Should you put wet phone in rice?

Quick Answers

Putting a wet phone in rice is a popular folk remedy for drying out a water-damaged phone. The idea is that the rice will absorb the moisture from the phone. However, experts say rice is not very effective for drying phones and does not help fix water damage. While it’s unlikely to further damage the phone, it’s better to follow other drying recommendations from phone manufacturers. Still, rice remains a convenient desiccant if no other options are available.

Does Rice Absorb Water from Wet Phones?

Yes, rice can absorb some moisture from a wet phone. This is because rice is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water molecules from the surrounding environment. When you put a wet phone in a bowl or bag of rice, the rice will begin pulling water out of the phone through osmosis.

However, there are a few reasons why rice is not the most effective way to dry out a phone:

Rice absorbs water slowly – Phone drying needs to happen quickly to prevent corrosion.
Rice does not absorb enough water – A phone may have moisture in crevices and internal components that rice cannot reach.
Rice leaves residue – Grains can get stuck in phone ports and crevices.

So while rice does absorb some surface moisture, it is not effective at quickly drying the sensitive internal components of smartphones. It should not be relied on as the only drying method for wet phones.

Does Rice Fix Water Damaged Phones?

No, rice does not fix water damaged phones. The water itself causes the damage, and drying out the phone does not repair the damage already done by the water. Some ways water can damage phones include:

Corroding metallic components

Short circuiting electronics
Damaging protective coatings
Interfering with touch screens

Once water causes damage like corrosion or short circuiting, no amount of drying will restore proper functioning. The phone will need actual repairs or replacement components to fix the issues caused by water exposure, not just drying of the water itself.

Does Rice Pull Water Out of Charging Ports?

Rice may absorb some surface moisture from charging ports but does not effectively remove water from inside the port. Charging ports contain very small, complicated electronics that control the power delivery and data transfer. These components are vulnerable to corrosion and short circuiting if exposed to water.

Rice can only draw moisture from the surface of the port opening but cannot penetrate inside to remove water trapped deeper within the port. Any moisture left behind can continue damaging the port’s electronics and contacts. So relying solely on rice is not recommended for drying out water in charging ports.

When Should You Put a Wet Phone in Rice?

You should only put a wet phone in rice if no other drying options are available. While it is not the most effective method, rice can be used in a pinch if you cannot access recommended drying solutions like:

Compressed air
Isopropyl alcohol

Phone drying kits
Vacuum extraction

In an emergency, packing the phone in rice can help buy some time to get to proper phone drying tools. But don’t wait too long, as water damage gets worse over time. Get access to better drying methods as soon as possible.

How Long Should You Leave a Phone in Rice?

There is no set time for how long to leave a wet phone in rice. Because rice absorbs moisture slowly, some sources recommend leaving it in rice for 1-3 days. However, this prolonged exposure is unlikely to be that much more effective than 12-24 hours.

The most important thing is to get the phone into a proper drying solution as soon as possible. Letting it sit in rice for days extends the time water could be corroding components. Once in rice, check frequently for signs of drying. When the surface seems dry, get the phone into a better drying setup.

Does Rice Work for Other Wet Electronics?

Rice may absorb some surface moisture from other wet electronics like tablets, MP3 players, and laptops. The same limitations apply though – slow absorption, no internal drying, and residue. Most electronics manufacturers recommend against using rice to dry devices.

Some types of electronics should never be put in rice, like appliances with exposed electrical contacts. Rice particles sticking to contacts poses an electric shock hazard if power is supplied. Again, rice is really a last resort temporary measure only.

Step-by-Step Guide

If you need to use rice to dry a wet phone, follow these steps:

Remove phone case and any accessories like headphones.

Turn off the phone if possible – if not, remove battery.
Shake out any loose water droplets.
Wrap phone in a clean, dry towel and press gently to absorb surface moisture.

Fill bowl or ziplock bag about halfway with uncooked rice.
Bury phone in rice so it is completely covered.
Seal bag or cover bowl tightly to prevent rice dust escaping.

Let sit for 12-24 hours.
Check for drying progress and change out rice as needed.
Once phone seems dry on the surface, remove from rice and access proper drying methods.

Does the Type of Rice Matter?

While any type of dry grain rice can absorb some moisture, some varieties work better than others:

Avoid

Sticky rice – Higher starch content makes it glop together.
Jasmine rice – More aromatic oils can get residue in phone.

Ultimately though, any plain white rice will do in an emergency until you can get to better drying options.

