One of the most important aspects of your phone, tablet, PC, or laptop is undoubtedly itsUSB ports. Without them, you cannot connect peripherals or essentials to your device, such as your charging cable, keyboard, mouse, headset, andstorage devices. However, one drawback of USB ports is that they are exposed to the elements, making it easy for dust and other debris to accumulate within them.
The worst USB port I’ve ever encountered was on a PC’s motherboard. It had so much dust and lint in it that the USB plug wouldn’t even fully insert into it. Such a significant dust buildup risks damaging the USB port, leading to a loose connection or a malfunction that may prevent it from working at all.
Fortunately, having dust or lint trapped in your device’s USB port isn’t a death sentence for it. With a few household items, you’re able to easily clean the port and restore it to its original condition. This can be done on any USB port, whether it is aUSB Type AorType C.
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How to easily clean your device’s USB port
Compressed air will come in handy
To thoroughly clean your device’s USB ports, you will need a few items to help you:
And if you really want to go above and beyond:
You can usually find all of these items at your local pharmacy or grocery store, as well as online retailers like Amazon. Before you start cleaning your USB port, a few words of advice. Firstly, be gentle and don’t use any metal objects to clean it. Do not use water to clean your USB port ever, and don’t force anything (like a toothpick) into the USB port, as it could damage its connector.
It’s important to note that some device manufacturers recommend not using a compressed air can to clean their devices. For example,Apple says"don’t use compressed air" when cleaning an iPhone. So do this at your own risk. I’ve cleaned my iPhone’s port plenty of times carefully with compressed air, and it still works like a charm.
Now, this is where the fun begins. Here’s a step-by-step guide to how to clean your device’s USB ports so it looks brand new:
1.Power offyour device. It’s always best to ensure your PC or phone is powered off before you clean its components.
Use amicrofiber clothtowipeany visible dust from the outside of the USB port. I recommendshining a flashlightinto the device’s USB port so you can see more clearly what you’re up against.
Use thecompressed air canto gentlyblow out any dustor lint from the USB port. Do this inshort bursts, anddon’t hold it right up to the USB port as you could damage it. Give it some space. Always hold the compressed air canupright.
4.Lightly dampena cotton swab (or Q-tip) withisopropyl alcohol. Ensure it’snot dripping; it just needs to be slightly damp. Then, gently clean the inside of the port around its contact point. Isopropyl alcohol evaporates fast, so it won’t damage your USB port if you use it correctly.
- After cleaning the USB port,let it dry(I usually give it a minute or two).
6.Cleantheoutside of the portwith amicrofiber clothagain to get rid of any remaining dust or grime near the port.
As long as you’re careful and follow the abovementioned precautions, you won’t damage your USB port while cleaning it, and it should look as good as new. While dust can easily get trapped in your device’s USB port, thankfully, it’s just as easy to get it out.
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