this post was submitted on 03 Nov 2025
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You Should Know

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[–] drosophila@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

As an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure I recommend those tiny rubber stoppers you see in the photo. They have a peel and stick part that goes under your case which retains the plug on a strip of rubber. That strip might wear out in a few years and rip, but they cost almost nothing to replace (and in fact come in packs).

Phones used to have these things built in, then they stopped in the smartphone era because they didn't look as sleek and futuristic I guess. Now, if you have a case, it once again makes hardly any difference to the appearance.

[–] Jimmycakes@lemmy.world 1 points 7 hours ago

That was also when a single charge lasted for days or a week. Now we use our phones too much and multiple charges a day isn't uncommon for people. I couldn't imagine having to remove a little plug to charge my phone as often as I do.

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 76 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

A 1¢ toothpick works 99% of the time.

[–] zr0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 12 hours ago

YSK that OP is now mad at wasting $9.99

[–] b_tr3e@feddit.org 30 points 20 hours ago

For the missing 1% use isopropanol.

[–] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 3 points 11 hours ago

Never mind those, where do I get those cool rear view mirrors for my phone?

[–] worhui@lemmy.world 8 points 14 hours ago (2 children)

By all means try a tooth pick and pure alcohol, if that doesn't work a professional might get you set straight.

Repair shops can do a better job cleaning than a home option. I had a data and charge problem, bought a kit and tried 3x times; it didn't work . Bought new cables just in case that was the issue. Brought it in for repair fully expecting to pay for a port repair. Repair shop did a through cleaning charged me $15 and sent me on my way with everything working.

[–] zr0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 12 hours ago (3 children)

Please, not just any alcohol. Go with isopropanol, ethanol or methanol.

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[–] we_come_at_night@lemmy.world 1 points 10 hours ago

Gotta be careful as well with USB-C ports. I managed to break off the middle section while cleaning a couple of times. Not a good thing, luckily phone battery was already dying at the time.

[–] paper_moon@lemmy.world 88 points 22 hours ago (9 children)

People don't try cleaning their charging port before buying a new device? Thats crazy. I really have a hard time believing people don't try cleaning before buying a new device.

[–] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 47 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

Some people are just absurdly lazy.

Also what kind of kit does op have? A sim card ejector, a metal brush, a q tip thing, half a zip tie, and some adhesive things? Any thin plastic shim will work perfectly, and sometimes even a stiff plastic bristle brush works well.

[–] anomnom@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 hours ago

I wouldn’t put anything conductive in there.

Wood toothpicks worked great on lightning ports, usbc is a little trickier and more fragile so I use a plastic spudger from an old screen replacement kit.

[–] slazer2au@lemmy.world 44 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

Not all are lazy, some just don't know.

My in-laws didn't clean the dust out of their PC for almost a decade because when they purchased it, no one told them to clean the filter on the front.

[–] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 5 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

I don’t think plate manufacturers have to tell you to do the dishes. Everything needs cleaning, how do people not know this?

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[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 26 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

Most people buy a new cell phone long before the charger stops working.

I'm weird. I've had my cell phone since 2020. But MOST people buy one every 2-3 years. Just because the newest latest and greatest just came out.

My 5 year old phone still has no issue charging. And when the battery starts dying, MY battery is user replaceable.

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 16 points 22 hours ago

Don't believe this person, they've clearly lost their mind.

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[–] PapaStevesy@lemmy.world 3 points 15 hours ago

Sounds like you haven't met very many people.

[–] tpihkal@lemmy.world 13 points 22 hours ago

I mean, it's one phone, paper_moon. What could it cost? $1000?

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[–] NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip 42 points 22 hours ago (7 children)

Yeah... be incredibly careful about shoving something with metal bristles into your charging port.

Maybe once a year I get a bit of gunk in my port (hey-oh!). Samsung (presumably all usb c androids?) are generally really good about losing their shit and yelling at you to remove the cable immediately and clean your port.

So when I get home? I just get one of my flossers (for teeth) that tend to have a cheap plastic toothpick attached to it. Works perfect, no liquids, and very minimal risk of damaging the port.

[–] Septimaeus 14 points 19 hours ago

I’ve always used wooden toothpicks because

  1. Common
  2. Made from cheap soft wood: more likely to deform or destruct against metal than most plastics
  3. Cut with the grain: especially soft to anything raking against the sides (like delicate pins)
  4. The uneven “splintery” sides happen to be pretty good at snagging tiny fibers of lint to pull them out as one big ball, requiring fewer swipes

More techniques:

  • clean with port facing straight down to get gravity assist
  • blow across the opening of the port: mild negative pressure + agitation inside cavity vs blowing directly into port (which is generally warned against explicitly)
  • focus on “pinning” lint up against each of the two corners and holding gentle pressure during extraction: these corners of the port have no exposed pins, and happen to be where lint tends to accumulate anyway
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[–] notarobot@lemmy.zip 20 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

10 USD??? I justo walk into a phone repair shop and ask them if they can clean it. they do it in under a minute for free

[–] markz@suppo.fi 22 points 20 hours ago (4 children)

Walk into a store? I just use a toothpick or a needle

[–] ook@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 14 hours ago

Do not use a needle. Use something wood, like the toothpick you suggested, or plastic. The needle might damage the port.

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[–] nailingjello@lemmy.zip 14 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (9 children)

I've been using magnetic USB cables and adapters on my devices for years. I occasionally need to clean their connection, but otherwise they work well. Found one I liked and purchased a bunch of them. Now the car, house, office, etc. all have one of the magnetic cables nearby.

They charge a little slower, but that's better for my battery long-term anyway.

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[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 18 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

I used to shock and amaze people when I'd pull out half a cottonballs worth of pocket lint and get their phones working again.

And don't waste $10 on a kit. A toothpick and canned air does everything you need.

[–] CaptainBlinky@lemmy.myserv.one 15 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

At the very least get a toothpick and get the lint out. Like, come on Jamal, there's a reason your charging cable doesn't go all the way in anymore.

[–] aramis87@fedia.io 12 points 22 hours ago (6 children)

You could also set up wireless charging and put the phone down for a bit.

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