Dealing with wet electronics can be extremely frustrating. Whether it’s a smartphone that got dropped in the sink or a laptop that had a glass of water spilled on it, liquid damage can render your devices unusable. The good news is that with the right approach, you can often revive electronics after water exposure. Here are some tips on how to dry out wet gadgets and potentially save them from permanent damage.
Can wet electronics be fixed?
In many cases, yes. If you act quickly after liquid exposure, there’s a good chance you can resuscitate wet electronics. The key is to remove power from the device immediately and thoroughly dry out all moisture before it has time to corrode internal components.
However, the longer the electronics sit in liquid or remain wet, the lower your chances of success. If water has penetrated deep inside the device, some corrosion may be unavoidable. But you won’t know until you try drying it out.
How to dry out a wet phone
For water-damaged smartphones, the most important factor is taking action right away:
- Remove the phone from the liquid immediately.
- Turn the phone off right away – don’t try charging it or turning it on.
- Avoid pressing any buttons after taking it out of the liquid.
- Remove SIM card, battery and any other removable parts if possible.
- Dry the phone’s exterior with a microfiber cloth to soak up excess moisture.
After taking these initial steps, you’ll need to thoroughly dry out the phone’s interior. Some options include:
- Dry in rice: Place the phone in a sealable bag filled with dry white rice. The rice will absorb moisture, though the process can take 1-3 days.
- Use a desiccant: Desiccants like silica gel are moisture-absorbing substances. Placing them in a closed container with the phone speeds up drying.
- Try a dehumidifier: Run the phone and desiccant in a sealed plastic bag in a dehumidifier room overnight.
- Use a fan: Blow room-temperature air directly on the phone with a fan to slowly evaporate the water.
- Try an isopropyl alcohol rinse: For some waterlogged devices, 99% isopropyl alcohol can wash away water without damaging electronics.
Tips for drying out wet laptops
Laptops can also often be revived after liquid damage by thoroughly drying out all components. Follow these tips for wet laptops:
- Shut down the laptop immediately if it gets wet. Don’t try turning it on.
- Remove any removable parts from the laptop, including battery, external storage, SIM card, etc.
- Disconnect the laptop from any chargers or external devices.
- Dry the exterior of the laptop with a towel.
- If possible, open up the case and remove any liquid inside.
- Remove the hard drive to dry separately.
- Follow the same drying methods for phones – place in rice, use desiccants, blow with fan, etc.
- Be patient through the drying process, which can take 24 hours or longer.
Tips for drying out wet game consoles
Video game systems like XBoxes and PlayStations require careful attention after liquid exposure:
- Immediately unplug the console and detach any accessories.
- Open up the case and inspect for standing water, drying any liquid with a microfiber cloth.
- Remove any game disks or cartridges.
- Use compressed air to spray any hidden liquid out of tight spaces.
- Let the console dry out thoroughly – don’t try turning on until completely dry.
- The fan and ventilation system are common failure points. Dry these areas thoroughly.
- Detach and dry controllers/remotes in a bowl of rice to absorb moisture.
Tips for drying out wet speakers or headsets
Speakers and headphones can also malfunction if they get wet. For wet audio gear:
- Unplug the device immediately and remove batteries if possible.
- Lightly shake the device to remove excess water from openings.
- Use a fan, rice, or desiccant pack to help dry out the interior.
- For water-damaged headphones, replace earpads once fully dried.
- Avoid using a hair dryer or other direct high heat to dry, which could damage plastic parts.
The best way to dry wet electronics
While the drying method depends on the specific device, there are some overall best practices to follow:
- Act quickly – immediately power down and start drying out the device before corrosion begins.
- Disassemble components – take apart the device as much as possible to dry inside and out.
- Absorb moisture – use desiccants, rice, towels etc. to draw out moisture.
- Ventilate – use fans to circulate air and evaporate liquid.
- Be patient – allow 1-3 days of drying time before powering on.
The key is to fully dry all components before attempting to power on the device again. With quick action, the right drying method, and lots of patience, you can often salvage electronics from liquid damage. But if moisture was allowed to linger too long, some corrosion may be unavoidable.
