How to Clean Phone Cases – 5 Types: Silicone, Plastic, Wood, Leather, Rubber (2023)

Smartphones are our constant companion, with loyalty rivaling any dog. They follow us on every outing, meal, relaxation session on the couch, and for some even trips to the bathroom. This constant closeness breeds more than just an addiction to Candy Crush, it breeds germs and lots of them. Studies have shown that cell phones might be dirtier than toilet seats.

Even post Pandemic, most people still don’t wash their hands often enough, making the constant pawing of our phones a nonstop transfer of body oils, dead skin cells, food residue, fecal matter, and more. Simply put, smartphones are amazing, but gross.

The good news is you don’t have to give up your digital friend to avoid the dirt and germs, as keeping your smartphone clean and sanitary is simple once you own the right products and learn the easy steps to make any smartphone sparkle.

What Products Do You Need?

As with most neglected tasks, finding the right tools makes all the difference. Cleaning your phone with the wrong products can create scratches and even dissolve paint. Here are the basics you need to clean your case right:

We’ll start with the tried and true, Plastic & Silicone phone cases, but use the menu to the left to skip down to specialty materials, such as leather, wood, clear cases, and more.

How to Clean a Plastic or Silicone Phone Case

To perform a basic clean on any plastic or silicone phone case (also works on clear, white, and rubber cases):

1. 1. Turn off the phone and remove the case

   2. Spray the case with an ammonia-free disinfecting all purpose cleaner that works on glass.
      (If you don’t have an all purpose cleaner, substitute by mixing a little dish soap with warm water)

   3. Let the spray soak for a few minutes to kill germs
      (if using dish soap, submerge the case in the soap water weighted down with a spoon)

   4. Wipe down the phone with a microfiber towel lightly dampened with the all purpose cleaner.

   5. Wipe the case clean and fully dry with a microfiber towel before putting it back together.

   6. Use the microfiber towel  (ideally the glass towel) to buff the screen to a shine.

How to keep your phone clean on the go (works on all phone cases):

1. 1. Keep a MW Quick Eyeglass Cloth in your purse or wallet.

   2. Wipe the phone with the fuzzy side of the cloth whenever you see dirt & smudges.

   3. Finally, buff the screen to a brilliant with the smooth side of the cloth.

How to deep clean a plastic or silicone phone case that is dirty and stained:

1. 1. Turn off the phone and remove the case

   2. Soak the case for a few minutes in a bowl of warm water and a squirt of dish soap.

   3. Gently scrub the case with a toothbrush and baking soda until all dirt is removed.
      Use a magic eraser for any last trouble spots.

   4. Wipe down the phone with a microfiber towel  lightly dampened with the dishwater.

   5. Rinse your phone case in cold water.

   6. Fully dry your case and phone with a premium microfiber cloth to avoid scratches.

   7. Assemble the phone and buff the screen with a microfiber glass cloth, since the flat weave ensures no lint or streaks will be left behind.

How to Clean a Clear Phone Case

Clear phone cases can be cleaned the same way as any plastic case, so use the instructions above. If your clear phone case is old or neglected, it may have yellowed with age or stained brown from caked on dirt. If it has yellowed with age, unfortunately this is chemical oxidation of the silicone that comes from UV exposure and cannot be reversed, even with bleach (which can actually make the oxidation worse). If it is tinted brown with dirt and oil build up, you can fix it with the extra steps below.

How to deep clean a clear plastic phone case that is dirty and stained:

1. 1. Turn off the phone and remove the case

   2. Soak the case for a few minutes in a bowl of warm water and a squirt of dish soap.

   3. Gently scrub the case with a toothbrush and baking soda until all dirt is removed.

   4. Wipe down the phone with a microfiber towel  lightly dampened with the dishwater.

   5. Rinse your phone case in cold water.

   6. Fully dry your case and phone with a premium microfiber cloth to avoid scratches.

   7. Assemble the phone and buff the screen with a microfiber glass cloth, since the flat weave ensures no lint or streaks will be left behind.

How to Clean a White Phone Case

White phone cases can be cleaned the same way as any plastic case, so use the instructions above. However, white cases show dirt faster and wind up with very obvious stains. Here are the extra steps you can take to remove stains on a white plastic phone case.

How to deep clean a white plastic phone case that is dirty and stained:

1. 1. Turn off the phone and remove the case

   2. Soak the case for a few minutes in a bowl of warm water, 1 teaspoon of bleach and 1 squirt dish soap (bleach damages silicone, so only use a little bit).

   3. Gently scrub the case with a dampened magic eraser till all the dirt is removed.

   4. Wipe down the phone with a microfiber towel lightly dampened with the dish soap water.

   5. Rinse your phone case in cold water.

   6. Fully dry your case and phone with a premium microfiber cloth to avoid scratches.

   7. Assemble the phone and buff the screen with a microfiber glass cloth, since the flat weave ensures no lint or streaks will be left behind.

