Rice is sometimes recommended as a desiccant to help dry out a wet phone. The thought is that the rice will absorb the moisture from the phone, allowing it to dry out and potentially be revived. However, there are some important factors to consider when deciding whether rice will be an effective drying agent for your water-damaged phone.
Quick Answers
Here are quick answers to some common questions about using rice to dry a wet phone:
Does rice work to dry out a wet phone?
Rice can help absorb some moisture from a wet phone, but it may not fully dry out the phone’s internal components. Rice works best for minor spills.
Is rice better than nothing?
Yes, rice is better than just letting a wet phone sit. The rice will absorb some moisture, but commercial drying agents designed for electronics may work better.
How long should I leave my phone in rice?
24-48 hours is typically recommended, but the longer you can leave it the better to allow moisture to be fully absorbed.
Does the type of rice matter?
Not really. Plain white rice is fine, there’s no need for fancy rice varieties.
Should the rice be cooked or uncooked?
Uncooked rice works best. The hard, dry grains can better absorb moisture.
Will Rice Fix a Water-Damaged Phone?
So can rice actually resurrect a water-damaged phone? Sometimes, but results really depend on the extent of the water exposure and damage. Here are some key considerations:
- Rice can help dry out minor spills – If your phone just got a little damp or splashed, putting it in rice may absorb enough moisture for it to work again once fully dried out.
- Major water damage is iffy – If the phone was immersed in liquid or waterlogged, rice may not be able to draw out enough water from inside the phone’s complex internal components and circuitry.
- Rice works best if used immediately – The quicker you can put your phone in rice after water exposure, the more effective it will be at absorbing moisture before it can cause permanent damage.
- Some moisture may linger – Even after a thorough rice treatment, there still may be some lingering dampness deep inside the phone that could eventually cause issues.
- Corrosion can still occur – Rice can’t stop corrosion, so the longer the phone remains wet on the inside, the more likely corrosion can build up and cause malfunctions.
How Does Rice Absorb Moisture?
Rice is an absorbent material due to its composition and surface properties:
- Starch molecules – Rice is largely made up of starch molecules, which have hydrophilic properties and attract water.
- Cellulosic surface – The outer surface of rice grains features cellulosic structures that help wick moisture into the rice.
- Hygroscopic – Rice is hygroscopic, meaning it naturally absorbs and retains ambient moisture from the surrounding environment.
- Rough porous surface – The rough, porous surface of rice grains provides plenty of surface area for moisture adhesion and absorption.
These properties allow rice to effectively absorb and contain free moisture. Placing a wet phone in a container of rice takes advantage of this absorbent capacity to gradually draw moisture away from the phone’s interior as the rice dehydrates the air and surrounding surfaces.
Does Uncooked Rice Work Better Than Cooked Rice?
Yes, uncooked white rice straight out of the bag works better than cooked rice for drying phones. Here’s why:
- Hard, intact grains – Uncooked grains maintain their rigid, solid shape and grain boundaries, allowing for free air flow between the grains and maximized surface area for moisture absorption.
- Starch remains unaffected – Cooking rice causes the starch granules to swell and gelatinize, making them less effective moisture absorbers.
- No added moisture – Plain dry rice has no extra moisture content added from cooking.
- Greater absorption capacity – Studies have shown that uncooked rice can absorb and retain more moisture than cooked rice varieties.
- Longer shelf life – The dry, hard grains of uncooked rice will keep for much longer storage times.
For maximally effective moisture absorption to dry out a phone, use plain uncooked white rice straight from an unopened bag.
What Kind of Rice Works Best?
The variety of rice used isn’t hugely important, as all types of uncooked white rice function decently for phone drying purposes. Some good options include:
| Rice Variety | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Long grain white rice | Very absorbent, intact grains |
| Basmati rice | Light, fluffy, high surface area |
| Jasmine rice | Very dry grains absorb moisture well |
| Arborio rice | Wide kernel high surface area |
| Short grain rice | Starchier than long varieties |
The most important factor is using plain, uncooked white rice. Avoid pre-seasoned or instant rice varieties, as well as white rice mixes with add-ins like wild rice, quinoa, etc.
Does Rice Only Absorb Surface Moisture?
Rice can absorb both surface moisture and ambient moisture from the air:
- Surface moisture – Direct contact between rice grains and wet surfaces allows moisture to be wicked into the rice.
- Ambient moisture – Rice also absorbs humidity from the surrounding air into the grains, gradually decreasing moisture content in the container.
This dual moisture absorption is useful for pulling some water out of phone components. However, rice is less effective at reaching pooled liquid water deep inside a waterlogged phone.
What About Using Silica Gel Instead?
Silica gel is another common moisture absorbing substance sometimes used for wet phones. Here’s how it compares to rice:
- More powerful desiccant – Silica can absorb up to 40% of its weight in moisture vs. rice’s 12-25% capacity.
