使用一段时间后，任何计算机都会变得尘土飞扬。也许您擦拭机器的顶部和侧面，但是您是否进入了USB端口？未能清洁USB端口可能会导致 USB 连接不良(can cause bad USB connections)，甚至会导致端口中断。
好消息是USB 端口(USB ports)易于清洁。只需几分钟即可完成，您应该每月至少执行一次（或者如果您拥有经常掉毛的宠物，则可能更频繁）。
如何清洁计算机的USB端口
尽管确实存在用于清洁计算机USB端口的专用工具，但您不必使用它们。有很多方法可以使用您家中可能已经拥有的一些基本物品来清洁它们。
这是您需要的：
- 镊子
- 牙签
- 棉签或棉签
- 无绒布
- 压缩的空气
- 异丙醇
从镊子开始
清洁任何USB(USB)端口（无论是 USB-C(whether USB-C)、USB-A还是经常被遗忘的USB-B ）的第一步是关闭计算机或笔记本电脑的电源。如果是笔记本电脑并且您可以选择，请取出电池。
下一步是拿一把镊子，去除肉眼可见的任何大块碎屑。这可能包括灰尘兔子、一簇宠物毛发，甚至是一些食物。如果USB设备在端口内部损坏，请移除所有残留的部件。注意不要(Take)用镊子刮伤触点。橡胶头镊子比传统镊子更可取。
使用压缩空气
您几乎可以从任何杂货店或大卖场购买一罐压缩空气。如果需要，您甚至可以在亚马逊(Amazon)上购买整个案例。罐子包括一个长而窄的管子，空气流过它。使用此喷嘴将空气倾斜到USB端口。
保持罐子倾斜，这样冷凝水就不会泄漏到端口中。您还应该尝试以一定角度从侧面吹入端口，而不是直接吹，以避免将碎片吹入端口更深处。这将处理大量灰尘和碎屑，并松开可能卡在端口深处的任何东西。
使用棉签
对于标准USB-A端口，棉签或 Q-Tip 可以拉出压缩空气留下的任何碎屑。在插入之前将其浸入一点异丙醇中。任何标准浓度都可以，但请记住，酒精浓度越高，干得越快——您需要等待端口完全干燥，然后再重新打开计算机。
外用酒精会分解连接器中的油脂和污垢，尤其是皮肤接触的污垢。这将清洁端口并确保更好的连接，而不会造成水损坏的风险。如果您需要更快地干燥端口，请使用无绒布，而不是其他棉签。这样(Doing)做可能会留下一些棉花。
作为酒精的替代品，您可以使用接触式清洁剂（大多数电子产品商店都有）进行清洁。
如何清洁Android(Your Android)或 iPhone 的USB-C或闪电端口(Lightning Port)
前面的步骤适用于清理大多数 Windows 机器和笔记本电脑(most Windows machines and laptop computers)上的端口，但不适用于移动设备。主要原因是手机使用很窄的 USB-C 或 Lightning 端口，棉签无法放入其中。这也适用于大多数现代Macbook(Macbooks)。
有一个更简单的解决方案，它以日常牙签的形式出现。
如何用牙签清洁你的小工具
牙签是一种清洁移动设备充电端口的简单方法。手机停止充电或工作，因为端口充满了碎屑和口袋棉绒。牙签将能够捕获该棉绒并将其拉出。
如果您曾经将手机送去维修，您可能会注意到Apple 技术人员采取的第一个故障排除步骤(steps Apple technicians take)是检查您是否有干净的USB端口。如果他们在里面发现碎片，他们会使用一个像牙签一样工作的塑料钩。
注意不要(Take)折断端口内的牙签或将其插入触点，否则可能弊大于利。
使用牙刷
另一种选择是使用干净的软毛牙刷。通过轻轻刷洗USB端口，您可以清除其中的碎屑，而不会造成伤害。电子除尘器（如家用除尘器，但规模较小）可以达到相同的目的。
您可以在亚马逊(Amazon)上以几乎一无所有的价格购买电子产品清洁工具包，该工具包将为您提供计算机或手机可能需要的所有清洁工具。
使用吸尘器
使用专门的电子吸尘器清洁USB端口是最安全的选择。这些小型手持设备可提供足够的吸力来清除您的设备上的灰尘和碎屑，而不会对它们造成任何程度的伤害。总体而言，这是最佳选择，但它在此列表中的排名如此之低，因为它们比其他用品少见。
无论您的USB数据线未被识别，还是(USB)设备管理器认为(device manager thinks is fine)您的端口有问题，解决方案通常在于清洁。虽然您可能会执行例行病毒扫描以清除软件中的任何有害内容，但您还应该在例行程序中实施硬件清理。问问(Just)自己：主板干净吗？
How to Clean Your Computer’s USB Ports
After using it for a while, anу computer will get dusty. Maybe you wipe down the top and sides of your maсhine, but dо you get inside the USB рorts? Failing to сlean your UЅB ports can cause bad USB connections and even kill ports.
