Why Does Your Clear Phone Case Turn Yellow? Understanding the Phenomenon

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.


Let’s take a look at this strange phenomenon and break down the reasons why phone cases turn yellow. We’ll also give you some tips to prevent and manage discoloration in the future.

The Yellowing Phenomenon Explained

Why does my clear phone case turn yellow? Turns out, many clear phone cases aren’t even clear at all – they’re yellow. Wait, what? 


It’s true: clear cases made of polymers (like silicone) have a natural yellow undertone in them, and manufacturers add a small amount of blue dye to offset the yellow color and make the case appear crystal clear. It 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 that you see on your case isn’t a stain or dirt build-up. It’s the degradation of the case’s material due to certain environmental factors.

 

Why a Clear Phone Case Turns Yellow: Contributing Factors

Why does my phone case 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:

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 why your clear phone case turns yellow. When exposed to this light, it begins to break down the molecules in the plastic. 


Increased exposure to UV light is known for accelerating oxidation and the breakdown of substances, leading to the yellowing of phone cases. Overexposure to UV light can even cause cases that aren’t clear to become discolored over time!

Excessive 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.

 

Sweat and 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.

Phone Case Material

Though they may have the clear look you want, not all phone cases are created equally. If you find yourself asking why is my phone case turning 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’re also materials that tend to make your clear phone case turn yellow faster than polycarbonate (PU) and graphene.

Preventing and Managing Yellowing

Why does a clear phone case turn yellow? We know now that it could be due to anything from heat to cheaper plastics. But is there any way to prevent yellowing? 


Fear not – there are steps you can take to make that yellow mellow!

Avoid Too Much Sun Exposure

More often than not, a clear phone case turns yellow because of 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 it 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 the UV light and heat your phone is exposed to!

 

Clean Your Phone Case

Cleaning can help prevent and manage the yellowing of your case. How? In addition to countering the buildup of oil and sweat accumulated from your hands, it can be used to try and combat yellowing that’s already occurred.


You could use household wipes or mild dish soap, water, and a microfiber cloth to clean your clear phone case. 


If you’re looking to manage yellowing, try baking soda: Take your case off your phone, sprinkle the baking soda on the case, let it sit for around 20 minutes or longer, then use a dampened microfiber cloth or soft toothbrush to gently scrub the case. Rinse, let dry, and repeat as needed!


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.

 

Opt for a High-Quality Phone Case

No, you don’t need to give up on clear phone cases altogether! Instead, opt for a high-quality phone case crafted with innovative materials and anti-yellowing technology.


Earlier we mentioned that clear phone cases are generally made from a handful of materials, including PU, TPU, and silicone. TPU, known for its great 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!


Your “better” case is the 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. You may also want to consider a clear phone case with anti-yellowing properties, like ZAGG’s Crystal Palace series.

Tackling the Yellowing Phone Case 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 a clear phone case from turning yellow is to choose better phone protection. 


High-quality cases offer high-quality protection from impact and yellowing, which is exactly what we all want for our phones.


Discover the ultimate 360-degree protection for your phone and screen at ZAGG!

FAQs

The materials often used in clear phone cases – silicone and TPU – are unfortunately prone to oxidation. This is one of the reasons why your phone case turns yellow. Some of the primary 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!
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 by using a very small amount of alcohol with a microfiber cloth (do not apply directly to the case). If your case is still yellow and you’ve already repeated your chosen cleaning method, then it may be time for a new clear phone case.
Just because clear cases made of polymers (e.g., TPU and silicone) all turn yellow over time due to things like UV light 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! And their Limited Lifetime Warranty also covers case yellowing.
If you’re wondering why your clear phone case turns 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 way is to keep it out of direct sunlight and keep it in a cool, dry place, which will help avoid UV light and heat. Be sure to clean your phone case regularly as well to remove all of the built-up oils, sweat, and dirt.

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