how to clean phone charging port

Did you just find a corrosive build-up in the charging port of an iPhone? I understand how you might be feeling.

I've been there several times in all these years that I've been using iPhones. Charging the phone is what keeps it going, and if that can't be done, it's rendered useless. And almost every important piece of data you can think of is stored in that device that fits in your palms. So, you can't just afford to lose all that!

Initially, I either had to call in a "gadget freak" friend or take it to the nearby phone repair shop to get it removed. But after a few times, I was too wary about taking help every time this happened. So, I decided to take it over the next time and researched how corrosion could be removed from the charging port of an iPhone.

And that was it! I've always handled it myself since then, and each time the results were spot on. Not to brag, but I think I am an expert at this now!

Hi! I'm Stacy, and today, I'll be telling you how to clean corrosion off iPhone charging port. So, let's get going!

Removing Corrosion Off iPhone Charging Port

When it's about cleaning the charging port of your smartphone, you'll need to be very careful to ensure it never suffers any damage. That's why you must be aware of several important factors before getting started with the procedure.

Some Essential Information

Firstly, if your iPhone isn't getting charged with the existing charging cable, you should confirm once that it is not damaged.

Surprising as it might sound, small pets can sometimes chew charging cables to relieve teething pain. I say this because I've already had to replace my charging cable twice after my pet Shih Tzu chewed them a few years back when he was a kid!

So, try replacing that cable with another one and check whether your iPhone is charging. In case it's still not working, you can be sure that corrosion is the culprit behind the faulty charging port.

Corrosion generally manifests in the form of a greenish build-up in and around the charging port of the phone, and occurs due to prolonged exposure to moisture. So, after you observe such build-up on the charging port, you must not expose it much till the corrosion is removed from it.

Methods To Clean Corrosion Off The Charging Port

There are two methods for getting rid of the corrosion on the charging port of an iPhone. So, let's have a brief look at each of these.

1. Using An Electric Contact Cleaner

This is perhaps the most effective method as a good contact cleaner can work wonders in cleaning a variety of electrical components. These are chemicals specially formulated to prevent the build-up of rust or other such unwanted substances on the conductive parts of plugs and switches.

At this point, I'd suggest you be extra careful while purchasing a contact cleaner as the market is filled with many partially effective products. And going for any of those might do more harm than good.

Speaking of my experience, I had once hastily chosen a contact cleaner from a lesser-known brand just glancing through some ratings. And on applying it for some of the plugs I had at home, I found that it was too weak to clean a plug thoroughly.

So, it will be best if you read through some reliable online guides for choosing a truly effective cleaner.

Step 1:

At the start, you must turn off the iPhone.

Step 2:

Follow this by plugging in and unplugging the charging cable repeatedly, for at least seven times.

Step 3:

If the corrosion still persists, take some of the contact cleaner on the Q-tip and use that to clean the plug of the cable.

Step 4:

After this, insert the plug into the charging port and then move it within the port so that its inner parts are cleaned. But ensure that the cleaner doesn't come in contact with the other parts of the phone, such as the mic.

2. Using Alcohol

In case you don't get the desired results using the above method, you can try using alcohol. But keep in mind that isopropyl alcohol is the only type you can use.

Take some of the alcohol on a Qtip or a toothpick and clean the plug. Then insert the plug into the port and move it around the same way as for the previous procedure. Since isopropyl alcohol has a stronger formulation than a contact cleaner, it might be able to clean up the port more thoroughly.

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Caring For Your iPhone

Like every other object that you're fond of, your iPhone can be kept in good shape with regular care and maintenance. This would eliminate all chances of issues such as the build-up of corrosive substances on their charging port.

First and foremost, you must make cleaning your phone a regular habit. This would ensure any dirt, debris, corrosive build-up, or other substance is removed quickly.

Just use a clean cloth and wipe it over the lightning port and also the plug of the charging cable. Also, make sure you clean the screen, camera, and headphone jack too, as they are equally crucial for its proper functioning.

Final Words

So, the next time you spot corrosive build-up on the charging port of your iPhone, there's no need to panic. Just bring out the contact cleaner or the alcohol and get it done with. Following each of the steps carefully will make sure the port is totally clean within minutes.

If you have any more doubts about cleaning charging ports of iPhones, feel free to write them down in the comments section below, and I'll get back to you shortly.

That's about it for today. Watch out for this space, as we'll be back soon with more intriguing content.

Till then, farewell!