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darksithpro

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 27, 2016
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When dirt gets inside your iPhone charging port and you start having connection/charging issues what's the best/safest way to clean it? Old toothbrush, cotton swabs, or something else? Will rubbing alcohol damage the phone?
 
I would think a tiny amount of Isoprop in a cotton and toothpick would do just fine, the alcohol evaporates real quick.
 
When dirt gets inside your iPhone charging port and you start having connection/charging issues what's the best/safest way to clean it? Old toothbrush, cotton swabs, or something else? Will rubbing alcohol damage the phone?

I don't necessarily know if this is a recommendation or not, but I have use compressed air which has worked for me before. And I don't mean the compressed air that you use for duster on computers. I mean compressed air coming out of the compressor with a needle point that has worked very well.
 
I've been using a thumb tack lol. Its a sharp end, but it works and hasn't caused any problems
 
I typically take a post-it note and cut a strip that's a little narrower than the opening. I stick the sticky end into the port and move it around. This method will pull out loads of lint and other stuff.
 
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I typically take a post-it note and cut a strip that's a little narrower than the opening. I stick the sticky end into the port and move it around. This method will pull out loads of lint and other stuff.

Very clever. I will remember this for next time.
 
Toothpick (very gently) and a dust buster. Basically get stuff loose and suck it out. Seems to work alright for me.
 
Last time mine started having problems I gently poked at it with a straightened paper clip (not a metal one!). I was soon able to "hook" a big ball of lint and it all came out in one go. Just be very gentle; you don't want to damage any of the pins.
What if there is hard packed dirt in your port?
is there any way to fix
 
What if there is hard packed dirt in your port?
is there any way to fix

Wow. What is your use case that you get hard packed dirt in your port?

Have you tried some of the previous suggestions, such as a wooden toothpick yet? I would try that and then evaluate whether you need to do something more...radical.
 
Wow. What is your use case that you get hard packed dirt in your port?

Have you tried some of the previous suggestions, such as a wooden toothpick yet? I would try that and then evaluate whether you need to do something more...radical.

I ended up finding a solution from a friend. I took about 30 cotton ear bud batons and just slowly and steadily lightly wetted them with my tongue and used them to get the dirt out. It took half an hour.

I have NO IDEA how this happened, because I was able to charge it perfectly well the previous night.
Still, problem solved I guess?
 
I ended up finding a solution from a friend. I took about 30 cotton ear bud batons and just slowly and steadily lightly wetted them with my tongue and used them to get the dirt out. It took half an hour.

I have NO IDEA how this happened, because I was able to charge it perfectly well the previous night.
Still, problem solved I guess?

Always try toothpick as well, make sure to apply little force and it usually removes the majority of debris.
 
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I ended up finding a solution from a friend. I took about 30 cotton ear bud batons and just slowly and steadily lightly wetted them with my tongue and used them to get the dirt out. It took half an hour.

I have NO IDEA how this happened, because I was able to charge it perfectly well the previous night.
Still, problem solved I guess?
You used your saliva?..... o_O Remind me to never use your charger!
 
I use a wooden toothpick, one of the 'sharp' kinds. Gets all the gunk out no problem.
 
I had good success using the ends of matchsticks like you get in the little booklets. Cut a match out, don't rip it, and I alternately used it dry, cut the dirty end off, wetted it with a little saliva, repeat. Took me about three matches to get the port operational again.

The matches are soft and absorbent, so there's no risk of damage, and thin and flat, so they fit perfectly inside and you can swipe more than with a hard pointy toothpick.
 
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