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Love my Pixel XL, but I've had issues with the USB-C port getting dirt and fluff stuck in it etc... What is the best way to clean this without damaging any components, and also any advice on keeping it clean.
Is this a good question?
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@frobert , Robert, Use canned compressed air to blow the dust from port( if need be, carefully pick lint out with tooth pick) and then cover port with a small piece of tape to keep clean. Remove and reapply tape when required or you may be able to purchase USB-C Dust Plugs as seen in the link below . Good luck.
I hope this helped you out, if so let me know by pressing the helpful button.
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I used a sliver of plastic cut from a clamshell blister pack as a pick to remove compacted lint from my USB C, but yeah a wooden tooth-pick is thin enough would also work.
I'm a general contractor doing industrial cleaning. I work with a variety of products and chemicals including asphalt. My phone case doesn't protect my USB-C port so I have asphalt build up in there. I've tried toothpicks and safety pins and compressed air and many other things with little success. I normally use solvents like mineral spirits and WD-40 to dissolve asphalt when cleaning but I'm hesitant to pour solvents in my USB port. I'm about to just try it anyway. Any thoughts on the matter? Also, the asphalt had been transferred to all of my charger cords. My main question is "Will pouring solvents into my USB port short circuit anything or permanently mess anything up?"
You might want to use a tooth pick or zip tie and just spray wd 40 on those real light and stick in and clean .
Just enough to dissolve the asphalt film . Then take a small artist Brush and sick it in there give it a spin .
Not sure it will work for you ? But did clean mine pretty good . I’m a painter and I get all sorts of crap in the port .
Now I have a defender ph case on and it has a rubber plug protecting the port . Best thing I have done to protect my ph .
You could probably get away with using isopropanol as a solvent, not sure how well it will dissolve asphalt but the boiling point is so low that any excess will evaporate and cause no issue, just make sure your using 99% to ensure there is no water content and that your phone is off when you use it ! iso is usually the go to solvent for electronics i believe, I would still use a toothpick or cotton swab or something to apply it though as if you just pour it on your phone it could dissolve some of the glue or other things in your phone keeping it all together!
I have only had my Pixel 3 XL a couple months and had to clean the port out, has anyone found a Basic bumper case with a port cover built in I know I could buy removable ones but I know I would loose them.
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I agree with the toothpick answer, most of the dust in my port is so compacted that compressed air wouldn't even touch it. I just carefully inserted the toothpick while making sure to hold it against the outside edge and once I reached the bottom of the port (the point furthest in) I gently applied pressure and an insane amount of dust and dirt came out. My port works like new again, I thought the click when it plugged in just wore down, it was just so full of dirt it couldn't reach the point where it "clicked" in.
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I used a saftey pin I found toothpicks to b counterproductive with getting wood stuck
The Galaxy S8 comes with a dedicared pin to access the sd card and sim cards. Works well to clean charging port, especially if lint and dust are compacted as mine was.
Use a shaved down toothpick. I used some isopropyl alcohol. I put one or two drops into the Pixel 2 port and then cleaned it out with the toothpick. Lots of lint and dirt and dust came out. Now the connecter goes in quite well and there is a good connection.
Please I need help how else I only have a toothpick and cotton swabs 🙏🏻
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I had to use a metal safety pin to clean out mine. The lent was so compacted it was about as solid as a rock. I vigorously grinded the inside of the port with the pin and was finally able to get fast charging back.
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there is a risk of short circuit if you probe the port with a metal object. but I suspect that the manufacturer has mitigated this in the design.
This. This helped me so much. Once I heard somebody else has already used a safety pin, I was not scared anymore. 30 minutes later with a half a pound of dust, hair and general fuzz (found some glitter in there too) my safety pin started snapping in, the job was done, sure enough it charges perfectly, holds on to the cable nice and tight, hopefully transfers data again. Thank You!
Thanks for this.. thought I'd have to buy a new phone...a safety pin did the trick.
I cleaned the USB C connector port on my Pixel XL with a toothpick and that didn't work, so switch to a very thin knife. I got the debris out, but a day or two later I realized that my phone's microphone had stopped working!
I initially suspected a software update, but after talking with a Google Help person, and doing a Factor Reset, we concluded that it was a hardware problem.
