Cleaning dirty headphone jack?

I am the owner of a 3rd gen iPod. Recently, the headphone jack has been cutting out a bit when the plug gets moved around, most likely a dirty/scratchy jack. Does anybody know if regular electrical contact cleaner spray can be used on the iPod? I've never heard of any type of jack, pot, or electrical connection that couldn't be cleaned with the the spray, but I just wanted to make sure.
thanks!

Good post! I had a problem similar to this a while back with my Eris where the headphone icon would stay in the notification bar. I had to use basically the same solution (I think I used a toothpick, though a Q-Tip is probably safer). I do find it funny that you blew into the hole, as I did the same thing, also being a former NES player. Why did that always work?!?

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Cleaning the Headphone Jack?

I just noticed some grey/black parts inside of the headphone jacks of all my iPods.
I think they result from the repeated plugging in and out of the headphones.
1. Do you have that, too?
2. Should I clean it or better leave it as it is?

Anybody else having dark spots on the inside of the headphone jack?

How do I properly clean the headphone jack?

My headphones started to short out a couple weeks ago and at first I thought it might be the headphone jack itself on my iTouch. Even though I figured out it was the headphones, I decided it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to clean out the headphone jack itself. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to do this properly? I don't know if a q-tip is safe but I also don't think it will fit...
Any knowledge on this would be great!

A regular 3.5 jack to jack won't cut it. You need something like this DIY iRig or a dedicated product.
tt2

What's the best way to clean dust out of headphone jack?

Best way to clean iPhone headphone jack?

As randers4 said, use canned compressed gas and NEVER BY MOUTH. That blows humidity and moisture right on the water sensor at the base of the jack, possibly voiding the warranty and corroding the jack and other parts.

No sound from internal speakers, red glowing light in headphone jack

Okay. Have seen a few posts on this topic, but scattered symptoms, resolutions and ideas. Here is my timeline and plan:
My speakers went out spontaneously running 10.4.5 when I switched to battery power. We had a blackout here in L.A. and I was trying to play a DVD for the kids- no internal speaker sound.
* There is a red light glowing from the headphone jack. Never noticed this before, it seems to be a sign associated with the problem.
* External speakers/headphones work fine.
* Absolutely no sound from any app, alert or startup unless something (speakers/headphones)external is plugged in.
* if nothing is plugged in, the slider volume control in the menu bar is greyed out at full volume. Sound pref panel only shows "digital out" as choice, but is greyed out. "Built-in speakers" is absent as a choice.
What I've tried:
Select/deselect "look for spekaers" option in iTunes.
Update to 10.4.7
Update all listed apps to latest in Software update (iTunes, QT, etc.)
Trash sound prefs
Zap PRAM
Clean install from OEM DVD
Restore System from previous backup (although last backup may have been corrupt because I may not have noticed the problem for a while.)
That's about it.
My plan: Take PB to genius bar today and see what they say.
I'll report back what they say.

I have had the same syptoms as the above people in my PowerBook and was hating life without sound. i got to thinking about what earlier people had posted and concluded it could not be a software problem, that it had to be a hardware problem. I thought, maybe the headphone jack was just dirty, you know, plugging headphones/speakers in and out of the computer many times, it could have just gotten dirty. If I just clean it with rubbing alcohol, maybe that will do the trick. It did! I have been going two days and am doing great!
THE BOTTOMLINE!
Clean the headphone jack out! I used a q-tip and rubbing alcohol. (I have found that making my own q-tip with a toothpick and a small amount of cotton works better because it is thinner than the stick for a q-tip. Just twist the cotton to the edge of the toothpick.)
For all you people out there who try this and it works for you post for other people so they can be more confident that it does work.

How do i get stuff out of my headphone jack

so i have a iPod touch 2nd generation and it was stuck in a couch and when i pulled it out i saw that something got stuck so i tried pulling it but it fell to the very end of the headphone jack so i wanna how do i get it out of my headphone jack

How to Clean an iPhone's Headphone Jack | Gazelle
How to solve iPhone volume problems by cleaning your headphone jack | How To - CNET

Is my headphone jack broken?

I was just listening to music when I dropped my iphone 4s on to my floor. (It has an otterbox on it). After I picked it up, nothing would play through the headphones. I tried rebooting it, cleaning the headphone jack and I'm going to try to restore it. If this doesnt work any suggestions?

I just restored my iphone and nothing changed. And I forgot to mention that it's still under warranty by verizon. So anyway, is my only option now to just get a new phone?

Problem in Headphone Jack

My headphone jack seems broken. It does not recognize the plugging of the headphones and the music on the go feature only lasts for a secord after the start actions, and in order for the phone to recognize the headphone, i must apply more pressure to the headphones to the jack and after I let go of the pressure, the phone does not recognize the headphones anymore. Please respond and thank you very much

Hi and welcome to the community! Since you're new please be sure that you have checked out our Discussion guidelines.
I would advise using a cotton tip to gently and carefully clean the headphone jack.
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I can't hear my phone calls unless I put it on speaker. Tried cleaning by blowing on earpiece and headphone jack and pushing near front camera and earpiece speaker...no luck. HELP!

