Quick answers
If your phone gets wet, the most important thing is to act quickly to try to remove any moisture before it can cause damage. Here are some quick things you can try:
- Remove your phone from the liquid immediately and shake off any excess water.
- Don’t try to charge or turn on a wet phone, as this can short circuit it.
- Remove any covers, batteries, SIM cards, and memory cards.
- Use a microfiber cloth or paper towel to gently blot up any moisture on the surface.
- Use a can of compressed air to blow out any drops in the ports and openings.
- Place the phone in an air-tight container with moisture-absorbing material like rice, silica gel packs or paper towels.
- Leave it to sit for at least 24 hours to allow time for the rice/gel to absorb the moisture.
The key is to act fast, resist the temptation to power on a wet device, and utilize desiccants to draw out any internal fluid that could corrode the circuits. With quick action, there’s a good chance of saving a water-damaged phone.
How does moisture damage a smartphone?
Moisture can damage a smartphone in a few key ways:
- Short circuiting – Water is conductive and can short circuit the delicate electronics inside the phone.
- Corrosion – Water causes corrosion of metallic components and connections.
- Mineral deposits – As water evaporates, it leaves behind mineral deposits that can insulate and interfere with circuits.
- Component degradation – Moisture can degrade fragile components like speakers and microphones.
- Lens fogging – Water vapor inside the phone can condense on camera lenses and fog them up.
The amount of damage depends on factors like the amount of liquid exposure, what kind of liquid it is, and where exactly it got inside the phone. Even a little bit of moisture in the wrong place can permanently damage a phone.
How to dry out a wet phone
If your phone has been exposed to moisture, here are some steps you can take to try to dry it out:
1. Remove from liquid immediately
As soon as you realize your phone is wet, remove it from the liquid. The less exposure and drying time, the better chance your phone has of survival. Gently shake off excess liquid from the phone.
2. Turn off the phone
Don’t be tempted to turn on your wet phone! Powering on an electronic device before it’s dry can short circuit it. Avoid pressing any buttons at all. Simply power it down and leave it off.
3. Remove covers, batteries, SIM card
Take off any protective covers, removable batteries and SIM cards. It’s best to remove peripherals and accessories to simplify the drying process. Take out SD and SIM cards carefully using an ejection tool to avoid damaging the card slot.
4. Dry the exterior
Use a clean microfiber cloth or paper towel to lightly blot or wipe any moisture visible on the surface of your phone. Be gentle – don’t rub too hard. Make sure openings like charger ports are dried out with a cloth corner.
5. Don’t use heat
Avoid applying direct heat from a hairdryer, radiator or other source to dry your phone. The intense heat can damage phone components. Air drying is best.
6. Absorb moisture internally
Place the phone in a sealed container like a ziplock bag or tupperware with dry rice, silica gel packs or paper towels overnight or for at least 24 hours. These will absorb ambient moisture. Pack it in generously so the desiccants have maximal surface contact.
7. Ventilate drying
If you don’t have rice or gel packs, simply leave the phone open in a dry ventilation area for at least a day to allow moisture to evaporate. Place near (but not directly in) a fan source like an AC vent.
8. Check for liquid in openings
Use a flashlight to look in ports and openings for any trapped moisture or water damage. Use a toothpick or cotton swab to gently remove any noticeable droplets left over in the crevices.
9. When dry, check phone
After thorough drying, reconnect the battery and any SIM or SD cards and attempt to power on your phone. If it works properly without any noticeable water damage, you successfully saved it!
| Drying Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Rice | Bury phone in rice in a sealed container. Rice absorbs ambient moisture. |
| Silica Gel | Use moisture-absorbing gel packs. More powerful than rice. |
| Ventilation | Let phone air dry in an open, dry space for 24-48 hours. |
| Cloth | Gently dry surfaces and openings with microfiber cloth or paper towel. |
Tips for drying your wet phone
Follow these tips to safely and effectively dry out a phone that’s been exposed to moisture:
- Resist the urge to turn on a wet phone. Powering on can short circuit it.
- Remove accessories like cases that trap in moisture.
- Absorbent rice works better than a towel to draw out moisture from inside device.
- Avoid heat sources that could damage the phone’s components.
- Use moisture-wicking materials like silica gel or paper towels.
- Check openings like the charging port for trapped moisture.
- Be patient. Drying can take 24 hours or longer.
- Store in an airtight container with desiccants for best results.
- Backup data and prepare for potential loss, just in case.
With the right technique, there’s a good chance of saving your water-damaged phone. But don’t power it on until you’re sure it’s fully dry!
What to do if rice doesn’t work
If placing your wet phone in rice doesn’t seem to be drying it out, here are some things to try:
- Use more rice – Make sure phone is completely buried in rice in an airtight container.
- Try silica gel packs – They absorb more moisture than rice.
- Use desiccant packets – From pill bottles or shoe boxes, they absorb lots of moisture.
- Dry longer – Leave in rice for at least 72 hours to allow more time to dry out.
- Add heat – Place container with phone and rice on or near a heat vent or radiator.
- Disassemble phone – Remove any parts/covers trapping moisture inside.