How to Clean a Rubber Phone Case

Rubber phone cases in good condition can be cleaned the same way as plastic or silicone cases, so follow the instructions above. If your rubber case is neglected and caked with dirt and body oils, here are the extra steps you can take to deep clean it properly.

How to deep clean a dirty rubber phone case:

1. 1. Turn off the phone and remove the case

   2. Soak the case for a few minutes in a bowl of warm water and a squirt of dish soap.

   3. Use a magic eraser to rub off the embedded dirt and stains
      (do not scrub too long or you may dull the surface).

   4. If stains persist, make a paste of baking soda and the dish soap water and coat the case. Let the paste sit for a few hours.

   5. Rinse your phone case in cold water, scrubbing with a toothbrush as you do.

   6. Wipe down the phone with a microfiber towel lightly dampened with the dish soap water.

   7. Fully dry your case and phone with a premium microfiber cloth to avoid scratches.

   8. Assemble the phone and buff the screen with a microfiber glass cloth, since the flat weave ensures no lint or streaks will be left behind.

How to Clean a Wood Phone Case

Wood is the most delicate phone case material sold and it can be damaged by excessive moisture and chemicals, so frequent light cleanings are key to helping it last.

How to clean a wood phone case:

1. 1. Keep a MW Quick Eyeglass Cloth in your purse or wallet.

   2. Wipe the phone with the fuzzy side of the cloth whenever you see dirt & smudges.

   3. Finally, buff the screen to a brilliant with the smooth side of the cloth.

Even with frequent light cleans, eventually a deeper clean will be necessary. Here is the proper way to deep clean a wood case without damaging it.

How to deep clean a wood phone case:

1. 1. Turn off the phone and remove the case

   2. Spray a microfiber towel with a wood deep cleaner (never spray directly on the case).

   3. Wipe down the wood phone case, rubbing gently in the direction of the wood grain, till all dirt is removed. Buff the case dry immediately with a dry portion of the towel.

   4. With a separate microfiber towel, lightly dampen it with an ammonia-free all purpose cleaner that is safe on glass (or diluted dish soap) and wipe down the phone and screen.

   5. Use a dry microfiber towel to ensure both the case and phone are fully dry before putting it back together.

   6. Use the microfiber towel (ideally a microfiber glass cloth) to buff the screen to a shine.

How to Clean a Leather Phone Case

Leather, while luxurious, is one of the more delicate phone case materials and it can be easily damaged by excessive moisture and chemicals, so frequent light cleanings are key to helping it last.

How to clean a leather phone case:

1. 1. Keep a MW Quick Eyeglass Cloth in your purse or wallet.

   2. Wipe the phone with the fuzzy side of the cloth whenever you see dirt & smudges.

   3. Finally, buff the screen to a brilliant with the smooth side of the cloth.

Even with frequent light cleans, eventually a deeper clean will be necessary. Here is the proper way to deep clean a leather case without damaging it.

How to deep clean a leather phone case:

1. 1. Turn off the phone and remove the case

   2. Dampen a portion of a microfiber towel with leather cleaner (never apply directly to the case).

   3. Wipe down the leather phone case, rubbing gently in a circular motion, till all dirt is removed. Wipe the case dry immediately with a dry portion of the towel.

   4. Next, dampen a microfiber towel with leather conditioner and smooth it all over the leather case in a thin even coat. Let the product absorb for 5 minutes and wipe off the excess.

   5. With a separate microfiber towel, lightly dampen it with an ammonia-free all purpose cleaner that is safe on glass (or diluted dish soap) and wipe down the phone and screen.

   6. Use a dry microfiber towel to ensure both the case and phone are fully dry before putting it back together.

   7. Use the microfiber towel (ideally a microfiber glass cloth) to buff the screen to a shine.

Why Do You Need Microfiber to Clean Phone Cases Properly?

While it might be tempting to be lazy and cheap and just clean your phone case with whatever cotton rag or paper towel you have lying around, it is a penny wise pound foolish decision that can shorten the life of your phone case. This is because microfiber cleans differently than any other material.

The microscopic thin fibers trap even the tiniest bits of dust and residue. In fact microfiber is so effective at grabbing dirt that it has been proven to remove over 93% of viruses and bacteria with just water. When you pair high quality microfiber with a high performing cleaning solution, there’s nothing you can’t tackle.

Meanwhile, that old cotton rag or paper towel will leave your case a linty looking mess, failing to remove residue that ruins the look of your phone and renders the case unusable.

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MW Glass Cleaning Kit includes 2 different weaves of microfiber to ensure the deepest clean and the most brilliant shine. The terry weave towel is soft and gentle, but removes even embedded dirt and grime. The glass weave towel is smooth and easily buffs off streaks and stays lint free even after hundreds of washes, leaving nothing but the shine.

Buff Quick Cloths are made to clean and dry any phone screen or case streak free! They have one side of plush microfiber for cleaning, and one side of lint free silk microfiber for buffing. Plus it comes in a 2 pack, and you choose from 6 fun and unique designs.