How to clean a USB-C port

Though you can protect the USB-C ports on many devices with the right case, a removable plug, or even just a piece of tape, you’ll inevitably have to clean a port out at some point. It’s easy for debris to get trapped in such a small space, especially when it belongs to a phone in a lint-filled pocket. Here’s how to clean any USB-C port in a minute or two — and what to avoid in the process.

How to clean a USB-C port

The main principle here is to be careful. We’ll go into that more in the next section, but if you damage the electronics in a USB-C port, the connection might stop working. You might even short out the device as a whole, although that’s unlikely.

Follow this checklist:

1. First, blow air into the port to clear out loose debris. If you’re lucky this may be the only step involved, but you’ll probably want a can of compressed air. Aim the included nozzle straw directly into the port and use one-second bursts. Be sure to hold the can itself perfectly vertical, since angling it could potentially spray liquids. If you don’t have compressed air, an air bulb may be enough.
2. If you still suspect there’s debris in the port, find a toothpick, a toothbrush, a disposable dental pick, or a similar object small enough to get into the port that isn’t metal, sharp, or fuzzy. In the case of a wooden toothpick, you may need to file it down for size reasons.
3. Insert the cleaning tool from step 2, gently working around the sides to scrape out material. Try to avoid the actual USB connector prong at the back.
4. Use another blast of air to force out any newly-loosened debris.
5. If there’s still material in the port, repeat steps 2 through 4.

What you should avoid when cleaning your USB-C port

At least some of these points may seem obvious, but keep them in mind.

• Avoid jamming anything straight back into the port. That’s where the connector prong is located, and doing so could bend the prong or scratch power/data contacts.
• Don’t use a cotton swab/Q-Tip. It’s probably too big for a USB-C port anyway, but the bigger threat is that you’ll leave cotton behind, swapping one kind of debris for another.
• Don’t use metal objects. These are more likely to damage electronics, and in a worst-case scenario, could actually cause a short and wreck the entire device.
• Likewise, avoid sharp objects.
• Avoid getting liquids into the port, whether from a compressed air can or something else. If this does happen, make sure the device is powered down and allowed to dry. You can use cool air to speed things up, but not a hot-air dryer.