Does Putting a Phone in Rice Fix Water Damage?

No, putting a water damaged phone in rice does not actually fix any damage that has already occurred from the water exposure. Rice can only absorb some of the moisture left behind, but cannot repair corroded parts, clear short circuits, or reverse any other issues caused by the water itself.

To actually fix water damage, a phone will need professional servicing to replace affected components and make repairs at the circuit board level. Drying out a phone, whether in rice or more effective methods, is just the very first step in addressing water damage. But the phone will need proper repairs beyond just drying.

Phone Drying Alternative #1: Silica Gel

Like rice, silica gel packs are intended to absorb moisture through hygroscopy. But silica gel often works better than rice for a few reasons:

Contains finer particles for better absorption.
Made specifically for desiccation, not cooking.
Some packs are reusable after drying in the oven.

Many new electronics come packed with silica gel packs that you can repurpose to dry a wet phone in a similar manner to rice. Just be sure to remove them once the phone appears dry.

Phone Drying Alternative #2: Vacuum Extraction

Professional phone repair shops often use vacuum systems to manually extract moisture from wet devices. Special nozzles can reach into ports and crevices to suck out water that rice or silica gel cannot reach.

DIY vacuum extraction at home is not recommended though, as vacuums without adjustable suction can potentially damage phone components. Leave vacuum drying to specialized service technicians.

Phone Drying Alternative #3: Isopropyl Alcohol

High purity isopropyl alcohol (90% or above) rapidly displaces moisture through evaporation. Lightly moistened swabs can help dry out ports and buttons.

Be very careful not to get any liquids inside the phone when using alcohols for drying. It can damage coatings and displace lubricants. Use it sparingly on external surfaces only.

Phone Drying Alternative #4: DampRid

DampRid and similar products contain calcium chloride as an active moisture absorber. The granules pull water from the air or surfaces in a process called deliquescence.

Although often safer than rice, direct contact with electronics should still be avoided. The salts can be corrosive if allowed to crystallize on circuit boards.

Drying Method	Effectiveness	Speed	Safety	Convenience
Rice	Low	Slow	Fair	Good
Silica Gel	Moderate	Slow	Good	Fair
Vacuum Extraction	High	Fast	Good	Poor
Isopropyl Alcohol	Moderate	Fast	Fair	Good
DampRid	Moderate	Moderate	Fair	Good

The Verdict on Rice for Wet Phones

In summary, here are the key points on using rice to dry a wet phone:

Rice can absorb some surface moisture but is not effective for internal phone drying.

It does not help repair any actual water damage to components.
Faster drying with better solutions helps minimize corrosion issues.
Only use rice in an emergency if no other options are available.

Transition to more effective drying methods as soon as possible.

While rice may play a role as an interim solution, proper repairs are needed to fix phones wetted internally. Don’t let rice give you a false sense of security that your phone is good as new.

Expert Recommendations

Phone manufacturers and repair experts advise against using rice as a primary phone drying method. Here are some of their recommendations:

Apple

“Uncooked rice is not recommended. Rice contains small particulates that could make their way into device components like buttons and ports.”

Samsung

“Placing your water-exposed device in rice is not recommended … rice particles lodged in ports or openings could damage your device.”

iFixit

“Rice won’t rescue your phone … It just doesn’t work fast enough to prevent corrosion, and any grains that infiltrate your phone can cause further issues.”

When to Give Up & Accept Water Damage

If a phone has been submerged long enough to get water in critical components like the logic board, it likely cannot be saved even with thorough drying. Signs your phone is beyond reasonable repair include:

Not powering on at all, even after drying
Touchscreen unresponsive or glitchy

Corrosion visible inside ports
Internal rattling or sloshing sounds
Distorted speakers or microphone

Short circuit LED indicator

At this point, continuing to invest time and money into drying and repairs is not worthwhile. Just dry the phone thoroughly with whatever means available to maximize residual value for recycling. Then look into replacement options when damage is beyond the point of economical repair.

Preventing Water Damage

An ounce of water damage prevention is worth a pound of phone drying and repair. Here are some tips to avoid the need for desperate rice measures in the first place:

Use protective waterproof cases for outdoor activities near water.
Never use phones in the bathroom or around sinks and tubs.
Keep food and drinks away from devices.

Store electronics at high elevations in flood zones.
Let phone dry thoroughly before reconnecting power after any water exposure.
Inspect devices periodically for signs of moisture incursion.

Practice defensive phone use to reduce the chances of having to hastily pack it in rice. Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to electronics and water hazards.