CONNECTORS: CRUSTY 'N' TIGHT

Got an email from a player/client/long-time friend in Arizona asking about remedies for the difficulty he was experiencing with the fit between two harpmic connector components. That's the inspiration behind this MIC MORSEL, tho I figured I'd expand upon the theme rather than make it a specific case study.
Little thought is given to the connectors that couple mics-cables-amplifiers and such -until they don't perform this essential task with forgettable ease. If the issue is simply a matter of grime, dust, 'club crud' or BBQ sauce in the fittings, an old toothbrush may be all you need. It goes without reminding that you WON'T be putting this brush against your pearlys again... USED BRUSH vs. NEW BRUSH? Likely you'll find that besides being cheaper (as in free), you might find that the USED BRUSH's residual toothpaste deposits will help to polish the metallic contact surfaces of the connectors. This is a particular 'plus' when dealing with the thread-on family of audio connectors as the toothbrush is perfectly suited to cleaning their close tolerance threaded surfaces.
NEXT MORSEL: Too tight? CONTACT LUBE...