If you’ve ever dropped your phone in water, you know how stressful that can be. Water can cause serious damage to the internal components of smartphones. One of the most common solutions people use to try to dry out and save a wet phone is to put it in rice. But how long should you actually keep your phone submerged in rice? Here’s a look at how long you need to leave your phone in rice to dry it out and potentially revive it.
Why Put a Wet Phone in Rice?
Rice is commonly used to help absorb moisture from wet phones because it’s inexpensive, widely available, and the small grains can get into tight spaces. Rice won’t actually repair any damage already done by the water, but it can help dry out the phone. This is important because any remaining water could short circuit the phone’s electrical components and prevent it from working properly, even after it’s dried out. That’s why it’s critical to get as much moisture out as possible.
How Long to Leave a Phone in Rice
There is no set amount of time that will guarantee a phone will be completely dry after being submerged in rice. However, based on manufacturers’ recommendations and tech experts’ advice, here are some general guidelines for how long to leave a wet phone in rice:
- 24-48 hours: Leave the phone buried in rice for at least 24 hours. 48 hours is even better to help ensure it’s fully dried out.
- Longer for more water exposure: If the phone was exposed to water for a longer period of time or submerged deeper, you may want to leave it in rice for 72 hours or longer.
- Check it occasionally: Check on the phone and swap out the rice every 12-24 hours to maximize moisture absorption.
- Leave it off: Make sure the phone is powered off while drying out in rice. Don’t charge it.
Maximizing the Effectiveness of Rice
To get the most out of the rice method, follow these tips:
- Use uncooked rice – The hard, dry grains are more effective at soaking up moisture than already cooked rice.
- Fill a sealable bag or container – Put the phone in a zipper storage bag or Tupperware container filled with rice so it’s fully surrounded.
- Pack rice tightly around phone – Shape the rice around the phone so it’s touching all sides.
- Bury it completely – Make sure the phone is 100% covered by rice so moisture can be wicked away on all sides.
- Put it somewhere warm – Warm areas help accelerate drying time. Don’t put it in direct sun though.
Signs Your Phone Is Dry
After leaving your phone in rice for at least 24-48 hours, check these signs to determine if it’s sufficiently dried out:
- No condensation – Condensation/fog under the screen is gone.
- Ports look normal – The charging port, headphone jack etc. don’t appear wet.
- No rice stuck inside – Carefully tip the phone upside down to check if any rice grains got stuck in ports or crevices.
- No water droplets – Shake the phone gently and look for any droplets that may be still inside.
- No moisture indicator – Many phones have liquid contact indicator strips that change color when wet. Check if that has returned to its normal state.
If you don’t notice any of those signs of moisture, there’s a chance the phone is dry and ready to try using again.
Drying Precautions
While rice can be effective for drying out phones, take these precautions:
- Don’t turn on until completely dry – Powering up too soon could short circuit and ruin it.
- Don’t use heat sources – Avoid hairdryers, stoves, microwaves etc. The heat could damage components.
- Check for rice in ports – Tilt and shake the phone over a surface to remove any rice grains stuck inside before using.
- Go to a repair shop – For liquid damage beyond DIY drying methods, take it to a professional repair shop.
What to Do If Rice Doesn’t Work
If you’ve dried your phone thoroughly and it still won’t turn on or function properly, the rice method unfortunately didn’t work. Here are some things to try:
- Let it dry longer – Wait an extra 24 hours in case there’s still some moisture deep inside.
- Use desiccant packs – The tiny silica gel packs absorb moisture even better than rice.
- Try an alcohol bath – Submerge the phone in 90%+ isopropyl alcohol which can displace water.
- Use a vacuum chamber – Water vapor can be sucked out under vacuum pressure.
- Take it to a repair shop – Phone repair techs have specialized tools to dry out devices.
Does Rice Actually Work to Fix Wet Phones?
Here is a look at how effective the rice method really is for saving wet phones:
- Works for minor exposure – If the phone was just splashed or briefly dropped in water, rice can absorb the moisture before it causes permanent damage.
- May work after full submersion – If dried quickly, rice might be able to save a phone soaked or dropped in water if it wasn’t at the bottom for long.
- Not guaranteed – There’s no guarantee rice will be able to dry a phone enough to get it working again, especially if it was submerged deeper or longer.
- Depends how wet – The more water exposure, the less likely rice can dry it thoroughly enough. Deep water can get into crevices rice can’t reach.
- electronics don’t mix – Any amount of water causes risk. Even with rice, residual moisture could eventually corrode components.
So while the rice trick doesn’t work miracles, it can potentially revive phones with minimal water exposure if used correctly. But for very wet phones, professional drying methods might be a phone’s only hope.
When to Give Up On a Wet Phone
If you’ve tried the rice method for 48+ hours with no luck, it may be time to give up and look into your options. Consider your phone beyond DIY repair if:
- It was submerged deeply or for a long time
- There are visible signs of water damage like corroded ports or water behind the screen
- You’ve dried it thoroughly with rice multiple times with no change
- It shows electrical malfunctions like no display, strange artifacts on the screen etc.
- It’s an older phone that you’re considering upgrading anyway
At that point, you may have to reluctantly accept your phone has been fried by the water. But you can still try taking it to a professional phone repair shop to see if they can work any final magic before you deem it dead.
Water Damage Prevention Tips
While rice can potentially revive a slightly wet phone, it’s better to prevent water damage in the first place. Here are some tips to keep your phone safe from liquids:
- Use a protective case – Cases can shield phones from minor splashes or drops.
- Never use near water – Keep phones away from sinks, pools, baths etc.
- Dry hands before use – Eliminate moisture transfer from wet hands.
- Turn off before wet use – Power down if bringing a phone near water.
- Keep in a Ziploc – For beach/pool use, seal the phone in a waterproof plastic bag.
- Invest in waterproof gear – Consider a waterproof case or specialized waterproof phone.
- Get phone insurance – Coverage can offset repair/replacement costs if it does get wet.
A little precaution goes a long way in keeping your phone safe from liquid damage. But if an accident does occur, rice can be an effective first line of defense to try drying it out and preserving your precious device.
Conclusion
If your phone gets wet, burying it in rice is a smart first step to try absorbing moisture before it causes permanent damage. For best results, leave the phone powered off in a sealed container of uncooked rice for at least 24-48 hours, checking and changing the rice periodically to maximize drying. Look for signs of remaining moisture before attempting to turn it on again. Rice may be able to revive phones with minimal exposure, but can’t guarantee success after heavy soaking. Take proper precautions to prevent water damage in the first place, but don’t hesitate to use the rice trick should your phone take an unexpected dip or dunking.