I have a USB flash drive, and the male USB connector on it has gotten rather disgustingly sticky (lent it to colleague with small child, he let the child play with it (never again))
Can anyone advise on how to give it a throrough clean?
I've given it a wipe using dry cloth and gotten the worst off, but it is still tacky to the touch.
35 Answers
Isopropyl alcohol (aka: Rubbing alcohol). You may be able to buy some at a local pharmacy/chemist, but I usually have to get mine online. It's great for cleaning off cooked-on thermal paste - it shouldn't have an issue with some sticky finger stuff.
4Use some compressed air? Or some Cyber Clean?
1Try using alcohol swabs. I have found them useful for cleaning keyboards, sd memory cards, data sticks, and they work great on cleaning laptop screens as well. After cleaning the laptop screen, buff the the screen with something non-abrasive (a kleenex or a cloth diaper).
1DeoxIT is designed for this:
DeoxIT fast-acting deoxidizing solution that cleans, preserves, lubricates, and improves conductivity on metal connectors and contacts in 2 forms. ProGold preservative and lubricant for plated metal electrical connections in 2 forms.
You need:
- cotton swabs (better the double headed plastic ones)
- alcohol (better isopropyl)
- pressure plier (like those husky locking pliers or similar)
Flatten the cotton head using the plier enough to be able to fit tightly into the USB slot. Don't flatten too much - you want some resistance to guarantee a nice friction. Dip the cotton into alcohol, insert and give it a good rub - until the the metal contacts start to shine again. Avoid alcohol sliding into the electronics keeping them upside. Flatten another cotton head similarly and dry everything. Wait at least 10 minutes for the residual alcohol to evaporate.
Enjoy five more years out of your gadget!
ps.: if the metal contact was exposed, an eraser (or rubber) would do a better job, especially that blueish one used to erase ink from pens.
