No matter how careful we are, sometimes our cell phone falls into the water or gets wet in the rain. Do not panic in this situation, because there are ways to save a wet phone. With a little luck and speed of action you can save your phone. In the following, we will explain what to do if the phone falls into the water and what methods to use to dry and prevent its parts from being damaged.
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Take the phone out of the water
Exposing the phone to moisture every second increases the chance of the phone being lost. If it’s raining, wrap the phone in something like a cloth or plastic bag to keep more water out, and get out of the rain quickly to avoid further damage.
Turn off the phone and remove its accessories and parts
Turn off the phone immediately, even if it seems to work and has no problem. Holding the phone on can cause a short circuit. If the phone was plugged in when it got wet, carefully turn off the power or power plug and unplug it, as you may be electrocuted when unplugged.
Then quickly remove the phone case and other accessories. The more parts you remove, the less water will collect inside the phone. The parts of the phone are damaged by contact with water, so you must separate them and dry them thoroughly. Also remove the SIM card and the phone memory card. If the phone battery is removable, remove it. Wipe the SIM card, memory card and SIM card tray dry. Usually these parts are not damaged by soaking.
Drying the phone
1. Use lint-free wipes
Wipe the phone with a lint-free cloth. What better if you have a microfiber cloth (such as a towel for cleaning glasses or a camera). If a towel or handkerchief is not available, a paper towel is also helpful.
Dry all corners and grooves of the phone as much as possible with a towel. The more water you dry, the better. Be careful not to get water into the charging port, headphone jack or card slot.
2. Use a vacuum cleaner
Great if you have a vacuum cleaner! But you can also use an ordinary vacuum cleaner. Connect the corner series to the vacuum cleaner, set the vacuum cleaner to maximum power, and then vacuum around all the holes and ports of the phone. Look for trapped water and continue sucking until you can no longer hear the sound of water and only the sound of air flow.
3. Extract water with compressed air
If you have an air pump, set it to a low psi and use it to flush out any remaining water. Of course, you can also use compressed air cans. Blow air at short intervals across all parts of the phone surface and ports.
4. Use a vacuum bag
The vacuum bag can remove moisture from the phone over time. Insert the soaked earphone into the vacuum bag and remove the air from the bag so that water can enter the earphone and enter the vacuum bag.
5. Use of water absorbent materials
1. Silica gel packages
Silica gel is more effective than any other desiccant. You can use them if you have collected the silica gel packages in the tablet box, shoe box and electronics package and have not thrown them away. Of course, you can also buy silica gel online or in stores. Put the phone and its battery in a large bowl and put a few packets of silica gel on it. Wait 48 to 72 hours for the silica gel to absorb all the remaining moisture in the phone.
2. Crystal cat litter
Cover your phone with 4 cups (about half a kilogram) of crystal cat litter. Crystal cat litter is made of silica gel, which is the best material to absorb moisture from the phone. Be sure to use cat litter crystals, not clay litter or other materials, as it must have silica to absorb moisture.
Pour a layer of crystal cat litter into a container and open the phone and place the battery on this layer. Then pour the rest of the ingredients into the container to completely cover the phone. You have to wait 48 to 72 hours for the phone to absorb moisture completely.
3. Raw rice
Putting the phone in rice is a well-known way to save a wet phone. This is not the best way, but if for some reason you do not have access to something better, it is better than nothing.
First, turn off the phone and separate all parts as much as possible, and dry the outside and the charging port completely. It is better to use a container with a door. Fill the pan with enough raw rice to cover the phone in all directions. Then place in a bowl. If you have removed the battery and other parts, put them in the rice as well. Place the rice bowl and the phone under a table lamp or other gentle heat source to speed up the evaporation process.
Wait at least 48 hours for the phone to absorb moisture completely. The longer the phone stays in the rice, the better. Before connecting the different parts, make sure that no rice beads are left inside the phone. You can use toothpicks to remove rice grains from the pores. Do not use metal devices, as they may damage electronic components.
