Dropping your phone in water is a fairly awful experience, but what’s crucial is what you do afterwards. If your phone is truly wet right now, follow our recommendations quickly and you might be able to avoid permanent harm.
Non-water-resistant phone
There’s a lot of information on the internet about this, and the number of articles may make it appear that preserving your phone, in this case, is a certain conclusion. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Every phone is unique, and every spill is unique. Furthermore, most phones these days do not include detachable elements like batteries, making them more difficult to dry out than in the past.
This tutorial will not be able to help you save every phone you own. But keep reading because we’re hoping it will help you save your life.
1. Turn your phone off immediately.
Because of water’s famed conductivity, running an electrical charge through any wet electrical circuit is sure to produce issues. Soaking an off-circuit, on the other hand, isn’t nearly as terrible as wetting an active circuit. And just because an electrical gadget becomes wet doesn’t imply it’ll be destroyed right away. If you’re lucky, your phone was turned off before any serious harm was done.
2. For saltwater, beer and other liquids: Wash the phone with a damp cloth.
Yes, this means you’ll have to get your phone wet once more. Saltwater, on the other hand, is corrosive and would undoubtedly harm your phone if not removed. Most modern cellphones should be able to withstand a moist towel. Simply blot it dry as soon as possible.
3. Take out removable parts.
Remove the SIM card and the microSD card if possible. Also, if your phone allows for battery removal, make use of it. Be cautious not to tap or move your phone while doing this, as you may be moving fluids around within it.
4. Dry it with a soft towel.
You may also use a soft paper towel or cloth, but make sure it’s lint-free. Make sure no water gets into any cracks, fissures, or ports. You may also dry any pieces you were able to remove with your towels, such as the SIM card, microSD card, and battery.
• Avoid putting the towel into the charging port.
• Do not put anything else inside the charging port. Cotton swabs, for example.
• Don’t touch any of your phone’s keys or buttons.
• Do not tap, shake, or pound the phone.
• Do not use a fan or blow on it.
• Don’t put the phone on charge. Even if you have a charging mat that is wireless.
• Do not use an external heat source to dry your phone. Consider a hair dryer.5. Place your phone on a towel in a dry area.
You’ve arrived at the ‘wait and see’ stage of this adventure. The most essential thing right now is to let your phone dry out.
What about rice?
You’ve probably heard that submerging a phone in uncooked rice is the best method to dry it out after it’s been dropped in water. According to the idea, the rice will absorb moisture from hard-to-reach areas within your phone. Whether or whether this was ever effective is a point of contention. It is still recommended by several internet sources. Others argue that the rice technique is nothing more than an urban legend.
We at EK Wirekess feel that if the rice technique ever worked, it most likely no longer does. These days, most smartphones do not have detachable backs or batteries. There are fewer cracks and fissures in their surfaces. This means the rice has less opportunities to come near to the moisture within your phone and absorb it.
6. Wait until it’s dry to switch it on again.
One to two days is the typical length of time suggested in this circumstance.
7. Monitor for quirks.
With any hope, after your phone is dry, it will continue to function normally. It might also keep operating, but with weird new problems. Over the following several days, keep an eye on it and assess its performance on essential activities like playing music, taking photographs, and so on. If you detect any issues, it may be necessary to have it fixed or replaced.
Water-resistant phone
If you bought your phone inside the previous two years, it’s very likely that it’s water-resistant. But that doesn’t rule out the possibility of water damage. Water-resistance is a quality that deteriorates with time and is unlikely to be covered by your warranty.
So, if you’re worried about the spill on your phone, keep reading.
1. Turn it off immediately. (Maybe.)
This is a tricky one. We used to think that if your phone is water-resistant, you shouldn’t have to switch it off if it gets wet. However, when we asked the question, “I accidentally submerged my [insert water-resistant model here]. Is it necessary for me to switch it off? “The replies to various manufacturers were varied. We were informed “no” for the Samsung Galaxy S8. We were informed “yes” for the Google Pixel 2 and Telstra Tough Max 2.
So, if you’re unsure, we recommend turning it off. It’s better to be safe than sorry if you spend a lot of money on that phone.
