How To Clean A USB-C Port


How To Clean A USB-C Charging Port

If you're having trouble charging your phone, Macbook or tablet, you might need to learn how to clean a USB-C charging port.

USB ports are exposed to dust, dirt, and grime, and they can get clogged with debris. This can block the electrical signal and prevent your devices from charging properly. Fortunately, you can clean your USB-C charging port yourself.

Keeping devices clean is essential to maintaining them for a long period. Whether you want to clean an HDMI port or clean a PS4 controller, making sure you do it right is vital.

This guide will help you remove the dirt and debris and get back to using your USB without problems. Let's find out how to clean a USB-C charging port, and get it back in top working order.

How To Clean A USB-C Port With Alcohol

Whether it's your Samsung phone or Macbook laptop, you can clean the USB-C port by using a can of compressed air, plastic dental floss, isopropyl alcohol solution and a cotton ball.

If you are not keen on gathering all these things, you can buy a professional charging port cleaning kit on Amazon like this one from DustKiller.

Follow the steps below to clean your USB-C port without damaging any components. 

  • First, turn off the device.
  • Then, spray quick bursts of compressed air into the port to loosen debris. Make sure you affix the straw-like nozzle to the can so that you can spray concentrated bursts right into the port.
  • Repeat the previous step several times at different angles until you get rid of all the debris.
  • Now, drag the sharp end of the dental floss around the edges of the port to remove stubborn particles.
  • After that, wrap the cotton ball around the end of the dental floss and dampen it with a bit of isopropyl alcohol. Circle the inside of the port with the cotton end until you have removed all the debris.
  • Finally, let the port dry completely (2-3 mins) before you plug anything into it.

But there are other methods of course, so let's take a look at them.

How To Clean USB-C Port Without Compressed Air

There are several ways to clean your USB-C port without using compressed air. As mentioned in the previous section, you can use a professional charging port cleaning kit like this one from DustKiller.

If you are not interested in spending money on a kit, you can do the job with a cotton ball and dental floss. However, the end result may not be as good as with the previous method.

Follow the steps below to clean your USB-C port without using compressed air.

  • First, turn off the device.
  • Then, take one of those single-use plastic flossers with the toothpick point on the other end. Drag the toothpick end around the edges of the port to remove lint and dust.
  • If you notice sticky gunk, use a cotton ball dampened with a bit of isopropyl alcohol to clean it.
  • Finally, let the port dry completely (2-3 mins) before you plug anything into it.

But the most important thing is learning how to keep the ports clean in the first place, right?

How To Keep Your USB-C Port Clean

How To Clean A USB-C Charging Port
click to enlarge

Now that you know how to clean a USB-C charging port, it's time to share some tips on keeping your port clean such as covering it up when not using it.

Always cover the port with a small strip of adhesive tape when not in use. Also, you may be able to purchase USB-C Dust Plugs from Amazon to keep the port free of dust.

On your smartphone, you can use a basic bumper case with a port cover built-in, so you don't need to worry about losing the removable dust plugs.

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