If your iPhone won’t charge, or only charges when connected to a specific charging cable, car charger, or external charging brick, you may be able to fix the problem by cleaning the charging/lightning port. Use compressed air, a mini vacuum, a Post-It Note, a toothpick, or a combination of these common tools to perform a DIY repair.

The safest way to clean an iPhone charging port is to take it to a professional. They have the tools and know-how to clean the port without damaging it. They will likely use a small amount of compressed air, a small vacuum, or another professional cleaning tool to gently remove the gunk.

Here are a few places to try. In some cases, these traders will do the job for free:

If you don’t have access to a professional, you may be able to do the job yourself using canned or compressed air. Apple says not to use compressed air, so you’ll have to make your own judgment on this one. Some people say compressed air works fine. If you decide to use compressed air, spray a little at a time, be patient, and don’t spray the entire can of air into the port. Too much air can damage the phone.