Why clear phone cases go yellow, and how to slow it down

Short answer: almost every clear case turns a little yellow over time. Sunlight, heat and the oils on your hands slowly change the colour of the plastic. You can't stop it completely, but you can slow it down a lot.

Why it happens

Most clear cases are made of a soft, bendy plastic (often called TPU). Over months, sunlight and heat change that plastic, and it picks up a yellow tint. Skin oils, hand cream and dirt add to it. Cases with a hard clear back and a soft edge usually stay clearer for longer, because hard plastic yellows more slowly than soft plastic. In time, they'll still change too.

How to keep a clear case clearer for longer

• Keep it out of the sun. A phone left on a car dashboard or a sunny windowsill yellows fastest.
• Wash it now and then. Take the case off and wash it in warm water with a drop of dish soap. Rinse, then let it dry completely before you put it back on.
• Skip strong cleaners. Alcohol, bleach and household sprays can cloud the plastic.
• Clean hands help. Hand cream and sunscreen speed up the yellowing.

When it's time for a new one

Once a case has gone yellow, washing won't bring the colour back. Our clear cases start from under NZ$5, so swapping an old one for a fresh one is an easy fix.

If you'd rather not think about it, a coloured case or a case with a printed design hides the change completely.