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Why Does Your Clear Phone Case Turn Yellow? Understanding the Phenomenon
Key Takeaways
- Many clear phone case users wonder, “Why do clear phone cases turn yellow?”
- Case yellowing occurs due to exposure to heat, UV rays, and sweat and oils from the skin.
- Clear cases made from certain polymers are more prone to yellowing than others.
- Case yellowing can be prevented by avoiding UV rays and heat.
- Yellowed cases can be cleaned, but some cases may not be able to be cleaned and should be replaced with a high-quality case.
Who doesn’t love a clear phone case? Sleek and stylish, they protect your phone without covering up its color and design. The only problem: they always seem to yellow, even if you’ve kept them clean and pristine.
Why do clear cases turn yellow? Let’s take a look at this strange phenomenon and break down this question. We’ll also give you some tips to prevent and manage discoloration in the future.
The Clear Phone Case Yellowing Phenomenon Explained
Turns out, many clear phone cases are not clear at all; they’re yellow from the start. It’s true: clear cases made of polymers (like silicone) have a natural yellow undertone, and manufacturers add a small amount of blue dye to offset the yellow color and make the case appear crystal clear.
That blue dye degrades when exposed to harsh conditions or with age. The cheaper the plastic used, the faster a clear case turns yellow. That means that the yellowing you see on your case isn’t a stain or dirt buildup; it’s the degradation of the case’s material due to certain environmental factors.
Why a Clear Phone Case Turns Yellow: Contributing Factors
Why do clear phone cases turn yellow? It could be for a myriad of reasons, including environmental factors, user habits, and even the phone case’s material. Here are some of the top contributors to yellowing.
1. Ultraviolet (UV) Light Exposure
You need your daily sun. Your protective phone case? Not so much.
UV light, which you primarily get from the sun’s rays, is one of the biggest culprits for clear phone case yellowing. When exposed to this light, it begins to break down the molecules in the plastic.
Increased exposure to UV light is known to accelerate oxidation and the breakdown of substances that cause phone yellowing. Overexposure to UV light can even cause cases that aren’t clear to become discolored over time.
2. Excessive Heat
Why do clear cases turn yellow? Often it has to do with heat. Phones can get hot while charging or while you’re doing resource-intensive activities on your phone, like playing a game.
Excessive heat and exposure to the sun’s hot rays can turn a clear phone case yellow.
Heat from the sun and holding your phone in your hand all day are two big but sneaky culprits that increase your phone case’s exposure to excessive heat.
3. Sweat & Natural Oils from Skin
The heat of your hands isn’t the only factor you need to watch out for: skin produces natural oils that build up on your phone, speeding up the yellowing of the case. Then there’s sweat, which has acidic properties that degrade plastics over time.
4. Phone Case Material
Though they may have the clear look you want, not all phone cases are created equal. If you find yourself asking, “Why do my clear cases turn yellow?” it could be your type of phone case.
Materials like thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and silicone are common materials for clear phone cases, and they also tend to cause clear phone cases yellowing faster than polycarbonate (PU) and graphene.
Why Do Clear Phone Cases Turn Yellow: Preventing & Managing Yellowing
Why do clear cases turn yellow? We know now that it could be due to anything from heat to cheaper plastics, but is there any hope? How can you keep your case from yellowing?
1. Avoid Too Much Sun Exposure
More often than not, yellowing is due to too much sun. That’s because the sun gives off UV light and heat, which are two big contributing factors to the yellowing phenomenon.
One of the best ways to prevent yellowing is to keep your phone out of direct sunlight when possible. Keep it in your pocket or bag when you’re not using it, or in another cool, dry place. This will help reduce UV light and heat exposure.
2. Clean Your Phone Case
Cleaning can help prevent and manage clear phone case yellowing. How? In addition to countering the buildup of oil and sweat accumulated from your hands, it can be used to try to combat yellowing that has already occurred.
Use household wipes or mild dish soap, water, and a microfiber cloth to clean your clear phone case. You can also use baking soda to get out yellowing. If your clear phone case is still yellow or slightly discolored after several attempts, it may be time to get a new phone case due to natural aging.
3. Opt for a High-Quality Phone Case
You don’t need to wonder “Why do all clear cases turn yellow?” because they don’t. A high-quality phone case crafted with innovative materials and anti-yellowing technology will stay clear and pristine.
Clear phone cases are generally made from a handful of materials, including PU, TPU, and silicone. TPU, known for its scratch resistance and shock absorbency, is particularly susceptible to yellowing due to its absorbent nature. The last thing you want if you’re trying to stop the endless cycle of yellowing phone cases is to choose a material more likely to yellow.
The better case option is one that’s made from a material that’s less likely to yellow while still offering the rugged protection your phone needs. A great option is a phone case made with graphene, one of the strongest, most heat-conductive materials in the world. A clear phone case with anti-yellowing properties, like ZAGG’s Crystal Palace series, ticks all the durable and anti-yellowing boxes.
Tackling the “Why Do Clear Cases Turn Yellow?” Phenomenon
Excess UV light, heat, and natural oils from your skin speed up the natural aging process of your case and cause discoloration. One of the best things you can do to prevent clear phone case yellowing is to choose better phone protection.
High-quality cases offer superior protection from impact and yellowing, which is exactly what we at ZAGG want for our phones. Discover how to keep your phone protected while staying stylish and unique-to-you at ZAGG.
FAQs
+ Why do clear cases turn yellow?
The materials often used in clear phone cases (silicone and TPU) are unfortunately prone to oxidation. This is one of the answers to “Why do clear phone cases turn yellow?”
Some of the other reasons why your clear phone case turns yellow much faster than normal include exposure to UV light, excessive heat, and the natural oils and sweat on your hands. You can typically avoid this by keeping it out of the sun whenever possible and by choosing a high-quality phone case with anti-yellowing properties.
+ How do I prevent my phone case from turning yellow?
If you’re wondering, “Why do clear cases turn yellow?” it could be for many reasons, such as UV light, heat, and the natural oils and sweat on your skin. But luckily, there are a few things you can do to prevent yellowing in the first place.
The best thing to do is to keep it out of direct sunlight and keep your phone in a cool, dry place, which will help avoid UV light and heat. Be sure to clean your phone case regularly to remove all of the built-up oils, sweat, and dirt, too.
+ Can I fix a clear phone case that turned yellow?
You could try cleaning your yellowed phone case to restore it to its former glory. Common methods for cleaning clear phone cases include gently scrubbing with mild dish soap and water, sprinkling baking soda and using a moistened microfiber cloth to clean, or using a very small amount of alcohol with a microfiber cloth (do not apply directly to the case).
If you’re still asking, “Why do my clear cases turn yellow?” after repeating your chosen cleaning method, then it may be time for a new, higher-quality clear phone case.
+ What’s the best type of clear phone case to avoid yellowing?
Clear phone case yellowing occurs in cases made of polymers (e.g., TPU and silicone). These types of cases yellow over time due to things like UV light, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy a clear phone case. You just need the right clear phone case.
High-quality cases from trusted manufacturers like ZAGG will make all the difference compared to cheap plastic phone cases that turn yellow much quicker. These crystal-clear phone cases have been specially crafted with anti-yellowing properties.