How to Remove Scratches from an iPhone Screen

Whether you drop your phone on a hard surface, or scrape the screen against something, mistakes happen. The good news is that there are many ways to fix these scratches on your iPhone screen, many of which can be made from common household items. Computers R Us, which offers phone and computer help in Kennesaw, has detailed the different means of scratch repair, ranging from at-home remedies to DIY and professional replacements.

What Are Some of the Household Items?

You don’t need anything fancy to start on the repair process. Toothpaste, baking soda, q-tips, car wax and olive oil can all be applied to your screen, and there are many other methods as well. While not foolproof, any of these can work for minor scratching.

• Toothpaste: Using a small dab of toothpaste, slowly work it into into your screen with a cotton cloth. As you do so, you’ll notice the scratch slowly disappearing. After you let it dry for a minute, use a damp towel to gently wipe the excess toothpaste away.
• Baking soda: Using either baking soda or baby powder, mix it in a 2:1 ratio with water. The concoction should be a thick paste that you can work in with a cotton swab. After it has been gently applied, wipe off the excess with a damp cloth.
• Olive oil: Either olive oil or other plant oil can do wonder on smaller scratches. Apply just the smallest bit to the scratch for a quick fix. Avoid slathering the screen as this will not only make it slippery and gooey, but can potentially damage your phone.

What Are the Other Methods for Fixing a Screen?

While less common, there are other ways to fix scratches, like body lotion, glass polish, and even sandpaper. While the former of these two might seem plausible, the latter might be making your eyebrows raise a little bit.

To use lotion or glass polish, you just need to apply a little bit to some sort of cloth and gently rub it into the scratches. When using polish, just remember to check the scratches every 30 seconds and keep repeating the process until the scratches have disappeared.

You may be thinking, “Won’t sandpaper just damage my screen more?” It can, if you aren’t careful. Using just a small piece of sandpaper, you can gently rub the scratches out of your screen. Be wary when you are doing it and immediately stop after the scratches disappear; applying any more pressure after the fact can cause more damage.

What Are Some Preventive Measures?

The best way to remove scratches is to just not get them in the first place. Try investing in some basic screen protectors. There are bumper cases that pad the edges and screen, along with plastic overlays that provide and extra layer of protection for your iPhone screen.

There are many different materials that phone cases are made out of. Something more modern like polyurethane, polycarbonate, and carbon fiber will probably work the best. Nonetheless, things like leather, metal, and wood are available and do great as a phone case material.

What If I Have to Replace the Screen?

iPhone screen replacement can be a tricky business, as Apple uses special screws and tools to put the iPhones together. Thankfully, there are a few options outside of professional repair that don’t cost as much, such as do-it-yourself kits.

There are a few companies out there that offer kits with instructions on to replace the screen yourself. While these kits still have a decent amount of steps, with some as high as 44, and the removal of fragile parts, they are significantly cheaper.

As you can imagine, professionals typically have a negative outlook on these remedies. It isn’t without merit either, as while many of these strategies can fix minor scratches, they don’t work as a permanent solution nor are they effective for more excessive damage.

How Much Does a Professional Repair Cost?

It really depends on what you go with. While the costs can vary, expect to pay upwards of $129 through Apple itself, or a little bit less with local places. Make sure whoever you go through is certified, and be mindful of what past customers are saying about them.

While preventive measures like screen protectors are the best, there are many different ways to remove scratches from your iPhone, both as home remedies and professional. If you go the professional route, just make sure the person repairing actually knows what they are doing.