I found the easiest way to clean USB ports

Summary

It’s easy for dust to get trapped in your device’s USB port, and cleaning it is a great way to ensure it works properly for longer.
You only need a few household items, such as a microfiber cloth and a compressed air can to clean your device’s USB port.
If you follow the step-by-step guide, your USB port will look as good as new.

One of the most important aspects of your phone, tablet, PC, or laptop is undoubtedly its USB ports. Without them, you cannot connect peripherals or essentials to your device, such as your charging cable, keyboard, mouse, headset, and storage 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 can easily clean the port and restore it to its original condition. This can be done on any USB port, whether it is a USB Type A or Type 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:

A compressed air can
A microfiber cloth

And if you really want to go above and beyond:

A cotton swab or Q-tip
Isopropyl alcohol (preferably 90% or higher)

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 off your device. It’s always best to make sure your PC or phone is powered off before you clean its components.

2. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe any visible dust from the outside of the USB port. I recommend shining a flashlight into the device’s USB port so you can see more clearly what you’re up against.

3. Use the compressed air can to gently blow out any dust or lint from the USB port. Do this in short bursts, and don’t hold it right up to the USB port as you could damage it. Give it some space. Always hold the compressed air can upright.

4. Lightly dampen a cotton swab (or Q-tip) with isopropyl alcohol. Ensure it’s not 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.

5. After cleaning the USB port, let it dry (I usually give it a minute or two).

6. Clean the outside of the port with a microfiber cloth again 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.