No need to waste money on a “kit” for such a basic task.
YSK before you buy a replacement for your cellphone that has stopped charging, buy the $10 cleaning kits and spend the time deep cleaning the phone's charging port.
Submitted 15 hours ago by 11111one11111@lemmy.world to youshouldknow@lemmy.world
https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/e053d8ad-e784-4749-9f87-d986846cd561.jpeg
Comments
remon@ani.social 5 hours ago
FireWire400@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
Yeah, a toothpick or even a toothbrush will do the trick if you’re careful. And without creating unnecessary waste.
ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world 2 hours ago
It needs to be a hard material though. Soft plastic or wood can sometimes bend and break before getting anywhere.
Zachariah@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
A 1¢ toothpick works 99% of the time.
zr0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 hours ago
YSK that OP is now mad at wasting $9.99
b_tr3e@feddit.org 12 hours ago
For the missing 1% use isopropanol.
paper_moon@lemmy.world 15 hours ago
People don’t try cleaning their charging port before buying a new device? Thats crazy. I really have a hard time believing people don’t try cleaning before buying a new device.
fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 hours ago
Some people are just absurdly lazy.
Also what kind of kit does op have? A sim card ejector, a metal brush, a q tip thing, half a zip tie, and some adhesive things? Any thin plastic shim will work perfectly, and sometimes even a stiff plastic bristle brush works well.
slazer2au@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
Not all are lazy, some just don’t know.
My in-laws didn’t clean the dust out of their PC for almost a decade because when they purchased it, no one told them to clean the filter on the front.
Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
Most people buy a new cell phone long before the charger stops working.
I’m weird. I’ve had my cell phone since 2020. But MOST people buy one every 2-3 years. Just because the newest latest and greatest just came out.
My 5 year old phone still has no issue charging. And when the battery starts dying, MY battery is user replaceable.
acockworkorange@mander.xyz 14 hours ago
Don’t believe this person, they’ve clearly lost their mind.
PapaStevesy@lemmy.world 8 hours ago
Sounds like you haven’t met very many people.
tpihkal@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
I mean, it’s one phone, paper_moon. What could it cost? $1000?
BroBot9000@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
I’d believe it, especially with all the propaganda from big corporations and the fomo they push with new technology. Looking at Apple and their fucking yearly phone cycles.
Don’t forget to consume more! Buy two just in case! Consume! CONSUME!!!
ozymandias@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 hours ago
i found out weed smokers regularly use a glass pipe until it’s clogged and then just throw it away….
also, if you go dumpster diving around the first of the month you can find trash bags full of useful things that people abandon and landlords throw out.
drosophila@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 hours ago
As an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure I recommend those tiny rubber stoppers you see in the photo. They have a peel and stick part that goes under your case which retains the plug on a strip of rubber. That strip might wear out in a few years and rip, but they cost almost nothing to replace (and in fact come in packs).
Phones used to have these things built in, then they stopped in the smartphone era because they didn’t look as sleek and futuristic I guess. Now, if you have a case, it once again makes hardly any difference to the appearance.
NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip 14 hours ago
Yeah… be incredibly careful about shoving something with metal bristles into your charging port.
Maybe once a year I get a bit of gunk in my port (hey-oh!). Samsung (presumably all usb c androids?) are generally really good about losing their shit and yelling at you to remove the cable immediately and clean your port.
So when I get home? I just get one of my flossers (for teeth) that tend to have a cheap plastic toothpick attached to it. Works perfect, no liquids, and very minimal risk of damaging the port.
Septimaeus@infosec.pub 12 hours ago
I’ve always used wooden toothpicks because
- Common
- Made from cheap soft wood: more likely to deform or destruct against metal than most plastics
- Cut with the grain: especially soft to anything raking against the sides (like delicate pins)
- The uneven “splintery” sides happen to be pretty good at snagging tiny fibers of lint to pull them out as one big ball, requiring fewer swipes
More techniques:
- clean with port facing straight down to get gravity assist
- blow across the opening of the port: mild negative pressure + agitation inside cavity vs blowing directly into port (which is generally warned against explicitly)
- focus on “pinning” lint up against each of the two corners and holding gentle pressure during extraction: these corners of the port have no exposed pins, and happen to be where lint tends to accumulate anyway
worhui@lemmy.world 6 hours ago
By all means try a tooth pick and pure alcohol, if that doesn’t work a professional might get you set straight.
