Nowadays, owning a smartphone with a touchscreen has become a completely normal habit, as it is completely normal for the screen to get scratched over time. Depending on the depth and location of the scratches, the problem can be a simple unsightly factor up to a real malfunction of the device. While deeper damage normally requires the entire screen to be replaced, more superficial scratches can be eliminated with home remedies.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using Toothpaste (Plastic Screens)
Step 1. Get some toothpaste
We should all have a tube of toothpaste at home for their normal daily personal hygiene routine. The toothpastes on the market are designed to be abrasive, so just as they keep our teeth clean, they can also eliminate scratches on a plastic surface. Precisely because toothpaste is a product that is already present in all our homes, this method is highly recommended as it does not require any additional material purchase. However, it is important that the toothpaste is in paste and not gel. In order to get rid of the scratches on the device, the toothpaste must be abrasive. Check the packaging if you are unsure about the characteristics of your toothpaste.
A bicarbonate-based blend has the same abrasive ability as toothpaste. If you prefer to use baking soda, you need to mix it with water to make a paste and use it in the same way you would use toothpaste
Step 2. Distribute the toothpaste using an applicator
As this is a home remedy, there are no general rules regarding the choice of applicator. A soft cloth, absorbent paper, a cotton swab or a toothbrush are all suitable tools for our purpose. You should use about the volume of a pea of toothpaste in this step. A larger amount would only risk getting toothpaste on your smartphone.
Step 3. Apply toothpaste to the scratch
After applying the toothpaste to the screen, rub it on the surface with gentle, circular motions. Continue the treatment until the scratch is no longer visible or barely noticeable. Since toothpaste is an abrasive material, you won't need to apply too much pressure. Keep scrubbing gently until you start to notice progress. Even if the damage is too deep to be completely eliminated, the abrasive capacity of the toothpaste should significantly reduce it.
If the problem is too serious, toothpaste won't be enough to get rid of it. However, even then, it should be able to reduce the visual impact of most scratches
Step 4. Clean your phone
Once you have reduced the size of the scratch to a level that you consider acceptable, you will simply need to remove the toothpaste residue. To do this, use a soft, slightly damp cloth to wipe off most of the remaining toothpaste. At this point you should use a goggle cleaning cloth (or microfiber) to remove any dirt or grease from the screen. When finished, your phone will be as good as new or, at the very least, it will look better than it did when it started.
Method 2 of 3: Using a Glass Polisher (Glass Screens)
Step 1. Purchase a cerium oxide polishing product
If your device has a glass (instead of plastic) screen, you will need to use a much stronger cleaning solution than toothpaste or baking soda to remove scratches. In this case, the use of a cerium oxide polishing product is recommended. This type of product can be purchased both in the form of a soluble powder and as a ready-made mixture. Although the latter option is the most convenient, you will get a better result by purchasing a powder product.
100 grams of cerium oxide powder should be more than enough to clean your phone screen. However, if you want to be ready to solve a possible future problem, you can consider purchasing a larger quantity of the product
Step 2. Blend the powder to make a paste
If you have purchased powdered cerium oxide, you will need to make a suitable blend before you can use it. Fortunately, this is a very simple step, which will most likely save you some money as well. Pour some of the product (about 50-100 grams) into a small container. Slowly add water until you get a creamy solution. Stir constantly as you add the water, to get a mixture of the correct proportions.
- In preparing this abrasive solution, it is not necessary to be precise in measuring the components, just make sure you create a mixture that is liquid enough to be absorbed by the tool you will use to apply it.
- Obviously, having purchased a ready-to-use product, you will have to skip this step completely.
Step 3. Protect any sensitive area of the device with adhesive tape
Cerium oxide can damage your device if it gets inside various connectors and crevices, such as the microphone, speaker, headset jack, or charger connector. It also may be able to damage the camera lens of the device. For this reason, the first thing to do is to protect all sensitive parts of the phone that should not come into contact with the abrasive solution by using adhesive tape. Cover any parts of the device that you think will be damaged if they come into contact with cerium oxide.
