How the heck are you getting gunk in your USB C ports? 🤨
How are you not getting lint and dust in your USB C ports? Not really a problem with computers due to the cleaner usage environment but I have to clean out the port on my phone every few months or the cable will start losing connection at the slightest bump.
I wouldn't expect Lightning is immune from this either but it likely is less of an issue there due to having less narrow gaps for lint to get caught in the port.