Most iPhones are now water and dust resistant, but there is one area that is still sensitive about durability: the charging port. Cleaning the Lightning port can fix charging-related issues, so it’s good to clean it occasionally.
Even if you keep your iPhone in a case, the Lightning port is exposed most of the time. Keeping your phone in your pocket or bag can expose the port to debris such as lint. Plugging in your device to charge pushes everything deeper into the port, so it’s not self-cleaning either.
iPhone cleaning (step-by-step)
A lot of unwanted things can build up in your Lightning port, depending on usage. These buildups can cause iPhone to have problems with charging. If you take your iPhone to an Apple store and complain that it’s not charging properly, one of the first things technicians will try is to clean the charging port.
Damaging the lightning port can cause iPhone not to charge properly again and an expensive repair. That’s why you should avoid metal objects that can cause damage when cleaning the port. The key here is not to apply too much pressure as there is a risk of breaking the inlet.
Get a small light source and look at the port before you start getting an idea of how dirty it is. If you think it is dirty, gently insert your wooden toothpick and clean it without forcing, but avoid touching the side anchors that hold the cable in place. Continue this cleaning until the port looks clean and nothing else comes up.
Apple does not recommend using compressed air for iPhone cleaning. You should also avoid using anything like a cotton swab, which can cause more lint or fiber to get into the port. If you want to completely disinfect the exterior of your iPhone, you can choose to soak your cotton swabs in isopropyl alcohol.
What about different ways you use to clean your iPhone? You can share your views with us in the comments section and on the SDN Forum.
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