A can of compressed air. These cans come with thin straws that attaches to their nozzles, making it easy to spray controlled bursts into small spaces. A thin wooden toothpick or the sharp end of a plastic dental pick. [1] X Research source A cotton ball or pad. Isopropyl alcohol (if there’s gunk inside the port that can’t be sprayed away or loosened). [2] X Expert Source Mitch HarrisConsumer Technology Expert Expert Interview. 31 August 31 2021. You could also use quick-drying contact cleaner, which you can spray directly into your port. A flat, dust-free table or desk in a well-lit area.
You could try a cotton swab, but they are usually too thick to fit inside of a charging port. If all you have is a cotton swab, remove some of the cotton so that only a small amount remains around each tip. [4] X Expert Source Mitch HarrisConsumer Technology Expert Expert Interview. 31 August 31 2021. If you’re cleaning the charging port of a PC laptop that has a DC power port instead of USB-C, use a flashlight to look inside the port first. Sometimes these ports have pins at their centers that can be easy to break. If you can’t fit a toothpick inside of the port without touching the pin, take your PC to a service center for cleaning instead.
To avoid damaging the port, don’t hold down the nozzle for more than 2 seconds. Too much air pressure can disrupt the phone or tablet’s delicate internal structures. Resist the urge to blow into the port with your mouth! This could add moisture to the port and potentially break your phone or tablet. [5] X Research source
Be gentle, but firm—just firm enough to remove stuck-on debris. If there is gunk inside of the port, you could dampen the cotton with a very small amount of rubbing alcohol and repeat the process. Make sure the cotton isn’t wet, just damp—you don’t want to introduce any liquids into the port. [7] X Research source
If it’s difficult to get the remaining dirt out of the port, you could try wrapping double-sided tape around the end of a sewing or a syringe needle and gently nudging it free. If there is visible debris that you can’t remove using these methods, take your device to a service center. If you are still having trouble with your charging port, check your charging cable—it could be dirty or damaged. If you have another charging cable, give that one a try.
