This Device Not Optimized Message - Not Plugged into any Device

Several weeks ago, my iPhone 3GS was docked to a speaker staion at a house party. Someone dumped a rum and coke drink onto the speakers. I removed the iphone, shook out as much of the coke as I could, turned it off, blew out the dock connector on the screen, and used tissue paper to attempt to dry it totally. The next day when turning on the phone the error message "This device not optimized...etc" kept popping up constantly, almost making the phone unusable. I did what others have suggested and gently cleaned the port with a toothbrush. This helped alot as the message appears less often than before and the phone is at least useable. When the message pops up, the speaker stops working, no sound heard when typing letters, no sound or volume control in ipod mode etc. I am guessing that it thinks it's docked to a device even though it isn't. I should also mention the the water tattle tale marking in the docking port has turned pink/red.

Often, when plugging the phone charger into the phone then unplugging again immediately, the phone works properly for a few minutes before the message returns and ipod volume control disappears again.

Do I need to clean the port out even better or should I consider replacing the docking connector?