Help Why do I not see any discussions on micro-USB port "hygiene"?

[OcalaFlGuy]

Am I the only one who ever has this problem??

I just sweated bullets for 4 days over a semi-non-charging situation and was all ready to take my X to the shop tomorrow to have the USB port checked out (replaced one on my 4 year old Razr flip phone once) and it finally dawned on me...

I ever so carefully went after the port this morning with a toothbrush and some hitest isoprop alcohol and that did the trick, back to normal charging. I used to clean the micro USB on my flip Razr with Radio Shack Color TV tuner cleaner every so often but that had slipped my feeble mind. (Plus they reformulated the cleaner and it now leaves an oily residue )

I forum searched and Googled my fingers bloody about charging issues and charger port issues and never saw one word anywhere about being sure the port and the charger male end are degunked now and then. (And it's not that I'm nasty or anything I think, any kind of exposed electrical contact will get oxidization on it sooner or later.)

What say yall?

Bruce in Ocala, FL

 

[lunatic59]

I have in the past recommended that USB connections be cleaned using a cotton swab and a little alcohol. It is however, much more likely that the sort of problem you describe arises from a defective cable or jack. Dirty battery connectors, in my experience, are far more common. The mechanical connection of a USB cable connector being plugged and unplugged daily is likely to keep much of the dirt and oxidation to a minimum, where a battery, sitting unmoved will show more oxidation. Either way, a perioding cleaning couldn't hurt.

 

[colchiro]

Considering many people pocket their phones, I would think lint would be more of a culprit than something that needs a solvent.

A simple shot of canned air should work as good.

 

[Frisco]

Am I the only one who ever has this problem??

I just sweated bullets for 4 days over a semi-non-charging situation and was all ready to take my X to the shop tomorrow to have the USB port checked out (replaced one on my 4 year old Razr flip phone once) and it finally dawned on me...

I ever so carefully went after the port this morning with a toothbrush and some hitest isoprop alcohol and that did the trick, back to normal charging. I used to clean the micro USB on my flip Razr with Radio Shack Color TV tuner cleaner every so often but that had slipped my feeble mind. (Plus they reformulated the cleaner and it now leaves an oily residue )

I forum searched and Googled my fingers bloody about charging issues and charger port issues and never saw one word anywhere about being sure the port and the charger male end are degunked now and then. (And it's not that I'm nasty or anything I think, any kind of exposed electrical contact will get oxidization on it sooner or later.)

What say yall?

Bruce in Ocala, FL

What lunatic said. Just to add that I'd be very very careful about applying compressed air to any port on a device, as the debris/dust in that area can be driven into the device and to who knows what affect. I stay away from compressed air altogether. The alcohol/cotton swab method is best, along with being careful as to where the device is kept. Turn your pockets inside out and shake the dust/lint off prior to pocketing the phone, etc.