Protecting your device with tape might seem like an overwhelming step, but it's very important that you follow these instructions before proceeding any further. Otherwise, the device could be seriously damaged
Step 4. Apply the abrasive solution to the area to be treated
Dip a soft cloth, suitable for this type of use, in the cerium oxide solution, then use it to scrub the area to be treated firmly in circular movements. Regularly check how the situation evolves as you treat the area with the abrasive solution. To get the maximum effectiveness from the cerium oxide solution, every 30 seconds, clean the phone screen using the clean side of the cloth and then repeat the treatment as indicated.
When using an abrasive polish, you need to apply it with more pressure than when using a simple cleaning product. However, try not to overdo it with force, there is in fact nothing worse than aggravating the problem already present while you are trying to fix it
Step 5. Clean the device
After you have finished treating your smartphone screen with the abrasive solution, it's time to polish it using a special cloth (for example the one you use to clean your glasses or a soft microfiber cloth). This will eliminate any residue from the cerium oxide treatment. Before proceeding with the polishing and final cleaning of the phone, remove all the protections created with the adhesive tape. This polishing step shouldn't take more than a minute or two, nevertheless you will be surprised at the final look your device takes.
Your smartphone screen should be cleaned regularly. Repeating the operation twice a day may seem excessive, but remember that those few seconds will ensure you a always shiny and in perfect condition
Method 3 of 3: Preventing Scratches
Step 1. Purchase a protective film
Mobile phones have never been as fragile and scratchy as they are today. These types of protective films are very popular, and if you are concerned about damaging your beloved device, you should seriously consider purchasing them. These tools are usually not very expensive, and in any case they are much cheaper than having to replace the screen or the entire phone in the event of a very serious damage. High-quality protective films are virtually indestructible, while cheaper ones may fail to fully protect your device.
If you have to choose between a protective film made of plastic or tempered glass, it is better to invest in the latter. Protective glass screens offer increased durability, visibility and comfort of use
Step 2. Clean the screen regularly
By letting dust, dirt and debris accumulate, the screen will be much more likely to get scratched with normal use. Cleaning it with a microfiber or silk cloth twice a day will ensure maximum efficiency. Keeping the screen of your smartphone always clean is especially useful in the case of a touchscreen device, since the accumulation of sebum and fingerprints could decrease the efficiency of the touch detection system and the sharpness of the images.
To clean the phone screen, you can also use a cloth, a piece of an old shirt that you no longer use, or a clean kitchen towel. In any case, the ideal choice should fall on a smooth and soft microfiber or silk cloth, ideal for this purpose
Step 3. Store your phone in a safe place
In most cases, your device gets scratched or damaged as you move. It is important to consider what causes the most damage of this type. Store your device in a different pocket than the one in which you usually keep your coins, house and car keys. If possible, keep your phone in a zippered pocket to prevent it from accidentally falling out.
Do not keep the phone in the back pocket of your pants. The risk of it breaking by sitting on it is very high due to the pressure exerted by your body
Advice
- You should be able to tell if your smartphone screen is coated in plastic or glass based on the differences to the touch, however search online using your device model (or use the instruction manual) to find out which product is more suitable for cleaning.
- Finding yourself with a smartphone screen full of scratches, unfortunately, is a very common problem, which is why there are so many professional services that can solve the problem. If your situation is serious or you don't have time to fix the problem yourself, you can do an online search for the repair service closest to you. Be aware, however, that some of these services are very expensive, so it's always best to try to fix the problem yourself first.
- There are new models on the market today called "self-healing", coated with a type of plastic that can eliminate the lightest scratches on its own. If you know you can't avoid scratching your smartphone, but want to have it in top condition, the next time you want to switch devices, consider purchasing a model that has this feature.
