How to clean a phone case (clear, silicone, printed and leather)

Before you start

Always take the phone out of the case first. Cleaning a case with the phone inside traps moisture against the phone and around the ports, and Apple's general advice is to keep moisture out of any openings (Apple: How to clean your Apple products).

You need very little: a soft, lint-free cloth (a microfiber glasses cloth is ideal), a second dry cloth and some water. For leather, add a little mild hand soap.

Clear, silicone, polycarbonate and TPU cases

This covers most cases sold today, including our printed hard shells, two-layer Tough cases and clear cases. Apple's instructions for silicone, clear, polycarbonate and thermoplastic polyurethane cases are to wipe the outside and the inside with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth.

Work around the buttons, the camera opening and the corners, where dust and skin oils collect. Then dry the case with a clean cloth and leave it to air-dry completely before you put the phone back.

• Take the phone out
• Dampen a lint-free cloth with water and wring it out well
• Wipe the outside, then the inside, then the edges and cut-outs
• Dry with a second cloth and let it air-dry fully

What not to use

For these case materials Apple says not to use window cleaners, household cleaners, aerosol sprays, solvents, ammonia, abrasives or cleaners containing hydrogen peroxide. On a printed case, abrasives and solvents are also the quickest way to dull or wear away the print. Don't put a case in the dishwasher or washing machine.

Leather cases

Apple suggests a clean cloth with warm water and mild hand soap, used gently, and warns that cleaning a leather case might affect its color. Leather cleaners and conditioners can change the color too, and water, oil, make-up and dyed materials such as denim can stain tanned leather.

Fabric cases

For its FineWoven and TechWoven cases Apple gives a specific method: mix 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of liquid laundry detergent into 1 cup (250 mL) of water, rub the case gently for about a minute with a cloth dipped in the solution and wrung out, wipe it with a cloth dampened with fresh water, then dry it with a soft, dry cloth.

Scratches and yellowing

Light scuffs on a matte or glossy case can't be polished out without abrasives, which Apple advises against, so it's better to leave them than to risk wearing through a printed design.

A yellow tint on a clear case is a change in the plastic itself rather than dirt, so cleaning won't remove it. Our article on why clear cases turn yellow explains why and how to slow it down.

AirPods cases

Apple's AirPods guidance is to clean the charging case with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, slightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol if needed, to remove debris from the charging port with a clean, dry, soft-bristled brush, and never to put anything in the port or get liquid into it (Apple: How to clean your AirPods).

A cover over the charging case, like our printed AirPods cases, can be taken off and wiped the same way as a phone case.

How often to clean

A quick wipe every week or two keeps oils from building up around the edges, which helps clear cases stay clearer for longer. Give the case a full clean whenever you notice grit inside it, because trapped grit can mark the back of the phone.

Frequently asked questions