Clear cases are a great way for you to add some extra protection to your iPhone without having to cover up its color as well as design. Every clear case on your does not only showcase the iPhone, it also substantially protects it from scratches as well as damage from drops. As nice as clear cases are, there is one problem with some clear cases, iPhone clear cases turn yellow over time. You might have wondered why is that? Don’t worry we will answer that for you.
Do all clear iPhone cases turn yellow?
Clear phone cases do not actually turn yellow over time; they get more yellow, didn’t get me? Ok so, all clear cases have a natural yellow tint to them. The case makers usually add a small amount of blue dye in order to offset the yellow, thus making it appear crystal clear.
The materials that are used play a big role in this as well. Not all of the clear cases get as yellow over time. Hard, inflexible clear cases do not suffer from this nearly as much as their counterparts, the cheap, soft, flexible silicone cases that get the yellowest.
This natural aging process of the clear cases is called “material degradation.” There are several different environmental factors that contribute to the degradation.
Why do iPhone clear cases turn yellow so fast?
There are two main offenders that contribute to the accelerated aging process of clear iPhone case materials. The first of the offenders is ultraviolet light, which you mostly encounter from the sun, ultraviolet light is a type of radiation. Over time, the exposure to ultraviolet light begins to break down the various chemical bonds that hold together the long polymer molecule chains that make up the case. Which causes the creation of many shorter chains, which accentuates the natural yellow color.
Heat also helps in accelerating this process. The heat from the sun and more likely the heat from your hand are the culprits. As we have mentioned hands, and your skin is the second offender. To be more precise, the natural oils on your skin are the contributors.
All of the natural oils, sweat, as well as grease that everyone has on their hands can build up over time. Nothing is perfectly clear, so all of it adds to the natural yellowing. Not just clear cases, even cases that aren’t clear can slightly change in color due to the oils, sweat, and grease.
How do I get the yellow off my clear iPhone case?
Depending on how aged the case is, you might be able to return it to its previous “clear” state. You have the ability to clean off all the buildup from the oils, sweat, as well as grease from your hands, however, you cannot reverse the damage done by the ultraviolet light.
There are three cleaning agents you should try
Dish Soap
If you are using dish soap, just simply make some warm soapy water, then give the case a thorough scrubbing using a toothbrush.
Baking Soda
If you are using the baking soda method, you need to sprinkle the powder all over the case, especially on all of the particular yellow spots. Then, get a toothbrush wet and use it to scrub the case to make a nice lather. Make sure you are not getting the case too wet.
Rubbing Alcohol
If you are using rubbing alcohol, do not apply the rubbing alcohol directly onto the case. Instead, you need to get a paper towel or a cleaning cloth damp, then scrub the case using it. Rubbing alcohol can also be damaging to silicone, so make sure you are not overdoing it.
No matter what, at the end of the day, you are fighting a battle that you can’t win. You will be able to stave off the yellowing with some occasional cleaning, however, the natural aging process can’t be stopped. If you wish to avoid the yellowing problem completely; you might need to consider using the iPhone case-less, which is risky and definitely not advised.
Or, you could just buy a new case for your iPhone. If you are already using multiple cases, swapping them will prove to be much easier and more convenient.
Buy iPhone clear cases that do not turn Yellow
We gathered some of the best clear cases that do not turn yellow.
![TORRAS Diamond Clear iPhone 11 Case, [Non-Yellowing] [8FT Military Drop Protective] Shock-Absorbing Shockproof Hard PC Back + Soft Silicone Bumper, Ultra Slim iPhone 11 Phone Case, Diamond Clear](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41yFrk9+FlL._SL500_.jpg "Why do iPhone clear cases Turn Yellow? How to clean them HalfofThe")
![EFFENX Crystal Clear iPhone XR Case, Non-Yellowing Shockproof Protective Phone Case Slim Thin TPU Bumper Cover [Soft Anti-Scratch], 6.1 inch](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41lBBuzbCTS._SL500_.jpg "Why do iPhone clear cases Turn Yellow? How to clean them HalfofThe")
![TORRAS Crystal Clear Compatible for iPhone 11 Pro Case, [Non-Yellowing] Shockproof Protective Soft Slim Thin Cover for iPhone 11 Pro Case 5.8" (Crystal Clear)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41+EFcSLeQL._SL500_.jpg "Why do iPhone clear cases Turn Yellow? How to clean them HalfofThe")
![Design for iPhone 12 Pro Max Clear Case,[Non Yellowing] Hard Acrylic Back with TPU+PC Clear Pink Bumper,Shockproof Anti Drop Protective Phone Case with Camera Cover for iPhone 12 pro max(Pink)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41MrEaXChHL._SL500_.jpg "Why do iPhone clear cases Turn Yellow? How to clean them HalfofThe")
![EFFENX Crystal Clear iPhone 13 Case, Non-Yellowing Shockproof Protective Phone Case Slim Thin TPU Bumper Cover [Soft Anti-Scratch], 6.1 inch (Crystal Clear)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51LixuU8tkL._SL500_.jpg "Why do iPhone clear cases Turn Yellow? How to clean them HalfofThe")
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