Wrong way to clean a stylus!


First time posting. Have read thousands of comments however. I feel like a complete idiot. I shall explain. I have a Marantz TT-15S1 with the original cartridge without a cover of which the LPs tend to attract dust and dog hair while hanging out between sessions.  There was a tuft of dust/dander on the stylus that I couldn't get off that was creating some serious skips. Dabbed with felt like paper, still there.  Wiped gently with lens cleaning cloth, still there. Got the can of compressed air and tried to blow it off. No luck. Put the straw in the can of compressed air for a more directed shot and wouldn't you know it but the straw flew out of the can like a bullet and took the stylus right off the cartridge. Now, I feel like a complete dumbass and have to spend hundreds on a new cartridge. Thought I would pass along my personal comedy of errors.  Maybe others could discuss theirs so I don't feel so bad?
ricmci
Get a stylus cleaning brush and a small bottle of stylus cleaning fluid. Apply a drop to the brush and gently wipe the diamond tip from back to front several times. This should remove any debris. Do this after playing a side of an LP. Keep your LP's clean and your TT covered when not in use! I myself also use LAST Stylast preservative after cleaning - claimed to lubricate and extend diamond life. Never use your finger on the stylus!
I've only messed up one stylus (many years ago) but don't remember how I did it which means it will probably happen again :-)
I once scratched a precious record when the plastic straw flew off  a compressed air canister and dug right into the vinyl. I have never used a compressed air canister since without holding the straw as I do it.
Sounds like you had a slightly more expensive lesson.
With that auspicious debut, welcome to the forum.
You now have the perfect excuse to upgrade! I once bent the cantilever on a brand new moving coil cartridge when I was mounting it.