I can't hear my phone calls unless I put it on speaker. Tried cleaning by blowing on earpiece and headphone jack and pushing near front camera and earpiece speaker...no luck. HELP!

If you've tried everything mentioned you probably have a failed earpiece. One option is to get a BlueTooth headset and use it for all calls. It will be cheaper than the $199 out-of-warranty replacement price from Apple (if it's still in warranty or AppleCare it will be free). Good BT headsets can be had for around $40. And it will hold you over until the Next New Thing from Apple is available

My daughtrts ipad 2 only recognises headphones. and the internal speaker will not work. we have reset the system three times, cleaned out the headphone jack, and chrckrd the side switch above the volume. alos we ensured it was not in do not disturb mode

On our ipad the speaker has quit working. Sound is only heard when you have head phones plugged in. We have reset the system three times cleaned out the headphone jack. Changed languages and rest but nothing works. This ipad is important to our daughter it is her tool to communicate with us and now it is not working please help

You've done well with troubleshooting so far. Next step would be to back up and then restore from iTunes. Good luck!

Cleaning Lint/Dust/Dirt From the Docking Port, Headphone Jack, Mic & Spkr

Does anyone know if you spray canned air (Dust Off) into the docking port, headphone jack, mic & speaker ports, if the air will blow the lint/dust/dirt deep into the phone or possibly under the screen where you can't get it back out?

i just use a toothpick and dig it out. the dock port and headphone jack are fairly closed off so the chance of pushing the lint / gunk in deeper is pretty low. so far no issues

Headphone jack wont work normally

There is something wrong with my headphone jack. the sound skips in and out in even increments when im using headphones but through the normal speakers sound is fine. theres nothing wrong with my headphones. does anybody know what is wrong with it?

It may be dirty ...try blowing into the jack or better yet use a form of compressed air for electronic equipment. You could also try wetting the tip of your headphone jack with WD-40 (or a similar electronic contact cleaner) then wiggling that around to see if things clear up.

5g ipod nano 8GB no sound through ear buds or headphone jack only when docked.

5g ipod nano 8GB no sound through ear buds or headphone jack only when docked. any suggestions? i don't want to replace any of the parts inside if at all possible.
I have a 5th generation 8GB iPod nano. I bout it off of eBay in May of 2010 and it has worked great until now (Apr 2011). The 5th gen plays music through the headphone jack even when no ear buds are plugged in. I was using it one day and it just stopped. I tried resetting it manually and automatically and I tried reinstalling iTunes. Nothing has worked. Now it won't even play sound though the ear buds (or the aux hook up in my car), only when it is docked to my iHome. Does anyone have any suggestions? I dont want to replace the iPod or any parts inside if at all possible. ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOMED! THANKS!

Headphone jacks are only good for so many in and out usages. Usually its the headphone jack itsefl that goes bad first but sometimes it is the internal part. If you are lucky you can clean out the inside and get it to work.
These devices are not made to last for someone who actually has those headphones around there neck and acually uses there listening devices through out the day plugging it in and out. This is not in any way an Apple thing, it is a problem with many devices. The male ends tend to get dirty hanging around then scratch the female end when used. In fact, using higher end headphones you can really notice even the smallest particles of dust on the male end of plug when used, that is the small popping you might notice when the cord moves.
Hopefully its a problem on the male side of things.
I would recommend a person that wants to use headphones alot to keep a small 2 inch extension plugged into there device that can be replaced when it goes bad inplace of wearing out the original plug.
Again, this is not an Apple problem alone.

How to clen ipod touch 5g headphone jack?

I HAVE IPOD TOUCH 5G IN WHITE AND THE HEADPHONE JACK IS DIRTY AND YELLOW SO I WAS WONDERING HOW TO CLEAN IT? ANYBODY.

Make an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store. Otherwise you may void the warranty on the entire iPod.
Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

Headphone Jack sticking and screen turning on

I bought a sim free palm pre (non plus!) a month or so ago from handtec UK and now the sound intermittently doesnt work. its like the headphone jack is sticking which ive seen is common but when there is no sound the screen randomly turns on like i pressed the unlock button. So i think its a dodgy connection on the slider because when i blow in the slider/headphone jack it fixes it for a bit then it comes back, which is annoying because it drains my battery quicker.
Any ideas?
P.S i spoke to someone on palm live chat and they said to run webos doctor, (i dont think its software tho) but i thought id try it anyway so when i entered the serial number it said its invalid!!!!! Then i discovered theres another sticker underneath the sticker with the imei and serial numbers on the box which says its a movistar phone. When i tried this serial number to download webos doctor it said for movistar and i dont want to use this incase it locks the phone to that network :/
So im stuck as to whether to try and get the phone fixed or see if theres an easy fix but i just dont know what to do
Post relates to: Pre p100ueu (Movistar)
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I think you are correct, I would think it is the headphone jack connector. You can try some compressed air in a can in the jack hole, or maybe a little contact cleaner that has some very light lubricant in it to try and free up the micro switch in the connector. The exercise the switch by quickly inserting and removing the headphone jacks plug. I you do not have any luck wit this process you would be forced to get a repair or replacement.

Cleaning dirty headphone jack?

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