Having your laptop accidentally get wet can be a stressful and worrisome situation. Water and electronics don’t mix well, so you’ll need to act fast if your laptop takes an unexpected bath. Don’t panic though – if you follow the proper steps, there’s a good chance you can revive your waterlogged laptop.
What causes water damage to a laptop?
Water itself doesn’t damage electronics directly. The real culprits are minerals and other contaminants in the water that can cause short circuits when electricity travels through them. Pure, distilled water won’t immediately damage a laptop’s circuits. But tap water, drinks, and other liquids contain minerals and impurities that allow electricity to flow where it shouldn’t, which can lead to corrosion and short circuiting.
Water damage can have several effects on a laptop:
- Short circuiting – water bridges connections and allows stray current to flow, which can quickly damage components.
- Corrosion – minerals in water corrode metal contacts and etch circuit board traces.
- Deposits – minerals and contaminants are left behind when water evaporates, interfering with electrical connections.
- Interference – water can physically interfere with the normal workings of components like hard drives, fans, and buttons.
The longer water sits inside a laptop, the greater the potential for damage as short circuiting and corrosion continue to occur. This is why it’s important to act quickly after a laptop gets wet.
Immediate steps to take if your laptop gets wet
If your laptop has been drenched in water, follow these initial steps right away:
- Remove power and battery: Unplug the laptop and remove the battery immediately. This will help prevent further damage from electrical shorts as water sits inside.
- Dry exterior surfaces: Use a dry towel or cloth to remove any standing water on the laptop’s exterior and ports. Be gentle – don’t rub too hard.
- Drain excess liquid: Hold the laptop upside down at an angle to drain out as much water as possible from openings like the keyboard, ports, and vents.
- Disassemble if possible: If you’re comfortable doing so, open up the laptop and remove components like the hard drive to dry separately. Just be careful not to damage anything in the process.
- Dry interior surfaces: Use a dry towel, cloth, or compressed air to soak up any standing water inside the openings and compartments.
- Check for hidden water: Inspect all openings and ports for trapped water. Tilt or invert the laptop to uncover any standing water inside.
- Let air dry: Allow the laptop to air dry for at least 24-48 hours before attempting to turn on again. Water takes time to fully evaporate.
These initial actions help remove power from components and drain away pooled water to limit further damage. But more steps are needed to fully dry out and potentially save the laptop.
Use desiccant packets to absorb moisture
Desiccant packets are moisture-absorbing packs often found in packaged electronics, shoes, and food. They work well for soaking up any residual moisture inside a wet laptop. To use them:
- Find or purchase desiccant packs. They’re available at many hardware, shipping, or electronics stores.
- Place several packs inside the laptop’s open compartments and under the keyboard.
- Seal the laptop in a bag or airtight container along with the desiccant packs for 24-48 hours.
- Check packs and replace with fresh ones as needed until no more moisture is absorbed.
Silica gel and clay desiccant packs work best for electronics drying. Just make sure not to tear open or puncture the packs. Allowing the desiccant packs time to fully absorb moisture inside gives waterlogged components the best chance to dry out completely.
Use isopropyl alcohol to displace moisture
Isopropyl alcohol (also called rubbing alcohol) can help displace moisture in hard to reach areas inside a laptop. Here’s how to use it:
- Purchase >90% isopropyl alcohol and lint-free cloths/swabs.
- Dab or wipe a small amount of alcohol on interior components and surfaces. Don’t submerge anything in liquid.
- Let the alcohol sit for 1 minute then gently wipe/air dry. Repeat as needed.
- Check for any remaining moisture and repeat alcohol application if needed.
Isopropyl alcohol will help evaporate stubborn moisture left behind even after towel drying. Just be very gentle not to dislodge any interior components while applying it. The highest concentration alcohol (99%) works best.
Try a sealed bag with dry rice
Ordinary rice can act as a desiccant to help draw moisture out of a wet laptop. Here’s what to do:
- Place the disassembled laptop components in sealable storage bags.
- Bury the bagged components in a bowl/bin of uncooked dry white rice.
- Optionally place the entire bowl in a warm spot or under a fan to speed evaporation.
- Let components sit buried in rice for 24-48 hours.
- Check for moisture in the bags or on components before removing.
