Quick Answer
The recommended time to leave a water-damaged phone in rice is 48-72 hours. Rice absorbs moisture, but drying out a phone depends on factors like how wet it got and what kind of phone it is. Leaving it longer can help ensure it dries fully. Checking it every 12-24 hours allows you to see if more drying time is needed.
Does Rice Actually Work to Dry Out a Wet Phone?
Yes, rice can be an effective way to help dry out a wet phone, as long as the phone didn’t get too wet. Here’s why:
- Rice absorbs moisture – Rice contains starch that draws moisture away from the air and your phone.
- Rice is a desiccant – Desiccants are substances that absorb moisture. Rice is a cheap, readily available desiccant.
- Rice won’t damage your phone – It will not scratch or stick to your phone like other desiccants could.
Rice is not a miracle cure, however. If your phone was fully submerged or took a long bath, rice may not be able to dry it out sufficiently. It works best for minor splashes and drops in water.
How Long Should You Leave a Wet Phone in Rice?
Most sources recommend leaving your wet phone in a bowl or bag of rice for at least 48 hours, up to 72 hours or longer if needed. Here are some guidelines:
- 48 hours – Leave the phone in rice for a full 2 days as a minimum drying time.
- 72 hours – Allow 3 full days for thorough drying if very wet.
- Longer if needed – Check on the phone every 12-24 hours after the first 72. If moisture remains, keep drying.
- 1-2 weeks for severe water damage – If the phone was fully submerged, it may take over a week to draw out all the water.
The drying time depends on factors like:
- How wet the phone got – Longer submersion needs longer drying.
- Type of phone – Some materials like metal dry faster than plastic.
- Humidity – Rice dries faster in a low humidity environment.
So you need to gauge based on your specific situation. Give it at least 2 days minimum, and go longer if you are still seeing moisture.
Tips to Dry Your Phone Faster
Here are some tips to speed up the rice drying process:
- Use more rice – Bury the phone fully in rice to surround it completely.
- Stir the rice – Mix it up periodically so dry rice contacts the phone.
- Use silica gel – This desiccant may work faster than rice.
- Point a fan at it – A breeze helps evaporate moisture off the phone.
- Put it in the sun – The heat helps dry it out faster.
- Remove case – Take off any case or cover so rice contacts the phone.
Avoid any heat sources that could damage the phone like hairdryers or heat guns. The goal is gentle drying.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here are step-by-step instructions for the rice method:
- Turn the phone off – This prevents short circuits while wet.
- Remove SIM card, case, and battery (if possible).
- Gently shake out or blot excess water.
- Bury phone fully in a bowl or bag of uncooked rice so it’s surrounded.
- Place the bowl in a dry, room-temperature spot to dry for at least 48 hours.
- Check phone periodically and stir rice to expose all sides to dry rice.
- When fully dry, remove phone and replace any parts before turning on.
- If any moisture remains, return to rice for 12-24 more hours.
The key is to fully submerge the phone in rice and allow plenty of time for thorough drying. Avoid heat, and check it periodically to gauge if more time is needed.
Does the Type of Rice Matter?
You can use any type of uncooked rice. Here are some common varieties and their properties when drying a phone:
| Type | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| White rice | Very absorbent; cheap and easy to find |
| Brown rice | Highly absorbent; retains more nutrients than white rice |
| Jasmine rice | Quite absorbent; has a floral aroma |
| Basmati rice | Decently absorbent; has a nutty flavor |
| Instant rice | Less absorbent than regular rice |
Any variety works. White rice is a popular choice because it’s inexpensive and easy to find. Use whatever rice you have on hand.
What Are Some Rice Alternatives?
If you don’t have any rice, some other desiccants you can use instead include:
- Silica gel packs – These absorb 40% more moisture than rice.
- Dry oatmeal or couscous – Similar drying effect as rice.
- Cat litter – The non-clumping kind acts as a desiccant.
- Starch (flour, cornstarch, arrowroot) – Absorbs moisture like rice.
You can also use things like a towel, hair dryer, or fan to help dry the phone without a desiccant like rice. But rice and the alternatives above work the best to slowly draw moisture out.
Should Any Precautions Be Taken When Using Rice?
Here are a few precautions to keep in mind:
- Use enough rice to submerge the phone – this ensures all sides dry.
- Check phone periodically to see if more drying is needed.
- Don’t let rice get inside any ports or openings.
- Avoid heat sources that could damage phone like hairdryers.
- Don’t turn on phone until completely dry.
As long as you fully submerge the phone, let it dry thoroughly, and avoid introducing moisture or heat, rice is a safe drying method.
How Do You Know When Your Phone Is Fully Dry After Using Rice?