- Less mess – Silica beads are tidy and contained compared to loose rice grains.
- Reusable – Silica gel can be dried out and reused many times.
- Specialized for electronics – Silica gel is designed for moisture protection of devices.
- Less household availability – Rice is more readily available in most homes.
- Can still leave moisture behind – Like rice, silica gel may not fully dry interior phone components.
Silica gel works better than rice in theory and lab tests due to superior moisture absorption capacity. However, in practice, neither method is perfect or guaranteed for resurrecting a water-damaged phone.
Tips for Using Rice to Dry Out a Wet Phone
To maximize your chances of success, follow these tips when using the rice phone drying method:
- Act quickly – Immediately power off and place the phone in rice after water exposure to prevent further damage.
- Remove phone case – Take off any protective case, as it can trap moisture against the phone body.
- Bury it in rice – Submerge the phone in a bowl or bag with plenty of rice, ensuring full contact.
- Use the right amount – Use at least 2 cups of rice for a smartphone, more for a larger device.
- Elevate phone – Prop or stand the phone up in the rice so air and moisture can circulate.
- Leave it alone – Avoid disturbing or attempting to use the phone while in the rice.
- Give it time – Wait at least 24 hours, or 48-72 hours for major water exposure.
- Check for lingering moisture – After rice treatment, inspect for trapped moisture and thoroughly dry.
- Don’t charge wet – Only charge once completely dry to avoid short circuiting.
What Are The Risks of Rice Rescue Attempts?
While the rice trick is relatively safe, there are some risks to be aware of:
- Incomplete drying – Rice may not absorb all the moisture, which can later create problems.
- Corrosion – Wet circuits and components can start to corrode before rice absorbs the moisture.
- Breach of sensitive areas – Using rice could push moisture and grains into fragile areas like speakers.
- Dust and debris – Rice dust and fragments might get lodged in small phone parts.
- Residual starch or sugars – These rice substances could leave sticky residues inside a phone.
- Delayed repair – The attempt may delay proper professional repair, allowing more damage over time.
Rice won’t restore a phone if significant corrosion or electrical shorts already occurred. It’s most effective for minor, recent spills before permanent damage sets in.
Professional Phone Drying & Repair Services
For the best chance of reviving a water-damaged phone, professional phone repair services use specialized drying and cleaning methods. Options include:
- Isopropyl alcohol rinses – To safely displace water and moisture from circuitry.
- Ultrasonic cleaning – Uses ultrasonic vibrations to purge water and debris from tiny spaces.
- Vacuum drying – Uses a vacuum chamber to thoroughly dry the phone’s interior.
- Moisture detection tests – To check for any lingering traces of moisture after drying.
- Circuit board cleaning – Carefully cleans away corrosion and minerals without damaging components.
- Component replacement – Swaps out any damaged ports, connectors, or microphones.
- System testing – Verifies all phone functions are restored after repair work.
Phone repair shops with commercial drying equipment can extract liquid and fully dry out phones in ways that rice and DIY options may not be able to achieve. Though expensive, professional recovery services may successfully revive a phone that rice and silica cannot, and offset the cost of an expensive phone replacement.
Does Phone Water Damage Warranty Cover Repair?
Phone water damage is often not covered under standard or extended warranties due to being classified as accidental damage. However, options may include:
- Manufacturer warranty – Very limited coverage for manufacturing defects causing water intrusion.
- Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance – May cover accidental water damage to phones, with deductible.
- Retailer protection plans – Some plans cover spills and water damage for phones.
- Credit card benefits – Top-tier cards may offer phone damage coverage as a perk.
- Third-party warranty services – Additional warranty companies that cover water damage.
Unfortunately most basic phone warranties won’t repair water damage for free. Specialized water damage or electronics insurance is required to offset the often high cost of professional phone drying and restoration after significant water exposure.
When Should I Give Up on Trying To Save a Wet Phone?
Here are signs a phone may be too far gone after water damage and beyond DIY repair methods:
- Won’t power on at all, even after drying attempts.
- Noticeable corrosion on charging port or other metal components.
- Technician finds extensive corrosion on interior circuits.
- Lingering moisture detected inside phone after thorough drying.
- Short circuit behavior when charging or powering on.
- Permanent screen discoloration or glitching pixels.
- Visible moisture in camera lens or other sealed components.
Severe internal corrosion, extensive component damage, screen failure, or lasting liquid ingress indicate irreparable water damage. At that point, replacement is likely the most cost-effective option over continued ineffective repair expenses.
The Bottom Line – Consider Professional Help
So can rice resurrect a wet phone? Sometimes, but moisture-damaged phones often need more robust professional restoration. Quickly using rice can buy time and absorb initial moisture. But for anything more than brief minor splashes, rely on a qualified phone repair expert for the best chance at salvaging your water-logged device.