I learned: The phone's microphone is on the same PCB as the USB charging port. I also learned the video recorder uses a *different* microphone than the phone and Google Assistant. (video still records audio)
I strongly suspect that my knife touched the USB C contacts and fried something related to the microphone on the PCB.
Safety pin. Awesome. Cleaned the thing right out and now the cord "clicks" in like it is supposed to. Thanks!
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I had an old banana sitting in the bottom of my backpack after a long weekend. When I set out for work, placed my MacBook Pro on top of the squishy, and ultimately leaky, banana directly into the usb ports of the laptop. Then I made matters worse, since I didn't realize where the goo came from etc, so I just plugged the cord right into the port. After realizing the connection wasn't working I pressed really hard. You get the idea, but it wasn't good. :)
The solution for me was to (1) use a toothpick to remove any of the major debris (see above) and then (2) use a toothbrush to remove the little bits remaining. For the tooth brush, I was methodical about keeping a high but acute angle. I worked at cleaning the ports for maybe 3 minutes or so each? I blew everything out and it works like a champ and the port is super clean and all my devices plug into and work flawlessly.
I hope that's helpful as a nother approach.
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I am watching a stray strawberry ooze out of my macbook pro right now, so thanks for the toothbrush idea. I'm going to add isopropyl to the mix because I, too, made matters worse by plugging something in.
Lol you guys just see fruit puree on your macbooks and think "hm wonder where that came from, oh well, I'll still plug $@$* into it."
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A single staple straightened out works wonders!
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This was by far the best solution. Persistence and swift motions will pull out little clumps. Be sure to clean the entrance of the port on the left and right too.
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Had the same problems with Samsung S8 it would only slow charge (6hrs+ from low battery). I found using the tip of a 2in zip tie worked brilliantly. I was shocked how much lint came out of it.
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thanks. worked for me.
Zip tie is perfect, just make you have one that's thin enough (in thickness, not width) to fit between the tab and outer housing without bending the tab. Also I cut mine lengthwise so it would have a sharp edge to pick the lint out better. It clicks again on insertion like it's brand new.
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I just cleaned a Macbook Pro USB-C ports. They had coffee spilled over them and no one noticed so it dried up into a sticky gunk. I used a sewing needle, cotton, alcohol and compressed air.
Dissolved the gunk with the alcohol, collected it with the cotton by dragging it around with the needle and finally dried it with the compressed air.
Worked like a charm. Both ports back in business.
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THANK YOU! Just used this tip on a Pixel 3 port that also had spilled coffee and wasn't charging.
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This was an excellent thread to find.
My Pixel 2 had been getting very stubborn about charging on the Technical Lego dock I made for it after failing to find a reliable rapid charge dock.
Toothpick seemed too big - maybe UK ones are different. Folded laminate nearly worked but bit too flexible to apply enough pressure, wrong kind of plastic I guess.
A skinny cable tie fitted perfectly down each side of the “tongue” bit and once trimmed with scissors to give it a sharp point it lifted out loads of rubbish.
I didn’t know the bottom of the port was shiny until now!
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Suggest you shave down a hard toothpick so it will go into the space above the centre piece in the connecter. This alongwith isopropyl alcohol worked well.
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Cut the flimsy tip of the pick side used it. Has the right balance between flexibility and strength.
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I used this as well. It's non cunducting and bends a little to be able to scrape the edges of the port clean.
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Got the *click* back after using a toothpick to clean mine out.
Whitling the toothpick to a fin shape helps too - a regular toothpick has too wide of a cross-section.
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Flossing sticks (for teeth) also have a flag edge. Not sure if the ones with cleaner on should be used though.
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I am cleaning my phones using philips sonicare toothbrush in combination With isopropyl and does wonders everytime :)
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Thanks for this! I'd been struggling but this worked first time - cheers dude 👍😁
The best solution is interdental brushes of small caliber with stiff brushes. Picksters are a good example but they are pricey and there are cheaper options. Use with isopropyl aka rubbing alcohol of 99%. I used hand sanitiser and my phone "detected moisture" so it's risky. Best to play safe. Even if you don't care is your phone explodes you might consider backing it up.
