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How to clean oxidized USB plug?

NVZN

Dec 17, 2016
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Dec 17, 2016
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How to clean it? I tried to use alcohol 70%, no avail. Only cleans a bit.

Using vinegar? Or?

IMG-20200616-174011.jpg
 
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dave9

Mar 5, 2017
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How did it happen? Prevention seems important.

A mildly abrasive metal polish should do the trick, for example brasso (but I would try toothpaste first if you have no metal polish), but that is just a ground (and not strictly needed for USB function since there is another pin 4 ground on the contacts), so if it won't work you probably have a different problem.
 

Harald Kapp

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Nov 17, 2011
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Brush.
Toothpaste contains micro abrasive particles to clean teeth, works equally well with many other surfaces.
 

antrowe07

Aug 30, 2019
5
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Aug 30, 2019
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I've found a medium stiffness BRASS wire brush with the toothpaste works best for me. If it's too narrow for a wire brush maybe a ladies emory board,like they use to file their nails.
 

WHONOES

May 20, 2017
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I have used a Fibreglass bristle cleaning pen in the past to clean contacts. It works really well. Was surprised to see that they are still available. Amazon have some as do RS Components and Hobbycraft.
 

dave9

Mar 5, 2017
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Keep in mind that the contacts themselves are normally gold plated and that plating will be damaged by most abrasive cleaning options, and being gold, shouldn't have oxidized itself so should be more of a fluid suspension cleaning process.
 
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