There’s nothing more cringeworthy than the sound of a scrape against the touchscreen of your smartphone. Americans spend billions of dollars fixing the smartphone screens each year, and for a good reason: whether the damage is functional or cosmetic, a scratched or cracked screen can be tough to work with.
Of course, if you’re hoping to avoid springing for the professional screen repair, you may be wondering how to fix scratches on your phone. Is it possible to make this issue magically disappear with a bit of elbow grease?
You’ll be happy to know that the answer is “Yes”—sometimes. So, to give a few tried-and-tested home remedies a shot before you call in expert backup, you should know how to remove scratches from your phone screen.
How to Fix Scratches on Your Phone the Safe Way
In this article, we will see some of the simple homemade tricks to fix the scratches on the phone screen. However, before proceeding further, make sure to do some important steps.
It is always essential to power off the device before doing anything on your mobile. That will help you to avoid any unnecessary issues. Also, make sure to seal all the available ports on the handset in this step. We use some liquid products that can enter the handset if made open. So make sure to close all the open ports like the charging port, headphone jack, etc.
Try Some Toothpaste
With a cheap product you should have at home, this simple method can help you deal with tiny marks on your screen. Because toothpaste contains microscopic abrasive substances to help clean your teeth, you can use it to buff out the scratch on your phone essentially.
Take a little toothpaste onto a cotton swab or microfiber cloths, with small, gentle circles, rub the toothpaste over the affected area. In time, you should see the scratch start to fade and disappear. Once done with it, you can clear the remaining toothpaste on the screen using some smooth piece of cloth.
Erasers
It might sound too good to be accurate, but this method can truly work if you’ve got your phone scratched! A rubber eraser can fill in the scratch, making it less visible, though this isn’t always a long-term solution.
Magic Erasers
Want to upgrade the tip above? A Magic Eraser—the type used for cleaning, popularly sold by Mr. Clean—can help remove stubborn scratches with ease.
Note that this tip, like the toothpaste above, works because Magic Erasers use abrasion to buff out scratches. In other words, you’ll need to stop often and check to see whether you’ve worn away the screen or begun to cause any damage. If you’re not careful or use too much pressure, you could buff too much of your screen away!
Baking Soda
This magical cleaning substance works excellent for phone scratches as well. However, because we’ll need to add liquid to the mix, you’ll need to be extra careful to avoid letting it get into any interior parts of your phone.
Mix one-part water and two parts baking soda to get started, stirring until combined. Apply the resulting paste to a clean cloth, and rub it into the screen in gentle circles. Once you feel like the scratch has faded enough, use a damp cloth to remove any leftover baking soda.
Car Polishing Products
You might be surprised to learn that the kinds of products that get scratches out of your car can also work on your phone—as long as you use them with care. Make sure to grab a quality product and follow the instructions on the label with care. As with the methods above, stop often to see how much pressure you’re using and to check how much of the scratch has faded.
Get a Professional Screen Replacement
It should come as no surprise that the safest option for screen scratch repair is a professional screen replacement. It is especially true if you’re dealing with deep or expensive scratches that would be hard or impossible to fix with the simple remedies on this list. So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, professional screen replacements will often be your best bet—though specific options can be pricey.
For Apple users without a warranty, you could spend up to $149 for a screen replacement. However, it’s worth noting that many reputable third-party companies can do the same job for a fraction of the price. Experts like Fruit Fixed, for example, work with a vast range of smartphone models and can offer a fast fix at a lower price tag.
You can opt for a DIY phone replacement, though we don’t advise it unless you have experience working with sensitive electronics. Buying a new screen online and replacing it yourself can save you a little more money, but minor mistakes can impact your phone’s functionality and even lifespan. In other words, saving money now may cost you a great deal down the line!
Fix and Protect Your Screen
No matter what kind of smartphone you own, knowing how to fix scratches on your phone can help you feel more confident that you’ll know what to do about any minor cosmetic issues after a fall or scrape. With a bit of elbow grease, you’ll be able to get your phone looking as good as new—or you’ll know it’s time to call for professional repair.
Of course, once you’ve gone through all the trouble of fixing the scratch, make sure to slap a screen protector over your touchscreen to avoid future issues!
As you work to protect your phone from physical and digital damage, we’re here to help. For more of the tech tips you need to know across all your devices, look at our other posts.