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I also used a Zip tie (Cable tie), I think I got most of the lint out of my galaxy S8 and it charges OK but perhaps not quiet fully in yet. I understood the galaxy S8 was dust and waterproof and was sad ti find dust in the port.
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To clean out my S8 PLus I folded a piece of laminated paper in half, 45 degree and from the corner. leaving a pointy corner with a scope. two swipes on each side and I could see the shiney bottom of the port. Works great now!!!!
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I use the SIM card remover for my phone. It’s thin and for the Pixels it’s flat. Works great and is really rigid. Wish I could find a tool with a handle though that has this kind of end on it!
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Be very careful as metal can short it out. It's not work risking ruining the phone. Wood or plastic is safer.
The risk really isn't in shorting the port. It's much more so in scratching the conductive coating off of the USB port that allows the phone to charge.
This is what I used
https://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Double-he...
Plastic, semi-rigid, to avoid damaging the port. I had to be persistent, and somewhat forceful in digging out the bottom of the port, especially the edges, and yes, the amount of debris extracted was unreal.
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I grabbed a plastic forks & broke off a 'tooth' & dug in. It felt like a rubber bottom down deep. I could discern no debris. A lot of firm digging, the fork tine went well, as it's harder plastic, like a floss stick. Then blew it out with compressed air supplied by a handy pair of lungs & hit it some more, scratching along both sides & both directions. And.....it worked!!!! Worried with it for weeks & 2-3minutes & it's 100%. Wouldn't charge or, not when the display went out, or... Gitterdun!!! Heh-heh!
Well there is different options depending on what is on your usb c port, I work in construction industry and my phone has been in sand,mud, cement spill, and of course everyone has lint in there pockets, I tried many different ways but anything apart from lint should be a safety pin,
has to be strong enough not to bend when applied pressure downwards, and not to thick that it cant touch the base of port because it will bend your female connector out of its housing too far when scrapping debris Outwards as width of pin plus the debris pushes against the port when removing it especially sand,mud,mortar,soil,wax,sawdust. I find the safety pins in first aid kits are perfect size.
the key is to spray compressed air alot and don't freak out the moisture evaporates in seconds when used correctly and most phones these days are waterproof and.have moisture protection in the ports check this online Google your device and see if waterproof,
if it Is not you will need rubbing alcohol and swab into port sparingly and use safety pin around the inside edges.and scrapping left to right and slowly edge debris up and around side of the connector and repeat,
until you feel no fight in your left to right scrapping and every 15 mins plugging in usb charger without it being in mains to see how far it will go in will show you if you are close to cleaning all debris out it takes time and patience and alot of cleaning and wiping, blowing air every time you take charger back out to make sure not pushing any debris back down into corners.
Don't be scared to scrape hard if it's hard debris push down and and drag left to right then when u feel smooth scrapping do the sides of connector slowly as they catch alot of the $@$* and blast air
or swab if u have no waterproofing with rubbing alcohol and scrapping is same method as above
the pin won't damage port if its correct thickness and just take.your time and you will see small bits at a time come out.
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I used a stiff nylon bristled brush that I use to clean my fingernails. That and a little bit of spit lol. I do a lot of tile and construction, mechanic work etc. So the dust/mortar was really stuck in there. The bristles and spit has that thing looking brand new! I tried all the other methods listed above with no luck. Went pretty aggressive with it, being as they are flexible bristles. A stiff toothbrush may work as well!
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8 Comments
Dental floss on a stick has a toothpick on the other end. Flat, pointy and stiff. Combine that with a dry toothbrush and blowing with your mouth. Get that lint and dust out.
by evansmichaelj
If you have any of those single-use plastic flossers with the toothpick point on the other end, they work wonderfully to clean out the port, especially if you have the ones that are more flat.
by Drake Dodson
If you have a beard trimmer, the cleaning brush that comes with that is pretty good
by Daniel Sampson
Small-sized ziptie - zero risk of it breaking and leaving something inside, nonconductive, and if you get a small enough one, it can reach all the way around the "tongue" inside the port.
by Art Hare
Same issue with Pixel XL. Astonishing the amount of lint that I dug out. Compressed air alone was woefully insufficient. Toothpick did the trick. USB C connectors now insert fully and make excellent reliable, stable connections.
by Scot Murray
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