Have you ever dropped your cell phone
in the sink, or even worse... the toilet? Did you ever leave it in your
pocket and run it through the washer? Did you ever swim with your cell
phone in your pocket? Ever have it fall into the pet's water bowl?
Getting your cell phone wet usually means you have to replace it, but
sometimes if you're fast enough, you might be able to save the phone!
The small convenient size of cell phones unfortunately also makes
these electronics accident-prone, especially when it comes to water. If
you drop your cell phone in water it is often possible to salvage it,
however, time is of the essence. If you drop your cell phone in water,
you may have only seconds to retrieve it, so you need to act fast even
if it means retrieving it from the toilet (yakis..yuck!)!
The next thing to do if
you drop your cell phone in water is to remove the battery immediately
without even hesitating to turn off the power. This reduces the risk of a
short circuit which would render your phone useless. Dry the batter
with a towel and set aside to dry thoroughly. The battery itself may or
may not work again, but fortunately batteries can be replaced fairly
inexpensively. Even if the battery does work, it is a good idea to get a
new one so as not to risk it leaking battery acid in the future.
After you have removed the battery, dry off the cell phone with an
absorbent towel as best as you can. Use cotton swabs to soak up water in
crevices and on any fragile, exposed circuits. If you have dropped your
cell phone in water, it is also helpful to disassemble it if you can
and let all the parts dry separately. Just be sure that you know how to
put it back together. If it is a flip or sliding cell phone, leave it
open for maximum evaporation.
If you drop your cell phone in water that isn’t pure such as a
beverage or in salt water, rinse the phone off with fresh water once you
have removed the battery. Once you drop the phone in water, the
additional rinsing will not do further damage, however, minerals or
other materials will.
If you drop your cell phone in liquid that isn’t pure water, you may
want to try giving it an alcohol bath. The alcohol will displace
minerals and microscopic substances as well as aiding in the evaporation
of the fluid. If it is available, you should use an alcohol
concentration of 95% rather than rubbing alcohol that usually contains
only 70%.
Once your phone is clean, leave it in a warm dry area or near an air
conditioner for three days before you attempt to replace the battery and
turn it on. This is very important, because although you may think that
you have thoroughly dried it, the slightest moisture can react with the
battery and cause it to short circuit. If drop your cell phone in
water, and want to save it, resist the temptation of turning it on to
see if it is working until you have waited at least 72 hours.
Unless you have insurance for your cell phone which covers water
damage, there is no point in sending it to the manufacture with the hope
that they will replace it under warranty.
If you drop your cell phone in water, the technicians will be able to
tell immediately due to moisture sensitive stickers that are contained
inside almost all cell phones. The best thing to do is to try the tips
mentioned above and repair it yourself.
The following are are also steps to save your wet cellphones:
STEP 1: Take the phone out of the water as soon as possible.
The plastic covers on cell phones are fairly tight, but water can enter
the phone in a short period of time, perhaps only 20 seconds or less.
Grab your phone quickly. Don't switch the phone on, as this can cause it
to short circuit – if it has been in water, assume it needs drying
immediately whether or not it is working.
Note: If you can't get to the phone in time, your best bet is to remove
the battery while it is still under water. Water helps to dissipate heat
from shorts that can damage the phone, so most damage occurs when the
inside of the phone is wet and connected to a power source. This can go
both ways, however. Being under water is more likely to short the
battery to even more sensitive contacts, so be careful.
