Does putting a wet phone in rice actually work?

Putting a wet phone in rice is a popular DIY method for trying to salvage water-damaged electronics. The idea is that the rice will absorb moisture from the phone, allowing it to dry out fully so it can work again. But does this rice trick actually work? Let’s take a closer look.

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Quick answer

The quick answer is that yes, putting a wet phone in rice can help draw moisture out of it. Rice acts as a desiccant, absorbing water. However, just putting a wet phone in rice may not fully dry it out, especially if the water damage is severe. Professional phone repair is the best way to salvage a water-damaged device.

How does rice absorb moisture?

Rice can absorb moisture from a wet phone through a process called adsorption. Here’s how it works:

Rice contains starch. Starch molecules are hydrophilic, meaning they attract and bind to water molecules.
When you place a wet phone in a bowl or bag of rice, the starch in the rice draws moisture away from the phone through this natural attraction to water.
As the water molecules move from the phone to the rice, the phone gradually dries out.

Rice is an effective desiccant because it has high surface area and porosity, allowing moisture adsorption to occur quickly. The starch helps lock the moisture into the rice once absorbed.

Does phone type or water damage severity affect results?

Not all water-damaged phones are equal. The effectiveness of the rice method can vary based on factors like:

Phone type: Smartphones have more sealing than older style phones, making water penetration into inner circuits less likely. Rice may be more effective for drying out mildly wet smartphones.

Water exposure: Quick splashes or drops in water are easier to deal with than phones left in water for longer periods. The rice trick tends to work better for light moisture vs. heavy soakings.
Water type: Rice is better at absorbing fresh water. Phones doused in other liquids like soda, saltwater, alcohol or chemicals have lower success rates.
Damage location: External moisture is easier to manage than water in internal components. Deep water penetration often requires professional repair.

In general, the rice method has the best chance of working if the phone gets lightly splashed and is dried out immediately. Long water submersion often causes irreparable damage.

Does rice save phones with liquid damage?

Here are some key considerations on whether rice can resurrect a liquid-damaged phone:

Rice helps draw moisture out but does not repair existing damage from short circuits or corrosion.

Rice may facilitate partial drying, but retaining residual moisture can cause long-term problems.
Some moisture remains since rice only absorbs surface liquid, not penetrating dampness.
Rice helps dry accessible components but cannot dry moisture trapped deep inside the phone.

Based on these factors, rice has limited effectiveness for severe water damage. It works better for mild External moisture that has not reached interior electronics. With heavy, prolonged soaking, it is unlikely to resolve all moisture issues.

Does the rice method fully dry out water-damaged phones?

Research suggests that just placing a phone in rice has limited effectiveness for thorough drying:

A study by Gazelle found that phones placed in rice for 3 days after water submersion only dried around 25%. Most moisture remained trapped inside.

Another study found rice dried phones inconsistently. Parts like the camera dried fully in 48 hours. But components like headphones and ports retained moisture.

Experts note a few reasons why rice may fail to fully dry a phone:

Rice only absorbs surface moisture. It does not draw water from interior components where the most damage occurs.

Dense tightly-packed rice can form a barrier preventing moisture from escaping.
Minerals in rice dust can get inside phone ports and worsen conductivity issues.

Overall, research indicates phones dried in rice need further professional drying or repair for full moisture removal.

Does the rice technique work for swollen phone batteries?

Putting a phone with a swollen battery in rice is not recommended. Here’s why:

Swelling indicates the battery has become compromised and unstable. Rice cannot reverse this chemical damage.
A swollen battery needs discharge first to avoid explosion risk. Rice does not discharge battery contents.

The phone requires battery removal by a professional to avoid damage from electrolyte leakage.

The safest option is to power down the phone, avoid charging it, and get professional help right away for battery replacement.

What are the best steps for drying a wet phone with rice?

If attempting the rice method, the following tips can improve your chances of success:

Remove the phone case and battery (if possible). This allows moisture to escape freely.
Wipe away any external wetness to reduce the amount of moisture going inward.
Place phone in a bowl of rice, ensuring full contact for maximum absorption.

Bury the phone in rice up to the top so rice surrounds from all sides.
Leave the bowl in a warm, dry place for at least 24-48 hours minimum.
Check phone function in intervals. Re-submerge in rice if still wet.

Sticking to these steps allows rice to draw out the most moisture possible. But there is still no guarantee of complete drying or restoring phone function.

What types of rice work best?

Not all rice is equal when it comes to moisture absorption. These types work best:

Rice Type	Description
Uncooked rice	Still has starch content needed for water adsorption
White rice	Lower fiber than brown rice allows moisture penetration
Long grain rice	The grains have higher surface area than short grain types
Basmati or jasmine rice	Delicate grains absorb moisture efficiently

Avoid sticky rice varieties as they clump together limiting exposure. Old, expired rice loses its absorption capability over time.

Does rice always work to save wet phones?

There are mixed results on the effectiveness of rice for phone drying:

For mild moisture like splashes or drops, rice helps draw out some external wetness in many cases.
With short 1-2 second water submersions, rice may facilitate partial drying.

After long submersion, studies show most phones placed in rice retain substantial interior moisture.
Heavy liquid exposure often causes irreversible damage rice cannot fix.

While rice helps in some minor cases, it often cannot dry phones sufficiently after major water exposure. Severely damaged phones still require professional repairs.

What are the limitations of the rice method?

Key downsides of relying solely on rice include:

Rice only absorbs surface moisture, leaving interior components wet.
Dense rice can inhibit moisture from evaporating.

Phones may appear dry but have residual dampness inside.
Moisture left behind leads to corrosion over time.
Rice does not repair existing water damage like short circuits.

For these reasons, the rice technique has limited effectiveness. It should not be depended on as the sole drying method for water-damaged phones.

Expert recommended alternatives to rice

Cell phone repair experts suggest these more effective options:

Drying kits with moisture-absorbing packs designed to dry electronics.

Vacuum drying uses negative pressure to actively draw moisture out.
Ultrasonic cleaning vibrates away moisture while suspending phones in solution.
Isopropyl alcohol rinses help displace lingering dampness after initial drying.

Professional phone repair shops use industrial drying and cleaning methods like these to thoroughly dry devices and give them the best chance of working again.

When is professional phone repair recommended?

It’s best to seek professional help for phone drying and repair in these cases:

Liquid exposure is more than just minor splashing or drops.

You suspect moisture got inside ports, speakers or other openings.
Phone was immersed in non-clear liquid like juice, soda, coffee, etc.
Phone shows signs of malfunction like glitching screen after water damage.

Phone has a swollen battery causing case or display disfiguration.

Professional methods are the most effective way to dry interior phone components and properly assess any damage needing repair.

Conclusion

Can rice rescue a wet phone? It certainly helps draw out some external moisture in limited cases of very light wetness or quick water submersion. But for more extensive water damage, rice alone often cannot achieve thorough drying – especially deep inside the phone.

To fully dry out a phone’s interior and properly inspect components, specialized professional phone repair is recommended. While the rice technique is a convenient DIY option, it has significant limitations. For the best chance of saving your valuable electronics after water damage, professional drying and repair services are advisable.