- Wipe with isopropyl alcohol – Helps displace water and evaporates quickly.
- Use a vacuum cleaner – Gently vacuum headphone and charging ports to remove liquid.
- Contact manufacturer – Check if they have any other recommended drying methods.
If the phone still seems wet or isn’t working after thorough drying, it may have internal liquid damage beyond DIY repair methods. Contact the manufacturer or a repair shop for possible next steps.
How to prevent water damage to your phone
Here are some tips to help prevent moisture damage to your phone:
- Use a waterproof phone case when going near water.
- Avoid taking your phone into wet environments like pools, baths or heavy rain.
- Never charge your phone near sinks or bathtubs where it could fall in.
- Install a water-resistant phone if possible.
- Keep food and drinks away from your phone.
- Turn off your phone and remove the battery when wet.
- Regularly inspect gaskets and port covers for deterioration.
- Never try to charge a wet phone.
- Dry your hands before handling your phone.
- Get phone insurance in case water damage still occurs.
While no phone is fully waterproof, taking preventative measures goes a long way in keeping your phone safe from moisture. Be mindful of rainy and wet environments, and avoid submerging your phone in water whenever possible. A bit of care helps avoid the headache of drying out and repairing water-damaged devices down the line.
Can you use a hair dryer to dry your phone?
It’s generally not advisable to use a hair dryer to try to dry out a wet phone. Here’s why:
- Most hair dryers get very hot – Heat can damage delicate phone components.
- Can push water deeper into crevices rather than evaporating it.
- May loosen glued parts or melt soldered joints inside phone.
- Phone screens can crack from rapid hot/cold temperature changes.
- Moisture could condense inside when removed from heat.
- Difficult to evenly apply hot air without damaging certain areas.
It’s safest to let a wet phone air dry naturally. If using gentle warmth, aim a blow dryer on low/cool setting at least 12 inches away. But extended high heat risks further destruction of the phone’s electronics. For deepest moisture, desiccants like rice or silica gel work best. Avoid hair dryers unless you have no other option – and use extreme caution if trying.
Should you put your phone in the oven to dry it?
No, you should avoid putting your wet phone in the oven to dry it. Here are some reasons why:
- Ovens can’t go below 150-200F. This high heat can damage phone.
- The metal frame and parts will get extremely hot and could melt or warp.
- Phone batteries can explode if heated to oven temperatures.
- Oven heating is too intense and unevenly distributed.
- Trapped moisture could condense back onto the phone when removing from oven.
- Ovens have exposed electrical heating coils that could arc to phone.
- Oven vents recirculate humid air rather than venting moisture away.
- Most ovens don’t have precise temperature/time controls suitable for delicate electronics.
Phones have plastic screens, lithium batteries and carefully calibrated electronics that react poorly when baked. It’s much safer to air dry the phone or use rice to slowly draw moisture out. Don’t attempt to oven dry phones – the risks of fire, explosion and component damage are too high!
Potential risks trying to dry a phone
While it’s understandable to want to rescue a beloved water-damaged phone, some drying methods risk causing further harm. Here are potential dangers to be aware of:
- Turning on a wet phone can short circuit and destroy it.
- Using too much heat from a hair dryer or other source can damage delicate components.
- Leaving in rice too long allows corrosion if any moisture remains.
- Trapped moisture condenses onto the circuit board when removed from heat.
- Rubbing the screen while wet can damage coatings and spread liquid.
- Pushing swabs or cloth into ports can damage the phone.
- Isopropyl alcohol can strip phone coatings if not used sparingly.
- Thermal shock from rapid heating/cooling can crack screens.
- Any moisture left unaddressed leads to corrosion over time.
Save the intensive drying techniques for phones that get more than a quick splash. Use care when attempting any kind of DIY phone drying – a mistake can make a bad situation worse!
When to give up and get a new phone
At what point should you give up attempts to revive a water-damaged phone and just replace it? Here are some signs it may be time to move on:
- Phone was fully submerged or soaked for a long time.
- Noticeable corrosion on charging port or headphone jack.
- Phone won’t turn on or charge even after thorough drying.
- You disassembled it and internal components are corroded.
- Liquid indicators inside phone show water contact.
- Phone has been dried extensively with no change.
- Screen is no longer responsive after being wet.
- Cost to repair exceeds replacing the phone.
- Phone is very old and it’s a good time to upgrade anyway.
- You need a reliable phone again immediately.
If your phone shows signs of extensive physical damage or component corrosion, it may be time to retire it and move on. For serious soaking, even rice and professional repair may not be able to resurrect it fully. Be realistic about when the cost justifies getting a new phone vs. continuing to attempt to salvage your existing one.
Conclusion
Getting moisture in your phone can be a scary situation, but don’t panic! With some quick action and the right drying techniques, water-damaged phones can often be saved. Just be sure to remove it from the liquid promptly, power off immediately, and utilize desiccants like rice or silica gel to draw out any fluid inside the device. Avoid heat, disassemble carefully, and take your time allowing it to air dry before attempting to turn it on again. With patience and care, there’s a good chance of reviving your wet phone with minimal lasting damage. And going forward, some preventative measures can help keep your phone safely away from liquid risks as well.