2. If you do decide to leave your phone on:
3. For saltwater, beer and other liquids: Rinse it in still water.
Saltwater is corrosive and will destroy your phone regardless of whether it is water-resistant or not. Other liquids may also create issues. That is why it is critical to rinse it as soon as possible. But keep in mind that your smartphone was not intended to handle high-velocity water. Skip the tap and give it a gentle rinse in a sink or bucket to minimize further damage.
4. If you can, contact your phone’s manufacturer.
This is a crucial stage. Every manufacturer we spoke with had suggestions for the “wet water-resistant phone” scenario… but it wasn’t always the same. Different phones have varying degrees of water resistance and are assembled in various ways. So now that you’ve completed the “act quickly” tasks, it’s time to contact the manufacturer’s customer care department and inquire about the following steps… if you can. You should be able to find documentation online.
Of course, if it’s after hours, you might not be able to reach them. So, based on manufacturer recommendations concerning older iPhones, Pixel, and Samsung devices, we’ve put together the following stages. Although we are confident in these procedures, we nevertheless advise you to contact your manufacturer as soon as possible.
5. Dry it off with a soft towel.
You may also use a soft paper towel or cloth, but make sure it’s lint-free.
• Avoid putting the towel into the charging port.
• Do not put anything else inside the charging port. Cotton swabs, for example.
• Do not take out the SIM card.
• Do not use an external heat source to dry your phone. Consider a hairdryer. That is not something you should do.
6. Place your phone on a towel in an area with airflow.
A fan can also be used to assist dry the phone as long as it isn’t too strong or too close to the device.
We were also told to lightly touch the phone a few times while holding it with the lightning connection pointing down on the iPhone. Samsung too suggested holding the Galaxy speaker down and shaking gently a few times. However, if the Pixel 2 is wet, Google advises avoiding touching or shaking it. If you don’t know what to do with your water-resistant smartphone, we recommend not tapping or shaking it.
7. Wait until it’s dry to switch it on again.
It makes no difference what kind of water-resistant smartphone you have. If it’s wet and you’ve taken it off, you must keep it off until it’s fully dry.
8. Monitor for quirks.
If everything went properly, your phone should continue to function normally once it has dried. However, during the following several days, keep a close eye on it and assess its performance on essential activities like playing music, taking photographs, and so on. If you detect any issues, it may be necessary to have it fixed or replaced. Remember that your warranty is unlikely to include water resistance.
Getting repairs
Even if you follow all of the procedures we’ve laid out, it’s possible that your phone has been damaged. However, it is still possible to save it. Visit the Apple Store, contact Samsung for repairs, or contact whatever phone manufacturer is responsible for your device. Some, like OPPO, offer physical repair centres, while others may need you to send in your phone. Or if you live in Houston, you can stop by the EK Wireless centre to make sure your phone is taken care of. Be honest about what the problem is and you should be given a rough estimate on the spot if that’s an option.
If you can’t repair it, sell it
You may sell it to any of hundreds of internet firms that take old, damaged phones if it’s too expensive to fix or if it’s beyond hope. Most of these businesses are just interested in the valuable materials used to construct the phone, not whether it works or not. Smartphones, believe it or not, are a rich source of gold, palladium, and other rare metals. There isn’t enough in there to make it worthwhile for you, but you can sell it to someone who would.
Simply type “sell my phone” into an online search engine; you can also include the brand and phone name for a more targeted result. Make sure you browse around and don’t simply settle with the first website you come across; the amount you receive for a broken item might vary greatly.
Don’t just throw it out
If phones are left out and allowed to soak into the ground, they are extremely harmful to the environment. If you can’t bear the thought of selling your phone, at the very least attempt to recycle it. Many phone retailers offer dedicated recycle receptacles for old phones, or your manufacturer may supply you with a pre-paid plastic envelope in which to send it back for recycling.
Get a water-resistant phone next time
Water-resistance is becoming more prevalent in high-end smartphones, and if you’ve just lost your phone to an accident, you might want to consider upgrading. Check out the finest waterproof phones and our most popular plans right now.
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