How do you safety clean a lightning connector?

[Wolfpup]

Tried posting on Apple.com and for some reason it's not letting me. This site's probably more useful anyway though :-D

So far I've had 100% of lightning connector devices fail (never had an issue with the dock connector nor USB).

I bought a Smart Battery Case with my iPhone 6s last year, hoping that by having the phone permanently plugged in to the case, it would protect the lightning connection...

Off and on I've had issues with it, but they've been solved by rebooting and connecting/disconnecting the case and phone until they both work.

Well, it's getting worse now, and the physical connector in the case is turning partially green (despite being physically connected to the phone 100% of the time).

Wondering if there's a way to clean it safely or fix it period. Right now my case charges fine if it's plugged in to power by itself (with the phone removed), but the phone's connection-seeing the case, connecting cleanly to my PC, charging from the case, is all hit and miss, even after multiple reboots and re-connections.

I've tried cleaning lightning connectors in the past, and while I've gotten them to physically look okay, they NEVER work again. (Had many cables fail in the past too as far as that goes.)

Really wish Apple would switch to USB...

Not the greatest picture of it, but you can sort of see what the physical connector looks like. (Which may or may not even have anything to do with the issue.

 

[Stefan johansson]

Try wipe it clean with a clean dry cloth.

 

[CTHarrryH]

Blow out with one of those air cans used for keyboards etc.
And if Apple switched to USB it would be USB-C which physically looks just the same

 

[JoeyD74]

That looks like corrosion, does it wipe off?

 

[Foggydog]

Try dabbing it with a Q-tip dipped in alcohol. That may help clean it.

 

[cynics]

I would start with 90% or higher Isopropyl alcohol. However to remove corrosion something like lemon juice or vinegar works best.

 

[dreadnort]

a pencil eraser with clean that

 

[BigMcGuire]

Yep, @dreadnort is right - pencil eraser - the white stick ones that go into the dedicated pencil eraser holders work best for that. Sometimes a T-Shirt pinch and wipe works as well. I usually ignore it tho and haven't had a problem with one of my cables looking like that for over a year now.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Try dabbing it with a Q-tip dipped in alcohol. That may help clean it.

That is how I would do it as well.

 

[DDanis60]

Isopropyl

 

[posguy99]

Well, it's getting worse now, and the physical connector in the case is turning partially green (despite being physically connected to the phone 100% of the time).
View attachment 699181

Stop getting it wet and they'll stop corroding. That's a connector that's been electrolyzing.

 

[souko]

Is it safe to use lightning cable with oxidization?

 

[44267547]

Is it safe to use lightning cable with oxidization?

I wouldn’t. Eventually the oxidation affects the connection. I would say it also depends on the severity of how oxidized the charging cable is, but I would just replace the cable if it was my choice.

 

[MacintoshDan]

I recently saw an add for this device, made specifically for cleaning Lightning ports and plugs, I haven't tried it but I plan on buying one when I get a few spare bucks.

https://www.pureport.net/?fbclid=IwAR3meaSyjz5vEpuEQ1gUWhgJDZ4yAMMs4bFFQ6OuUJd57gyR3O-e9cEjDt8

 

[Wide opeN]

Wireless charging... My iPhone hasn't been plugged in yet in 3 months.

 

[C DM]

Wireless charging... My iPhone hasn't been plugged in yet in 3 months.

Does that help clean something off that is on a Lightning connector?

 

[Wide opeN]

Does that help clean something off that is on a Lightning connector?

Yes, cause it never comes in contact with anything. Lightning connector is still in the box.

 

[C DM]

Yes, cause it never comes in contact with anything. Lightning connector is still in the box.

I guess you can say it can help avoid it--and that's assuming the device someone has supports wireless charging--but doesn't seem that it would do much of anything in terms of dealing with it when you have it, as the questions and discussions in this thread have been.

 

[souko]

I wouldn’t. Eventually the oxidation affects the connection. I would say it also depends on the severity of how oxidized the charging cable is, but I would just replace the cable if it was my choice.

It is like this

 

[44267547]

It is like this

It’s your call. If you’re receiving any type of inconsistency with your charging connections due to the lightning connector, then throw it out and purchase a new one.