Get a soft cloth damp and add a small amount of saddle soap to the material. Use the cloth to rub the soap into the leather, using gentle, circular motions.

After you work the conditioner into all areas of the case, use a new, dry cloth to wipe away any residue. Let the phone case sit to air dry before slipping your phone back into it.

Cleaning Phone Cases that Contain Fabric

Many phone cases consist of different materials, including fabric. Unfortunately, fabric absorbs stains and dirt more than any other material. A little bit of soapy water works best to get these cases clean.

Slip the case off your phone and set it in a safe place while you work. Get a soft cloth wet, but not soaked, with warm water, and apply a drop of dish soap to it. Gently rub the cloth on your case’s fabric, using a circular motion, to work out the dirt.

Clean the cloth under cold water and wring it out. Rub the cloth once more over the fabric case to clean away soap and dirt. Allow the case to dry completely at room temperature before replacing it on your phone.

How to Keep a Phone Case Clean

It’s important to take certain steps to keep your phone case looking good when it’s brand new and after you clean it. Not only does routine care help to keep its good looks, but it also removes germs and bacteria.

Phone Case Care

Use a mild disinfectant to clean the surface of your phone case as needed or daily to remove germs and bacteria, and perform a deep cleaning each week. If you have a leather case, try to minimize the cleaning to once a month to prevent discoloration.

Never place your phone case in direct sunlight or near sources of heat and humidity. Do not store your phone near food and beverages that splatter easily.

If an unfortunate spill occurs, remove the case from the phone immediately, and clean both items right away to prevent damage.

It’s easy to forget how filthy a cell phone is, considering that you are generally the only person touching it. However, the surface of your phone case carries more bacteria than you think. Fortunately, it only takes a few minutes to clean it.

Now that you’ve discovered how to clean a phone case to rid it of everyday dirt and germs, why not share our phone case cleaning solutions with your family and friends on Pinterest and Facebook?