How To Clean 3.5 Mm Audio Jack

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When your phone or other electronic device is left uncovered in your bag or pocket, the headphone jack can accumulate dirt and lint. Without cleaning, you eventually may not be able to plug in your headphones. Headphone jacks can be cleaned quickly and safely, though. Compressed air blows out debris, but you can also use a cotton swab for tough debris or a taped paperclip to remove lint.

1

Buy a can of compressed air. These cans can often be found at electronics stores like Radioshack or Best Buy. Compressed air is also used for clearing debris from computer parts, so look where computer parts are sold. Air is least likely to damage your jack since you don't have to put anything inside the hole other than the air.^[1]
2

Point the nozzle at the headphone jack. Get the air dispensing opening right up next to the jack. Some bottles come with thin tubes that stick out from the can. These may be easier for you to use since you can point the tube directly at the jack and focus the air into the small opening.^[2]
3

Release the air. Press the button on the top of the can to start dispensing air You should only need a blast or two to loosen most debris inside the jack. Make sure all it comes out of the hole.

1

Purchase cotton swabs. Cotton swabs, also known as Q-tips, can be found at general stores and other locations where health and beauty products are sold. Try to get ones that don't look very fluffy so that pieces don't get left behind in the jack. Swabs with thinner tips work better, because they are easier to fit inside the jack.
2

Remove cotton from the swab's tip. On one end of the swab, begin tearing or cutting off cotton. Make the tip as close to the width of the swab's middle portion as possible. Once the swab tip is this size, it should fit comfortably inside the jack.^[3]
3

Gently brush the jack. Don't jam the swab into the jack. Slowly push it in until it rests inside the hole. Spin the swab to brush off all sides of the jack. Remove the swab and most debris will fall out.^[4]
4
Swab with rubbing alcohol. For difficult debris, you can dip the swab in some rubbing alcohol. Make sure the swab is lightly coated, not soaked or dripping. Squeeze out excess moisture first. Put the swab back inside the jack and spin it again.^[5]
- Rubbing alcohol can corrode the metal, so use it sparingly.
5

Dry out the jack with a clean swab. The rubbing alcohol should dry quickly on its own. However, you can remove excess moisture to minimize the jack's exposure. Stick a clean swab into the jack. Leave it in there for a moment and spin it around to collect the alcohol.

1
Unfold a paperclip. Open up the paper clip so that one end is straight. The paper clip can now be used to scrape out debris. However, the metal can still scratch the inside of the jack.
- A toothpick can also be used, but the pointed ends can also scratch the jack's interior.^[6]
- Needles are useful for reaching lint and large debris, but can easily scratch the jack and should be used as a last resort.
2

Wrap tape around the clip's end. Use standard office tape (like Scotch or Sellotape). Tightly wrap the tape sticky side up around the straightened end of the paperclip. Before use, check to see that the tape is secure and won't come off.^[7]
3

Gently insert the tape into the jack. Slowly move the tape into position. Don't jam it in there. Reach for any debris you see. The tape forms a lint roller and will remove stuck debris and lint.

Add New Question

Question

I tried almost all of these and my phone is still in headphone mode. What do I do?

If nothing is working, you should consult the technical support department of your phone's manufacturer. There may be something easy they can do to fix it, or you may need to upgrade your phone.
Question

I tried everything but it won't connect my earphone. What do I do?

Rudy Toth

Community Answer

You need to get yourself a can of compressed air along with good ventilation in the room to clean out the headphone jack connector. There also adaptors that connect to the primary jack to bring down the size to 3.5mm jacks being a female adapter. Radio Shack use to sell these but, since RS is no longer in business. You need to seek them elsewhere on line maybe to obtain which are cheap and reliable.
Question

My headphones sort of bounce out of the headphone jack, and sound stops or comes out of the phone itself sometimes, instead of the headphones. Is it a dirty headphone jack or a problem with the phone?

Robert Lupas

Community Answer

It can be either a dirty headphone jack or a problem with the phone. First, try to clean it using this tutorial. Then, if it still doesn't work, it might be a problem with the phone. Try scanning the phone for viruses (they can affect the sound output) and try hard rebooting it or even doing a total reset. If the problem is still unsolved, take it to get a professional service done.
Question

When I move the plug of my headphone cord I hear brief static sounds, but recently if pulled lightly in a certain direction, parts of sound cut out completely. Is this an issue with the jack?

Citylimits

Community Answer

This is most likely an issue with your cable. This can happen when the cables are "scrunched up" too often. In the future, be careful not to scrunch them up too much and do not move the headphone jack when plugged in.

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Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Be gentle and minimal when putting anything inside the jack. The metal can easily be scratched or corroded.

Things You'll Need

Compressed air
Cotton swabs
Paperclip
Office tape
Rubbing alcohol

About This Article

Article SummaryX

To clean a headphone jack, start by removing the cotton from the end of a cotton swab until it's the width of the swab's middle portion. After that, slowly push the bare end of the swab into the jack and spin it to brush off the sides of the jack and dislodge any debris. If that doesn't clean the jack completely, dip the swab in some alcohol and squeeze out any excess liquid. Then, put the swab back into the jack and spin it again. Finally, remove the cotton from a second swab and use it to remove any remaining alcohol. To learn how to use compressed air or a taped paper clip to clean your headphone jack, scroll down!

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