I t's an awful feeling to drop your phone in the water. Every smartphone is unique, so is every spill. Most modern phones do not include replaceable elements like batteries, making them more challenging to dry.
Properly follow these instructions, and you might be able to evade irreversible damage. Read further to learn what to do if you drop your phone in water.
Switch it Off
Because of water's conductivity, running electric charges through any wet circuit is bound to cause a short circuit. Soaking an off-circuit, on the other hand, isn't nearly as harmful as soaking an active circuit. Also, just because a device becomes wet doesn't imply it's ruined right away.
Remove any parts possible
Remove the SIM and the microSD card if possible. Also, if your phone allows for battery removal, make use of it. Be cautious not to shake or jiggle your phone that much during this, as you will be moving fluids around within the phone.
Make sure it's dry
Dry the phone using a paper towel or soft cloth to clear any further damage risk. Make sure no water gets into any crevices, cracks, or ports. You may also dry any pieces you are able to remove with your towels, such as the microSD card, battery, and SIM card.
What Not To Do
- The towel should not be inserted into its charging port.
- Don’t put any other materials into the charging port to try to absorb the moisture, especially cotton swabs.
- Do not use any of your phone's keys or buttons.
- Don't bang, shake, or tap the phone.
- Do not use a fan or try to get any air into it.
- Don't put the phone on charge. Even if you use a wireless charger.
- Don’t use any external source of heat for drying, for example, a hairdryer.
Don't touch it for some time
The most crucial thing right now is to let your phone dry out. If there's any moisture within the phone, it may short circuit. It is recommended that you turn off your phone for a few days, at the very least. Now you're at the 'wait and watch' stage of this adventure.
If all goes properly, your phone should be functional just the way it was. If not, taking it to a smartphone repair shop is always a great option. A day or two is the average length of time suggested waiting in this case.
Keep an eye out for any issues
Once your smartphone is dry, it might continue to function normally. It could also continue functioning, but with odd new bugs. Over the following few days, keep an eye on it and assess its performance on important tasks like how the speakers sound, using the camera, and so on. If you observe any issues, it may be necessary to have it fixed or replaced.
Does rice work?
You've probably heard that submerging a smartphone in uncooked dry rice is the best method to dry it out after it's been dropped in water. According to the theory, the rice absorbs moisture from the hard-to-reach parts within your phone. It is still recommended by several web sources. Others argue that the rice technique is nothing more than an urban legend.
We feel that even if the rice approach worked in the past, it no longer works. Most modern smartphones do not have replaceable batteries or even backs. There are fewer cracks and gaps in their surfaces. This means the rice has fewer opportunities to absorb the moisture within your smartphone and reach it.
What if it doesn’t work?
Just throwing away a phone is highly harmful to the environment. If you can't bear the thought of selling your smartphone, at the very least, attempt to have it recycled. Many phone retailers offer dedicated recycle bins for old phones, or your manufacturer may give you a pre-paid plastic package in which it can be sent back for recycling.
Hopefully, after reading all these steps, you know what to do if you drop your phone in water!
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This post is tagged in:
- What To Do If You Drop Your Phone In Water
- Phone maintenance
- phone repair
- phone dropped in water
- submerged phone tips
