Life hack: How to save your wet phone or tablet

Have you ever accidentally dropped your phone in the sink or perhaps in the toilet? Whatever the case, getting your phone wet usually means you have to replace it but sometimes you can save it!

These procedures will not void your warranty, however, if your phone has water damage, there is a large chance your warranty is already void. Manufacturers will know that your phone has water damage because there is typically a sticker that will indicate water damage in the phone.

Follow these recommendations and hopefully it will bring your wet device back to life. To get started remove from water as soon as possible and dry off device and remove the battery and SIM card, if possible. Some or all of your valuable contacts are stored on your SIM so it is worth taking out. We know it’s tempting but resist the urge to power up your phone to see if it works.

Options to dry your device:

1. Use a vacuum cleaner. It may seem strange but this can work to suck out the liquid form the inner parts of your phone. Be careful to not hold the vacuum too close to your phone since it can create static electricity and ruin other aspects of your device.

2. Do not use a hair dyer, even if it is on cold mode. This can force moisture inward and if the hair dryer is too warm it can also harm your device.

3. Use a substance with a high affinity for drawing moisture, such as rice. Place your phone in a bag of uncooked rice overnight. The rice might absorb some remaining moisture. Another highly absorptive material is desiccant/silica bags that are found with new shoes or purses, they can also be purchased at craft stores. If you don’t have rice or desiccant/silica bags, you can also place your phone on a absorbent towel or napkin. The goal is to extract all moisture and humidity from the device.

4. You may be able to freeze the phone to fix it. Make sure the battery is removed and place the phone on a few layers of paper towel (to prevent frost damage) and put in freezer for about 15-20 minutes.

Overall, wait at least 12-24 hours before you test your device, or longer if needed. Check that your device is clean and looks dry before you power up the device.

Tell us, did you find this helpful? Do you have any other questions about your smart phone? We’d love to help you!