There’s nothing worse than running out of battery, especially now that we are reliant on our phones for so many things. So what happens when you go to plug in your phone and the charging port is compromised?

For many of us, our phones have become extensions of ourselves, and any inefficiencies can be less than ideal. A dirty charging port can affect the efficiency of the charger. However, in many cases, this can be a simple fix, and you will be back to peak charging capabilities in no time!

Our guide takes you through the best ways to clean your phone’s charging port to help ensure that your phone is working at its best for longer.

If your current phone is on its last legs and a bit of cleaning won’t save it, why not take a look at our range of second-hand phones that are available for some great prices!

Diagnosing the Problem

If your charger suddenly stops being effective or becomes sporadic in its charging capabilities, it could be that there is dust in the phone’s port. From their many travels in pockets or backpacks, phones can come into contact with lots of lint and dirt, which collects in places like the charging port. Dust can obstruct the battery connectors and prevent a link from the internal battery to the power source (often your USB) being made.

This kind of problem can be easily diagnosed; shine a light into the port to check if there is an abundance of dirt that needs to be removed.

The other good news is that getting rid of dust and dirt can be fairly straightforward!

Compressed Air

If possible, it is often better not to stick anything into the port in case you end up disrupting something that would be less of an easy fix. This is why using a can of compressed air can be particularly useful.

Before cleaning, switch your phone off to be on the safe side.

To clean, point the nozzle on the can of compressed air into the port and spray in light bursts. Shine a light into the port again to check you have dislodged everything.

Using compressed air is a better alternative than simply blowing on the port yourself — even though that can be tempting! Air from the mouth can be wet and hot, which could damage the delicate internal connectors.

Toothpick

If you can’t get your hands on some compressed air, a toothpick is a possible alternative. However, you will need to be very careful and gentle to ensure that you don’t poke something out of place!

Like when using compressed air, it is best to switch your phone off before attempting this cleaning method. You can use a toothpick to gently scrape the dirt to loosen it and then shake it out. Avoid using pressure; instead, opt for the lightest of scraping motions.

If you do need to insert something into the port, make sure to use only a toothpick. Do not use paperclips, needles or any kind of metal implement as you could risk causing a short-circuit which can destroy the phone. Wooden picks are softer and less likely to cause this kind of issue.

Professional Help

If you are nervous about trying to clean the port yourself, a visit to a professional may be something to consider. Professionals at phone repair or tech stores will have more specialised equipment designed for the occasions where delicate cleaning is necessary.

There you have it! Cleaning out your phone’s charging port will usually be a quick and instant fix. If, after cleaning, you are still experiencing charging issues, a dirty port may not be the problem. Broken chargers, inefficient power sources or internal damage may be the culprit in these instances.

Hopefully, our guide will help keep your phone in squeaky-clean condition! If you do need a new phone, why not browse our range of devices?