The good news is that USB ports are easy to clean. It only takes a few minutes to do, and you should do it at least once per month (or maybe more often if you own pets that shed a lot).
How to Clean Your Computer’s USB Ports
Although specialized tools do exist for cleaning your computer’s USB ports, you don’t have to use them. There are plenty of ways to clean them with a few basic items you probably already have around your home.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Tweezers
- Toothpick
- Q-Tips or cotton swabs
- Lint-free cloths
- Compressed air
- Isopropyl alcohol
Start With Tweezers
The first step in cleaning any USB port, whether USB-C, USB-A, or even the often-forgotten USB-B, is to turn off the power to your computer or laptop. If it’s a laptop and you have the option, please remove the battery.
The next step is to take a pair of tweezers and remove any large bits of debris that are visible to the eye. This can include dust bunnies, tufts of pet hair, and even bits of food. If a USB device has broken inside the port, remove all pieces that remain behind. Take care not to scratch the contacts with the tweezers. Rubber-tipped tweezers are preferable to traditional tweezers.
Use Compressed Air
You can purchase a can of compressed air from nearly any grocery or big-box store. You can even pick up entire cases on Amazon if needed. The cans include a long, narrow tube that the air flows through. Use this nozzle to angle the air into the USB port.
Keep the can at an angle, so the condensation doesn’t leak into the port. You should also try to blow at an angle, coming at the port from the sides, rather than straight-on to avoid blowing the debris deeper into the ports. This will take care of a lot of dust and debris and loosen anything that might be stuck deeper in the port.
Use a Cotton Swab
For standard USB-A ports, a cotton swab or Q-Tip can pull out any debris the compressed air leaves behind. Dip it into a bit of isopropyl alcohol before inserting it. Any standard concentration will do, but bear in mind that higher concentrations of alcohol dry more quickly – and you need to wait for the port to be completely dry before turning your computer back on.
The rubbing alcohol breaks down oils and grime buildup in the connector, especially those from skin contact. This will clean the port and ensure a better connection without the risk of damage that comes with water. If you need to dry the port more quickly, use a lint-free cloth, not another cotton swab. Doing so might leave behind bits of cotton.
As an alternative to alcohol, you can use contact cleaner (found at most electronics stores) to clean.
How to Clean Your Android or iPhone’s USB-C or Lightning Port
The previous steps work well for cleaning ports on most Windows machines and laptop computers, but they don’t work so well for mobile devices. The main reason is that phones use far narrow USB-C or Lightning ports, and a cotton swab won’t fit inside. This also holds true for most modern Macbooks, too.
There’s an easier solution, which comes in the form of your everyday toothpick.
How to Clean Your Gadgets With a Toothpick
A toothpick is an easy way to clean out the charging port on your mobile device. The phone stops charging or working because the port is filled with debris and pocket lint. A toothpick will be able to snare that lint and pull it out.
If you have ever taken your phone in for repair, you might notice that one of the first troubleshooting steps Apple technicians take is to check whether you have clean USB ports. If they find debris inside, they use a plastic hook that works like a toothpick.
Take care not to break the toothpick inside the port or thrust it into the contacts, or you might do more harm than good.
Use a Toothbrush
Another alternative is to use a clean, soft-bristled toothbrush. By gently brushing the USB ports, you can remove debris from inside them without risk of harm. Electronics dusters (like a household duster, but on a smaller scale) can serve the same purpose.
You can purchase an electronics cleaning kit for next to nothing on Amazon that will provide you with all the cleaning tools you might need for your computer or phone.
Use a Vacuum Cleaner
Using a specialized electronics vacuum cleaner is the safest option for cleaning a USB port. These small, handheld devices provide enough suction to rid your device of dirt and debris without risking any level of harm to them. This is the best option overall, but it ranks so low on this list because they are less common than the other supplies.
Whether your USB cable isn’t recognized or you just have a faulty port the device manager thinks is fine, the solution often lies in cleaning. While you might perform routine virus scans to rid your software of anything nasty, you should also implement hardware cleaning into your routine. Just ask yourself: is the motherboard clean?