6. Removing moisture with air flow
According to experts, it is better to use air flow to dry the phone instead of rice. Because putting the phone in rice can damage it. The starch in rice can speed up the corrosion process inside the machine. This process occurs when liquid penetrates into the device and causes its parts to rust. In addition, small particles of rice can get stuck in the holes of the phone’s charging port and damage it.
Apple’s website recommends placing the phone in rice instead of using airflow. According to Apple, you should expose the phone to dry air in a dry place. Of course, evaporation due to air flow may take 1 to 2 weeks. You can place the phone in front of a fan to dry faster when exposed to cool air. Place the phone on a dry towel or other absorbent surface and place the fan in front of it. Wait 48 to 72 hours for the phone to dry completely. The more exposed the phone is to the air current, the better.
Turn on the phone
To dry a wet phone, leave it on for at least 24 hours and ideally 48 hours or more. Do not turn on the phone before this time to test or see the result, because if it is still blue inside the phone, it can easily transfer electricity to parts of the circuit board that will damage the phone.
After the phone is dry, connect the parts and turn on the phone. If it does not turn on, do not despair. The battery may be shorted and discharged by wetting the connection. If your device has wireless charging, after making sure the back of the phone is dry, put it on the wireless charger for an hour and turn it on again. (Wireless charging is safer in this situation.) If wireless charging is not possible, first make sure that there is no moisture in the USB socket or Lightning socket. Then charge the phone for a few minutes and turn it on again. If the phone does not turn on, put it back in the absorber and wait another 2 days and then turn it on. You may need to repeat this several times. If the phone still does not turn on, you should go to a repair shop to repair the wet phone.
If the phone turns on, work with it. While working with the phone, constantly check its back so that it does not overheat and the phone does not turn off automatically. Remove the back cover every few minutes (or if the phone turns off) if possible to remove any water droplets that come out. Then put the frame in place and turn on the phone and work with it. Do harder tasks every time, such as watching a video, to drain all the water in the phone. (Heat facilitates the drainage of water from electronic components. This is part of the process of rescuing a wet phone.)
Remove water from the phone speaker
Even if your phone is waterproof, water entering the speaker or speaker of the phone can be a problem, especially when it stays in it for a long time. The least common problem is poor audio output, and worst of all, permanent damage to the speaker.
This problem can be solved with a simple method. After completing all the above steps to save the phone and turn it on, go to the App Store. For iPhones you can use the Sonic V app and for Android phones you can use the Sonic Sound Wave Generator app. Websites like Fix My Speakers will do the same for you if you do not want to use apps.
These devices operate by emitting loud, high-frequency sound, which causes the speakers to vibrate rapidly and water to escape. All you have to do is place your phone on a flat surface or ideally with a slight downward angle, turn up the volume and activate the app or website for a few seconds. If you are lucky, you will see water droplets coming out of the speakers and their sound will be as clear and smooth as before. Of course, there is no guarantee that this method will work, and there is even a risk of further damage to the speakers.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What to do if parts of the screen turn black?
You should consult a professional repairman or put the phone in a dehumidifier for a longer period of time.
2. What should we do if we can not remove the battery?
You do not have to remove the battery. Of course, if it is possible to remove the battery, it is better to remove it.
3. How many hours does a soaked phone stay in rice?
Depending on the situation, you can leave the phone in the rice for 1 to 3 days. You can also put the phone in rice for 3 to 5 days to make sure it is completely dry.
4. What should I do if the phone turns on and off?
If your phone is constantly on and off, it means that there is still some water in it. If the above methods do not work, consult a specialist.
5. The phone turns on, but does not work properly as before. What should I do?
After performing the above procedures, if your phone still does not work properly, you should seek the help of an expert to repair the cell phone.
6. What should I do if the rice has gone into the holes of the phone? Will it be a problem if the rice stays there?
You can vacuum the rice. If the rice is inside the charging port, it should come out easily. But if it goes inside the speaker holes, it will be harder to remove.
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