We understand that liquid penetrating a smartphone can lead to adverse effects like:
- the rusting of internal parts, or
- ruffled audio, or no audio
- liquid droplets under the screen
- blurry photos, if moisture gets trapped in the camera lens
- an inability to charge
- a total end to all functionality.
There are many recommended remedies on the Internet. One of the more popular ideas involves dipping your device in a container filled with raw rice. It is assumed that the rice will suck the moisture out of the phone and your device will be magically restored.
Well, while these steps may help in the short term, once a phone gets wet corrosion can begin, leading to malfunctions at some point in the future. Some third parties will claim they can repair water-damaged phones. While they may initially appear successful, their repairs may be short-lived.
If you’ve dropped your phone in water and are reading this in a hurry, skip down. We’ve got all the steps you need. Go down to SUMMARY!
Do not put your phone in a container of rice. It’s a myth that rice helps in drying out your phone. Instead, follow these steps:
- Putting your phone in an airtight container with silica gel may help if it gets wet. Turn off the device immediately and don’t press any buttons.
- If your phone is water resistant and you’ve spilt or submerged it in a liquid other than water, both Appleand Samsung recommend rinsing it off by submerging it in still tap water (but not under a running tap, which could cause damage).
- Wipe the phone dry with paper towels or a soft cloth.
- Gently shake the device to remove water from the charging ports, but avoid vigorous shaking as this could further spread the liquid inside.
- Remove the SIM card.
- Use a compressed aerosol air duster to blow the water out if you have one. Avoid using a hot blow dryer as the heat can wreck the rubber seals and damage the screen.
- Dry out the phone (and especially the ports) in front of a fan.
- Leave your phone in an airtight container full of silica gelpackets (those small packets you get inside new shoes and bags), or another drying agent. These help absorb the moisture.
- Do not charge the phone until you are certain it’s dry. Charging a device with liquid still inside it, or in the ports, can cause further damage. Apple suggests waiting at least five hours once a phone appears dry before charging it (or until the alert disappears).
Resist the urge to turn it on. Give your phone a few days to dry. Water may be trapped in tight spots or absorbed into your phone’s circuit boards.
If the above steps don’t help and you’re still stuck with a seemingly dead device, don’t try opening the phone yourself. You’re better off taking it to a professional.
SUMMARY!
- Dry it off with a paper towel.This should absorb the water on the surface, leaving only the water that has gotten inside the phone.
- Turn off the phone ASAP.You might be able to avoid any electrical short circuiting by powering down your device.
- Pull out the battery and SIM card.By taking apart your phone, you can check for water that may have seeped inside. If you see moisture, gently dry it as best you can, without damaging the components.
- Don’t touch it for a while.The air will naturally evaporate water that has gotten inside your phone, helping it dry out as time passes.
Credits: https://www.verizon.com, www.theguardian.com, https://blog.puls.com, https://7news.com.au/