Repair shops can do a better job cleaning than a home option. I had a data and charge problem, bought a kit and tried 3x times; it didn’t work . Bought new cables just in case that was the issue. Brought it in for repair fully expecting to pay for a port repair. Repair shop did a through cleaning charged me $15 and sent me on my way with everything working.
zr0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 hours ago
Please, not just any alcohol. Go with isopropanol, ethanol or methanol.
we_come_at_night@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
Gotta be careful as well with USB-C ports. I managed to break off the middle section while cleaning a couple of times. Not a good thing, luckily phone battery was already dying at the time.
notarobot@lemmy.zip 13 hours ago
10 USD??? I justo walk into a phone repair shop and ask them if they can clean it. they do it in under a minute for free
markz@suppo.fi 12 hours ago
Walk into a store? I just use a toothpick or a needle
justaregularthrowaway@lemmynsfw.com 5 hours ago
Last time I used a needle I caused a short. Cost me 120 euros to have it fixed
notarobot@lemmy.zip 12 hours ago
My toothpicks are not that thin.
I usually pass various phone shops on my way to buy groceries, so it’s not an inconvenience
ook@discuss.tchncs.de 7 hours ago
Do not use a needle. Use something wood, like the toothpick you suggested, or plastic. The needle might damage the port.
AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
Never mind those, where do I get those cool rear view mirrors for my phone?
nailingjello@lemmy.zip 11 hours ago
I’ve been using magnetic USB cables and adapters on my devices for years. I occasionally need to clean their connection, but otherwise work we’ll. Found one I liked and purchased a bunch of them, now the car, house, office, etc. all have one of the magnetic cables nearby.
They charge a little slower, but that’s better for my battery long-term anyway.
Rooster326@programming.dev 11 hours ago
I did this but the magnets started to lose their “magnet-ness?” They didn’t snap in right and would look plugged in but not charging.
Felt like I traded one quirky cord not going in, for another.
Do you have a preferred brand?
asteriskeverything@lemmy.world 10 hours ago
Fucking magnets. How could they stop working???
AllHailTheSheep@sh.itjust.works 5 hours ago
you could get a magnetizer and run it through that a few times. even something cheap like this should do the trick: ebay.us/m/18o4zx
magnets just lose their strength over time and repeated use. the Samsung flip phones use magnets to detect when it’s open or closed, and a lot of the time they’ll lose strength and the phone won’t detect that’s it been opened or closed. I have pretty much that exact magnetizer and I run the magnets through that a time or two and everything starts working again lol. I assume the same concept should work for you.
Fuckswearwords@lemmy.world 9 hours ago
Word you’re looking for is magnetism or polarity.
nailingjello@lemmy.zip 11 hours ago
I use the [N. NETDOT Gen 10 Magnetic Charging Cable] (a.co/d/ijM37pD). I have thrown away a few of the magnetic tips that physically broke from abuse, but for me that’s cheaper than a device repair.
When they stop connecting properly, I usually clean them with a toothpick (or other good suggestions from this thread).
planish@sh.itjust.works 11 hours ago
I had no idea these existed and they look amazing!
Where do you buy these that isn’t under boycott?
sobchak@programming.dev 8 hours ago
I used to use these, but I think they contributed to my charging port failing, so I just try to use wireless for everything. I’ve read of other people that had the same issue. I think the cause was electrical arcs when attaching and detaching. Or maybe ferreous shavings getting in the pins. Whatever it was, it damaged in the charging circuit.
Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
I used to shock and amaze people when I’d pull out half a cottonballs worth of pocket lint and get their phones working again.
CaptainBlinky@lemmy.myserv.one 13 hours ago
at the very least get a toothpick and get the lint out.
aramis87@fedia.io 14 hours ago
You could also set up wireless charging and put the phone down for a bit.
lemmyng@piefed.ca 12 hours ago
Or magnetic USB-C adapters. Keeps the gunk out of the charging port while still retaining functionality (including fast charging). There's also charge-only adapters, which are handy for travel when you don't trust the port the phone is connected to.
Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 11 hours ago
This is the answer.
I’ve used them for close to 10 years. Started because one phone had a touchy port. Glued the adapter in the right position and never had a problem.
slothrop@lemmy.ca 14 hours ago
Heathen!!!
logicbomb@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
I had a phone that I put the charging cable in backwards, and the port was completely broken. Bought a wireless charger and never had any problems.
(Whoever decided to standardize phone chargers on that connector should be put into prison.)
Rooster326@programming.dev 11 hours ago
For whoever isn’t aware, you can just add wireless charging to a device. It’s a paper thin cord and a pad that goes under whatever case you have. You won’t even notice it’s there under your case. They work well.
corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 13 hours ago
The last time I plugged my phone in to charge was … Well, never with this one.
It has a 3.5mm and a Qi charging and sharing rig. I wish I could have this phone forever.
rizzothesmall@sh.itjust.works 5 hours ago
If that doesn’t work it’s probably the battery, which is also about $15
zr0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 hours ago
LOL. That’s just bullshit. It might be 15$ for a very old low tier phone. Not for anything that is waterproof, newer or even slightly above low tier.
rizzothesmall@sh.itjust.works 3 minutes ago
Battery is $15, not phone.
Jayb151@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
Literally just use one of those toothpick flosser things. The end is usually a plastic pick, which is perfect.
11111one11111@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
My phone is a Galaxy Z-Fold5, not new but not old enough for me to replace since the Fold7 just shipped.
Was hell bent sure the issue causing my phone to begin not accepting charging cables* was something Samsung was doing with their software updates. (*It charged fine with contactless chargers if youre ok with it taking 10-14 hours to charge)
It was too much of a coincidence that the phone charged 100% fine with any and all cables. Download a software update (not android update, this was samsung delivered update) phone doesnt charge with a cable after that for 2-3 weeks. Im T1Diabetic who uses wifi connected glucose monitor, so it fuckin drains battery juice 24/7 with very little setting controls to mitigate it. So I spent 2-3 weeks battling with it to charge on charging pads.
Didn’t change a thing with what I was doing and BAM another Samsung update, weirdly close to the last update and fuck me running if the phone didnt start charging very very tenderly with charging cables again.
Eventually figured fuck it, if its hard to do the phone is broke if its easy enough to do then maybe it will help and bought a pack of adhesive rubber type C port plugs from Amazon that came with a super cheap cleaning kit. It wasnt anything special. It came with the picture pointed and spaded q-tips, a flexible wire brush, then I used my own zip tie that I shaped, a sim card tool and a cloth for cleaning glasses. AND WENT TO FUCKING TOWN.
Everytime you plug in your charger to your phone, any dust that is in there is getting buttfucked into the back of the phone’s charging port like its a muzzleloaded gunpowder. Lol a bit hyperbplic but you get the point.
Finished cleaning the port. Plugged it in. First fuckin try, no fighting it, now switching chargers, no “charging but not fast charging” bullshit. No more voids in guessing my blood sugar. No more watching tv holding charger into phone. AND $1,000+ THAT IS STILL IN MY FUCKING ACCOUNT.
I gotta assume this is the #1 driver for phones needing to be replaced ever since the screens stopped shattering everytime you sneezed. The adhesive rubber plug is amazing. It is hardly noticeable and stays in the charging port even with my opening and closing of screens. It never pops out.
Honestly the smartest $10 I think I may have ever spent.
TLDR: Phone not charging? Buy $10 type C cleaning kit from amazon, watch 5min video on tips for cleaning, clean charging port for night and day results. Not difficult, very hard to fuck up your phone unless you jackhammer the port cleaning it. Saves you the cost of a new phone.
And obviously this isnt a fix all for all charging issues.
Toldry@lemmy.world 28 minutes ago
Could you please link the kit you bought?
Triumph@fedia.io 14 hours ago
Get a magnetic charge cord. There’ll be a tiny dongle that you plug in once, then the complementary cable has a magnet end that snaps to.
