How to Remove Scratches From a Phone Screen
Over the course of using our phones, it’s inevitable that they’ll pick up knocks and scratches from being taken out of pockets, or accidently dropped.
If your handset is looking a little worse for wear, these useful tips will help you remove scratches from your phone screen, whether it’s an iPhone or Android device, and get it looking crystal clear again.
On the occasion you want to replace your phone altogether, our collection of contract and refurbished handsets may have just what you need.
Things to remember
Before attempting any of these fixes, and to protect your phone from further damage, you must:
• Power-off your phone
• Remove the battery if possible
• Put tape over any ports to prevent liquid getting into them (USB ports, open SD slots etc.)
Best methods to remove scratches from phone screens
1 - Toothpaste
In your bathroom lies a very useful method for removing scratches from phone screens: toothpaste.
Because it’s designed to be abrasive when cleaning our teeth, toothpaste is a top contender for getting rid of scratches. However, don’t use any that’s gel-based, as this can cause more damage, particularly on glass screens.
If you regularly use a plastic screen protector, this method remains a great way to buff out those annoying scratches.
Apply a small amount of non-gel toothpaste (non-gel has a thicker consistency) to a soft cloth or cotton bud. Carefully rub the toothpaste onto the screen in a circular motion, and once you see the scratches disappear, wipe the screen with a slightly damp cloth to remove any remaining toothpaste.
2 – Erasers
Pencils and pens may not be the ubiquitous tool they once were pre-Internet, but the eraser on the ends of them is a fantastic way of repairing scratches on a phone screen.
As you rub the eraser along a scratch, the friction softens the eraser to fill in the gap. Do this gently for around a minute, without pressing down too hard on the screen, and eventually the scratch on your phone will disappear.
3 – Magic Eraser
Staying with the topic of erasers, Magic Eraser sponges are also effective at removing phone screen scratches. Like many of these tricks, it won’t work against deep scratches, but smaller surface-level damage can be buffed out.
Wet the sponge and press it onto an affected area of your smart device, gently rubbing the Magic Eraser into the scratch. These sponges work in a similar way to sandpaper, so be careful how hard you press down.
4 – Car polish
It may be designed for removing scratches on car surfaces, but polish for our motors is equally as good at tackling phone damage too.
Follow the instructions that come with the car polish to apply it correctly. Deeper scratches won’t be removed, but surface scratches should come out in no time, whilst also leaving it with a new, glistening shine.
5 – Baking soda
Baking soda is another method for removing phone scratches that won’t work on glass, but will help clear up your screen protector or plastic screen. Ensure you have covered any open ports with tape before starting, to avoid any water seeping into them.
Mix two-parts soda with one-part water, until a paste is formed. Apply this to a soft cloth and rub gently into any scratches. Wipe with a mildly damp cloth to finish.
You can also follow these steps with baby powder to create a similar paste, if you don’t have baking soda lying around.
6 – Screen protector
An obvious one, but by far the best way to prevent scratches in the long run: use a screen protector.
This plastic coating will shield the screen from knicks and bumps. Combined with a case, you’re giving your phone all-round protection.
Worst methods for removing scratches from phone screens
Not every technique for removing scratches is a winner, and some may actually cause more harm than good.
Food
A suggestion you may read is to rub food, for example a banana, onto your phone’s screen to buff out scratches. In reality, all you will be left with is a mess.
Silver polish
Silver polish should be left exclusively for your silver furnishings at home. It can damage the top coating of your phone screen, leaving it with far more damage than you began with.
Coconut oil and petroleum jelly
Both of these methods will leave your phone’s screen slippery, and result in very little removal of scratches.
With these tips in-hand, you can safely remove scratches from your phone screen and keep your device in prime condition. Along with fixing unsightly scratches on your phone’s screen, learn how you can repair your phone if it gets water-damaged, by reading our expert guide.