The rice will slowly absorb moisture from the air and components in the sealed bags. Using a bin allows plenty of rice to fully surround components. Just make sure bags are fully sealed and not punctured to contain the rice.
Use a hair dryer or fan for gentle, controlled drying
You can speed up internal drying time by using a hair dryer or fan blowing ambient temperature or slightly warmed air:
- Disassemble the laptop to expose internal components to airflow.
- Make sure components are secure so they don’t move when drying.
- Use a hair dryer on a low/cool setting or a regular fan to circulate air inside.
- Hold the dryer/fan at least 12 inches away to prevent overheating.
- Cycle between 10 minutes of drying and 10 minutes of rest.
- Check for moisture and repeat as needed until fully dry.
The goal is to gradually evaporate water without heating components too quickly. Move the dryer/fan around to reach all areas but don’t overfocus on one spot. Take breaks to prevent overheating sensitive electronics.
Do NOT try these ineffective or risky methods:
Avoid the temptation to try any of the following questionable drying techniques – they can often do more harm than good:
- Turning on the laptop – can short circuit and damage components.
- Burring in uncooked rice – small rice particles can get stuck and interfere.
- Using a microwave or oven – very risky high localized heat.
- Heating with a blow dryer – can overheat and damage parts.
- Vacuuming – static electricity can damage components.
- Leaving outside – depends on humid vs. dry air.
Play it safe and stick to controlled, ambient temperature drying methods only. Rushed or careless approaches often lead to even worse damage.
Be patient – drying takes time
It’s important to be patient throughout the full drying process. Expect complete internal drying to take at least:
- 24 hours with desiccant packs.
- 72 hours buried in rice.
- 1 week of passive air drying.
Set a reminder to check drying progress over several days. Components may look dry at a glance but still retain moisture internally. Erring on the side of more drying time helps ensure you get all residual moisture fully evaporated.
Inspect for corrosion after drying
Once components are fully dry, closely inspect the laptop’s circuit boards and electrical contacts for any signs of corrosion:
- Discoloration or tarnished metal.
- Desposits or residue on surfaces.
- Etched/damaged traces or components.
- Damaged ports/connectors.
Corrosion damage is difficult to repair and will require replacement of affected components. Catching it early helps prevent further damage. Be methodical and check every exposed surface under bright lighting.
Test and replace individual components
Once satisfied components are dry and corrosion-free, begin testing the laptop with the following procedure:
- Reassemble laptop but leave protective shells off.
- Attach AC power only – no battery.
- Power on and test basic functions like power lights, fans, keyboard backlight, etc.
- If laptop works, shutdown, disconnect AC power and carefully reinstall battery.
- Test laptop again on battery power only.
- If issues arise, swap in replacement components and retest one by one.
This allows you to isolate problems to individual components. Replace damaged parts like memory, HDD, wireless cards, etc. and test again until laptop is fully functional.
Clean corrosion from connectors
If a damaged port or connector is causing issues, try cleaning corrosion from contacts before replacing:
- Disconnect battery and power.
- Use 90%+ isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush to gently clean contacts.
- Use compressed air to thoroughly dry out port/connector.
- Carefully bend back any raised/bent pins using tweezers.
- If pins are physically broken, the connector will need replacement.
This may salvage a connector with mild corrosion damage. But if pins are badly corroded or broken, the whole connector assembly will need replacement.
Replace unsalvageable components
If corrosion or physical water damage is too severe, certain components may be unrepairable and need replacement:
- Heavily corroded ports like USB, HDMI, charging, etc.
- Short-circuited or corroded components like RAM, CPU, GPU, etc.
- Damaged rotational components like fans and hard drives.
- Any electronics directly exposed to standing water.
For expensive components like the system board, it may be more cost-effective to replace the laptop. Otherwise, find replacement parts online for your specific laptop make and model.
Conclusion
Reviving a water-damaged laptop takes patience and care, but is often possible if you follow the right steps. Quick action is key – remove power, dry exterior and interior surfaces, drain all excess liquid, and allow a slow controlled drying period of 24-72 hours minimum. Supplementary drying aids can help extract moisture faster and more thoroughly. Check for corrosion and damage during the process. Replace components as needed and test systematically until full functionality is restored. With time and persistence, there’s a good chance of salvaging an otherwise ruined laptop.