They’re cheap and easy, though not all of them are interchangeable with each other, so figure out how many device you want to use and in how many places, and buy everything at once.
Melvin_Ferd@lemmy.world 10 hours ago
My charging port died and I’m so pissed. 2 year old Google pixel. Never buying pixel again. I looked up how to desolder the charging port and it’s a pain in the ass. It has this like weird shield over it and I have no idea how to desolder this thing. Why can’t it be straight forward
agedcorn@lemmy.world 2 hours ago
Shouldn’t a Pixel that new support wireless charging? I’m surprised at how many people still rely on plugging their phones in to charge them these days. At the very least, it’s a workaround for a broken port.
ayyy@sh.itjust.works 7 hours ago
Why the fuck would they solder the charging part to the main board? That’s just actively malicious.
dangrousperson@feddit.org 5 hours ago
You sure its dead? My 2 year old pixel was also having issues charging, but I simply used SIM tray tool to poke around the charging port and got A LOT of lint out of it and its as good as new
salacious_coaster@infosec.pub 14 hours ago
An old toothbrush and isopropyl alcohol works fine.
Dumhuvud@programming.dev 3 hours ago
This but I prefer using a dedicated brush. Call me paranoid but what if an old toothbrush has bits of food stuck in it, wouldn’t want that to get into the phone.
SpicyTaint@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
What the fuck are you people doing that causes the phone to not charge anymore? Rolling around in the mud naked with the phone clamped between your ass cheeks?
I have never had an issue with charging my phone at any point in the last 20+ years. I even have my phone upside down in my pocket so the charging port is facing up.
jh34@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
I work in a kitchen. There is a lot of flour dust. Phone goes in my pocket port up. After a year the build up is enough to warrant a cleaning due to issues.
Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 11 hours ago
Lol, a year!
That’s kind of telling about what it takes to cause a problem.
Im the same, port up so I can pull it out one handed and use it.
shalafi@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
I’m stomping around the backwoods of NW Florida, occasionally crawling under bushes, no issues. Pixels suck at getting wet though, never again.
dan@upvote.au 14 hours ago
I always use wireless charging, and have a silicone plug in my phone’s USB port to stop dirt getting in there. Very similar to these: a.co/d/aFWuSI3
In the rare case that I need to plug something into it, the port is completely clean.
Theoriginalthon@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
Just get a bit of plastic packaging or something similar. Cut thin long rectangle. Then cut a small chunk out near the tip to form a small hook. Scrape along the bottom of the port in all directions. Pull out fluff, then repeat until no more fluff comes out. Then go again as you won’t have got it all out even if it looks like it
badbytes@lemmy.world 11 hours ago
A filed down toothpick is really good at cleaning that USB port.
Beebabe@lemmy.world 11 hours ago
I gave mine a good blow out like a Nintendo cartridge
sga@piefed.social 6 hours ago
I recently got a replacement battery and also the usb c circuitry. Got it replaced for $15 (everything included). Phone is effectively new now.
ohellidk@sh.itjust.works 13 hours ago
I’ve used electrical contact cleaner while the phone is off, usually works
Kolanaki@pawb.social 14 hours ago
The last few phones I’ve had to replace, the little bit of PCB that connects to the USB-C charger snapped off. A cleaning kit won’t help that. 😔
abbadon420@sh.itjust.works 14 hours ago
Ir take your phone to your regular phone store and let them clean it for you for free.
saltnotsugar@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
Also, replacing the battery is pretty cheap compared to buying a new phone.
shalafi@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
Solid tools to have in any case. I wouldn’t buy a kit as I already have all that from other projects.
Just now got the USB port covers! Have a crappy light on my little .22, lost the cover immediately. Put on of those on and have hiked for miles, banged in around, wiped it off during general cleaning several times, still perfectly stuck. Little finicky getting it seated, well worth it for the perfect seal. $.86/ea. on eBay.
Defectus@lemmy.world 1 hour ago
a simple sewing needle does the job
winkerjadams@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 hour ago
I use a toothpick as the metal could potentially short something
EddoWagt@feddit.nl 1 hour ago
The port should detect shorts and stop working, atleast on waterproof phones