Can you use a hair dryer or microwave to dry electronics?
It’s best to avoid hair dryers, microwaves, or other high heat methods when drying out electronics. Some reasons to avoid hair dryers/microwaves:
- Too much direct heat can melt plastics inside the device.
- The high heat and airflow could displace liquid further into cracks.
- Microwaves can damage the device’s internal components.
- Blasts of hot air may create condensation inside the electronics.
A hair dryer set on a low or medium setting can be used cautiously from a distance of 6-12 inches away. But in general, the safest methods involve gradually absorbing moisture without high heat.
Should you put wet electronics in rice?
Placing wet electronics in rice can be effective because rice absorbs moisture well. Here are some tips on using rice to dry devices:
- Use dry white rice, as the rice kernels are small and absorbent.
- Fill a sealable plastic bag or airtight container with 1-2 cups of rice.
- Bury the wet device in the rice so it’s fully covered.
- Seal the container to prevent humidity from re-entering.
- Check daily and change the rice as it becomes saturated.
- Allow up to 72 hours for thorough drying.
The downside is that drying in rice can be slow. Using a desiccant like silica gel works faster but is less readily available in most households.
What are desiccants and how do you use them?
Desiccants are moisture-absorbing substances used to lower humidity levels and dry out air or surfaces. Some common desiccants are:
- Silica gel – The tiny beads absorb up to 40% of their weight in moisture.
- Calcium chloride – Often used for drying gases and industrial applications.
- Activated charcoal – Extremely porous carbonized material.
To use desiccants on wet electronics:
- Obtain mesh pouches or packets filled with desiccant beads.
- Place several desiccant packs around the device in an airtight container.
- Bury or wrap the device within the packs for maximum exposure.
- Check the packs daily and replace when saturated.
- Continue until all moisture is absorbed (typically 24-48 hours).
With their strong moisture absorption capacity, desiccants can often dry out devices faster and more thoroughly than rice.
Does a wet phone need to be replaced?
Not always. If dried thoroughly and quickly, wet phones can often be revived with minimal long-term damage. However, if moisture was allowed to linger, some components may corrode.
Signs that a phone may need professional repair or replacement after water damage include:
- Visible corrosion around ports or openings
- Hazy/foggy internal moisture that won’t evaporate
- The phone won’t power on even after thorough drying
- Shorting out, flickering screen, or other electrical issues
With mild water exposure, thorough DIY drying methods can restore full functionality. But severe water damage raises the chances that parts may need replacement.
Can corroded electronics be repaired?
If moisture was not removed quickly, corrosion can occur on electronic components and circuit boards. In some cases, corrosion damage can be repaired:
- Replacing corroded batteries or ports.
- Cleaning mild corrosion from circuits with isopropyl alcohol.
- Re-soldering connections on circuit boards.
- Bypassing damaged circuits.
However, extensive corrosion often requires replacements or makes DIY repairs impractical. Consulting a repair specialist is recommended for severely corroded devices.
How can you prevent electronics from water damage?
While accidents happen, you can take some preventative measures to avoid water damage to electronics:
- Keep devices away from sinks, tubs, pools, sprinklers, etc.
- Don’t use electronics outside during rain or snow.
- Keep food and drinks away from electronics.
- Store electronics at higher elevations in basements or flood zones.
- Choose water-resistant cases and accessories.
- Look for water-resistant product designs when purchasing new electronics.
- Consider spray-on waterproofing treatments.
- Dry hands before handling electronics near water sources.
- Inspect devices for damage immediately if they get wet.
While you can’t prevent all accidents, keeping electronics away from moisture whenever possible reduces the risks.
Conclusion
Liquid damage doesn’t necessarily spell doom for electronics. By immediately powering down devices, thoroughly drying all components, and giving time for moisture to evaporate, you can often salvage wet gadgets. Rice, desiccants, fans, alcohol rinses, and disassembly/ventilation all help the drying process. While corrosion is still possible if drying wasn’t immediate, DIY revival methods can rescue many devices from the scrap heap. Just be sure to take preventative measures to keep electronics away from water in the future!