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Cleaning a Phone Cover

ThemeOne
ThemeOne Posts: 1,473 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
in Old style MoneySaving
I have a phone cover where the plastic bits at the edges which were originally clear plastic, have now turned quite yellow. It looks terrible, and wonder if anyone has tips on how to clean it.

So far I've tried washing up liquid, bleach, Barkeepers Friend and washing powder, all to no avail.

Comments

  • AndyCF
    AndyCF Posts: 748 Forumite
    500 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I have a fear the discolouration may be permanent, however you'd want to avoid strong solvents (something like paint thinners) as the effect on plastics could vary a bit. Same with I suspect meths perhaps and hydro peroxide, however the info below does actually use this!

    If its any help, on some other forums I visit (various ones) which cover retro computing, old cases on those can yellow with age. In my own experience I've been able to 'restore' them via careful cleaning with washing up liquid and those 'baby wipes' without resorting to many chemicals however some people seem to swear by something called "retrobright" , its quite strong stuff though. Unsure on prices/quantity, it might be cost prohibitive vs a new case.
  • Slinky
    Slinky Posts: 11,156 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    The amount of times I've seen baby wipes recommended for cleaning difficult stains, I wonder how they get approval for kids skin.
    Make £2025 in 2025
    Prolific £617.02, Octopoints £5.20, TCB £398.58, Tesco Clubcard challenges £89.90, Misc Sales £321, Airtime £60, Shopmium £26.60, Everup £24.91 Zopa CB £30
    Total (4/9/25) £1573.21/£2025 77%

    Make £2024 in 2024
    Prolific £907.37, Chase Int £59.97, Chase roundup int £3.55, Chase CB £122.88, Roadkill £1.30, Octopus ref £50, Octopoints £70.46, TCB £112.03, Shopmium £3, Iceland £4, Ipsos £20, Misc Sales £55.44
    Total £1410/£2024 70%

    Make £2023 in 2023 Total: £2606.33/£2023  128.8%




  • ThemeOne
    ThemeOne Posts: 1,473 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I've got a nasty feeling the discolouration is permanent, as it seems resistant to everything.

    It's annoying to have to replace it, not because of the cost, but just didn't want to throw more plastic away.
  • Slinky
    Slinky Posts: 11,156 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Learn to live with it?
    Make £2025 in 2025
    Prolific £617.02, Octopoints £5.20, TCB £398.58, Tesco Clubcard challenges £89.90, Misc Sales £321, Airtime £60, Shopmium £26.60, Everup £24.91 Zopa CB £30
    Total (4/9/25) £1573.21/£2025 77%

    Make £2024 in 2024
    Prolific £907.37, Chase Int £59.97, Chase roundup int £3.55, Chase CB £122.88, Roadkill £1.30, Octopus ref £50, Octopoints £70.46, TCB £112.03, Shopmium £3, Iceland £4, Ipsos £20, Misc Sales £55.44
    Total £1410/£2024 70%

    Make £2023 in 2023 Total: £2606.33/£2023  128.8%




  • AndyCF
    AndyCF Posts: 748 Forumite
    500 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I fear my initial idea or RBR would be as I said:
    AndyCF wrote: »
    Unsure on prices/quantity, it might be cost prohibitive vs a new case.
    Slinky wrote: »
    Learn to live with it?
    That, or a new case perhaps.
  • poppellerant
    poppellerant Posts: 1,970 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    You could try "retrobriting" it, but I am honestly unsure if it'll work on clear plastic.
  • oystercatcher
    oystercatcher Posts: 2,362 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Could you make it another colour using a marker pen ? At least worth a try before it goes to landfil?
    Decluttering, 20 mins / day Jan 2024 2/2 
  • ThemeOne
    ThemeOne Posts: 1,473 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    oystercatcher wrote: »
    Could you make it another colour using a marker pen ? At least worth a try before it goes to landfil?

    I will give it a go!
  • VfM4meplse
    VfM4meplse Posts: 34,269 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    How about some time in the direct sunlight? (Minus the phone, of course).
    Value-for-money-for-me-puhleeze!

    "No man is worth, crawling on the earth"- adapted from Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio

    Hope is not a strategy :D...A child is for life, not just 18 years....Don't get me started on the NHS, because you won't win...I love chaz-ing!
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