Quick Answers
If your phone has gotten wet, the most important thing is to act quickly to try to get as much water out as possible before it can cause permanent damage. Some quick things to try:
- Immediately power off the phone and remove any covers, batteries, SIM cards, etc.
- Shake out any excess liquid if possible.
- Use a microfiber cloth or paper towel to gently blot up any moisture on the surface.
- Place the phone in front of a fan or point a hair dryer set on cool at it to help evaporate the water.
- Put the phone in a bag or container of dry rice, silica gel packs or cat litter overnight to absorb moisture.
- Use moisture-absorbing apps or phone drying kits/devices designed for water damage.
- Bring the phone to a repair shop for professional drying services.
Acting fast is key, as you want to remove water before corrosion starts. Don’t try to charge or turn on a wet phone.
Common Causes of Water Damage
There are a few common ways that water damage can occur to cell phones:
- Accidental water exposure – Dropping a phone in water, spilling a drink on it, getting caught in the rain, etc. This is the most common cause of water damage.
- Condensation – When a cold phone is exposed to warm humid air, condensation can form on and inside the device.
- Leaks/spills – Liquids like beverages, chemicals, soap water, etc. can leak into a phone and cause water damage.
- Submersion – Phones can become fully submerged by falling into bodies of water like pools, toilets, lakes, etc.
- Perspiration/rain – Sweat and moisture from rain can get into phone ports and openings.
- Malfunctioning components – Issues with batteries, cooling systems, etc. can lead to internal leaks.
Being aware of these moisture risks and taking precautions can help prevent many cases of cell phone water damage. Proper handling, storage, and use goes a long way.
Drying Out a Wet Phone
If your phone does get exposed to liquid, here are some tips for drying it out:
Physical Absorption
- Gently shake the phone to remove excess liquid.
- Blot surfaces lightly with a microfiber cloth or paper towel.
- Place phone in a bowl/bag of uncooked rice, silica gel packs or cat litter. The grains will absorb moisture.
- Leave phone sitting upright in dry location to allow liquid to evaporate.
- Place phone in front of a fan or use a hair dryer on cool setting to speed up evaporation.
Moisture-Absorbing Products
- Drying kits – These contain materials like silica gel to absorb moisture.
- Desiccant packs – Packets of moisture-absorbing beads can be placed in the phone.
- Moisture-absorbing boxes – Special sealed boxes with water-absorbing graphite lining.
Apps
- Some apps claim to help remove moisture by rapidly heating a wet phone.
- Examples: PhoneRescue App, Heat Dry App, Dry Phone App.
- Effectiveness is questionable – physical absorption methods may work better.
Professional Services
Phone repair shops have commercial drying machines and tools that can thoroughly dry out a phone’s internal components and ports. This is the most effective drying method, but costs money.
Best Moisture Removal Products
Here are some top-rated products for drying out wet phones, based on reviews:
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| Dry-Box Rescue Kit | Pouch with moisture-absorbing beads and rice to place phone in. |
| MoonStan Drying Kit | Silica gel beads, stickers, moisture absorbers and instructions. |
| Nekteck Dry Box | Sealed box with graphite lining pulls moisture from phone. |
| Dry-All Moisture Absorber | Tub of super absorbent pellets to place phone in. |
These products all have 4+ star reviews for effectively absorbing liquid and drying out water damaged phones.
Preventing Water Damage
Here are some tips to avoid water damage to your phone in the first place:
- Use a protective case and screen covers.
- Keep phone away from water – don’t use it near sinks, tubs, pools, etc.
- Never shower or bathe with your phone.
- Invest in a waterproof case or pouch if you’ll be around water.
- Turn off phone and remove battery if it gets wet.
- Don’t charge or turn on a wet phone.
- Avoid spills – use phone carefully around liquids.
- Store phone in cool, dry location.
- Keep phone away from humid environments.
- Allow wet phone to dry thoroughly before using.
Following these precautions will help prevent many cases of cell phone water damage.
Drying Services From Phone Repair Shops
For more serious water damage, cell phone and electronics repair shops offer professional drying services. Here’s an overview:
- Shops have commercial drying machines that thoroughly dry out phones.
- Technicians will take apart the phone and use suction, heat, vacuum drying, etc.
- All internal components are dried out, including ports, battery, logic board, etc.
- May also involve cleaning out corrosion, mineral deposits.
- Typically costs $50-$100+ depending on phone and damage level.
- Higher success rate than DIY methods, but no guarantee.
Professional phone drying can salvage devices even after significant water exposure. However, the sooner it is done after water damage, the better the outcome.
If Phone Won’t Turn on After Water Damage
If your phone was exposed to moisture and is now having issues powering on, here are some things to try:
- Let phone dry thoroughly – may take over 24 hours in rice/desiccant.
- Try charging phone again after drying.
- Plug phone into computer to see if detected.
- Hard reset the phone if possible.
- Remove/reinsert SIM card and battery.
- Have phone professionally dried by a repair shop.
- Replace any corroded or damaged internal parts like logic board.
- Contact carrier/manufacturer about possible warranty coverage.
If there is still no power after professional drying, the internal damage may be too extensive, requiring component-level repair or a replacement phone. Act quickly after water exposure for the best chance at salvaging the device.
Is it Possible to Fix a Water-Damaged Phone?
It is often possible to fix a water-damaged phone, but results depend on:
- Exposure level – Brief splash vs. submersion makes a difference.
- Drying speed – The faster drying is done, the better.
- Phone model – Some have more water resistance.
- Damage type – Corrosion vs. physical damage.
- Professional help – Repair shops can fix more extensive damage.
Many times, quick action to dry out the phone can resolve the issues, especially if exposure was brief. But the longer moisture sits, the more corrosion occurs, which can necessitate part replacements. In severe cases with component damage, repair may be impossible or cost-prohibitive.
Conclusion
Liquid exposure can seriously damage cell phones, but quick action to dry out the device using moisture-absorbing products, fans, heat, and professional help will give you the best chance at salvaging it. Water damage is best prevented by taking precautions to keep your phone away from moisture in the first place. With rapid response, many wet phones can function again after a thorough drying.