How to Clean the USB Ports in Laptop Computers

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Make sure you have clean USB ports on your laptop.

USB ports, or Universal Serial Bus ports, are designed to accept external devices such as digital cameras, modems, printers, game controllers and many other devices. The USB ports also tend to become dusty after time from debris floating around in the air. When the USB ports become dirty and clogged with debris, they can short out when reading data or not work correctly. You can clean the USB ports on your laptop computer and prevent them from malfunctioning.

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Step 1

Pick out any large pieces of lint, debris or dust that you can visually see stuck in the USB ports of your laptop computer.

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Step 2

Blow compressed air into the USB ports to blow out any debris or dust that is stuck. When blowing the compressed air into the USB ports, keep the can at an angle so it does not leak the liquid solution out of the can. Also, blow the debris away from the USB port instead of deeper down into it.

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Step 3

Dip a cotton swab into a bottle of rubbing alcohol and gently rub the swab on the USB contacts in the port. This will clean the USB port of grime and residue that is collecting on it. After a while, the grime and residue collecting on the electrical connection of the USB port will degrade the connection.

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