Here are signs your phone is dry and ready to use again after the rice method:
- No visible moisture in ports, camera, buttons, etc.
- Rice no longer clumping around phone.
- Phone feels room temperature.
- No condensation when holding phone to bright light.
- Used recommended drying time of 48+ hours.
- Tried charging phone and no issues or sparks.
The main signs are a lack of any moisture, no condensation, and rice not sticking to the phone. If in doubt, give it more time to be sure.
Can Rice Rescue a Phone That Was Fully Submerged?
If a phone was fully underwater for any length of time, rice may not be able to save it. Here’s why rice works best for minor splashes:
- Submersion causes more extensive damage – Water gets deeper inside the phone.
- Adhesive barriers are breached – Water can reach sensitive flex cables.
- Corrosion begins immediately – This can permanently damage electronics.
- Residual moisture gets trapped – Rice may not draw out all the water.
So while rice is worth a try, even after several days it may not work for a phone that was fully dunked. The damage may be too severe. Other steps could include disassembling and cleaning the phone.
Can You Dry a Wet Phone With Rice Then Still Use It?
Yes, if rice drying succeeds in fully removing any moisture inside the phone, it may still work fine and be usable. Here’s what helps determine if a phone works after drying:
- How wet it originally got – Minor splashes are survivable.
- How quickly it was dried out – Fast drying reduces corrosion.
- Phone construction – Some are more water resistant.
- Which components got wet – Some parts handle moisture better.
If dried fast using rice, phones often survive and work. But if very wet or dried slowly, permanent damage is likely. Test the phone thoroughly after drying before relying on it.
Does Rice Damage the Phone While Drying It?
Rice will not physically damage a phone while drying it. Here are reasons why rice is safe:
- Rice is soft – It will not scratch plastic, metal, or glass.
- It does not stick – Rice grains come right off when finished.
- It leaves no residue – Rice won’t gunk up ports or buttons.
- It’s chemically inert – Rice won’t corrode or react with phone components.
As long as the rice is kept dry and only used to absorb moisture, it will not harm any part of the phone. Just be sure to check ports and openings for any stray grains after.
Will Rice Fix a Phone with Physical Water Damage?
If water exposure caused physical damage to phone components, rice cannot fix that. For example:
- Corroded trace metal – Rice won’t undo corrosion.
- Deposits left after water dries – Rice won’t remove minerals left behind.
- Cracking or clouding – Rice won’t repair plastic/glass.
- Mold growth – Rice won’t kill mold spores.
- Short-circuited electronics – Beyond rice’s moisture absorption.
Rice only helps dry the phone out. If water interacted chemically with phone parts or distorted them, rice won’t reverse that damage.
Does the Rice Method Work for Other Wet Electronics Besides Phones?
Yes, you can use rice to dry out all kinds of wet electronics, not just phones. Other good candidates include:
- Tablets, e-readers, and other handheld devices
- MP3 players and portable music devices
- Smart watches and fitness trackers
- Wireless earbuds, headsets, and speakers
- Remote controls
- Handheld gaming systems
- Laptops and accessories
Anything with circuits and ports that got wet can potentially be dried out with rice as long as exposure wasn’t too severe. Fully seal electronics in bags of rice just as with phones.
Does Drying a Wet Phone With Rice Always Work?
No drying method works 100% of the time. But rice can be effective for minor water exposure. Here’s an estimate of rice’s success rate:
- Light splashing – 90%+ success rate
- Quick dunking – 50% success rate
- Extended submersion – 30% success rate
- Full water immersion – 10% success rate
So the less wet the phone got, the better rice’s chances of drying it out sufficiently. For severe water damage, rice should not be relied upon as the only drying method. But it’s worth trying even for very wet phones.
Can You Eat the Rice After Using It to Dry a Phone?
It is not recommended to eat rice that was used to dry a water-damaged phone. Here are some potential issues:
- Bacteria and contaminants from the phone could get on the rice
- Chemical residue from phone components may transfer to rice
- Rice could absorb minerals from water that interacted with phone
- Rice could collect small pieces of phone material that flaked off
- Eating removes rice before fully drying phone
For health and proper drying, the used rice should be discarded. Get fresh, dry rice if you need to give the phone another round of drying. Don’t take chances eating rice that absorbed unwanted substances from a phone.
Conclusion
Rice can be an inexpensive, accessible way to attempt saving a wet phone, as long as the phone did not get too drenched. Allow at least 2-3 days buried in rice, longer if needed. Check periodically until all moisture is gone. While not 100% effective, especially for very wet phones, rice is a practical first step before exploring other options or professional drying services. With light splashes, there is a good chance the rice method will dry out your phone sufficiently to function again.