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If your phone has been dropped in water and you need to address the situation, don’t worry. There are many ways to handle this issue without placing your phone in a bowl of rice. In fact, rice isn’t even a reliable material for drying phones. When drying your phone, you must remove it from the water and disassemble it as quickly as possible. Dry the components and place them in a moisture-absorbing material for at least 48 hours. Additionally, avoid shaking a wet phone as this can cause further damage.
Steps
Choose a Moisture-Absorbing Material
Try crystal-based cat litter. This type of litter is made from silica gel, which is an excellent moisture absorber and works effectively for drying wet phones. You can purchase crystal-based cat litter at any supermarket or pet supply store.
- Avoid using other types of litter. Clay or clumping litter can stick to the phone and leave wet clay residues.
Try using instant oats. Instant oats absorb water better than regular rolled oats and are far superior to steel-cut oats. If you have instant oats at home, this might be the most effective material you can use to dry your phone. However, if you use oats to dry your phone’s components, you may notice small sticky spots left by oat dust.
- You can purchase plain, unflavored instant oats at the supermarket.
Look for moisture-absorbing packets you can use. Moisture-absorbing packets are small, about 2cm long, and are found in many products like shoe boxes, dried foods (such as beef jerky or spices), and electronic devices. These packets typically contain highly absorbent silica gel beads, which can draw moisture out of your phone. You don’t need to open the packets. Simply place them around your phone and let them absorb the moisture.
- This option is only feasible if you’ve saved many packets over several months. However, it’s not a bad idea: many people own smartphones, and the likelihood of dropping one in water at some point is relatively high.
- Alternatively, if you don’t have any packets on hand, you can purchase them in bulk from online stores.
Use couscous to dry your phone. Couscous is a type of crushed and dried wheat grain. This dry, small grain works similarly to silica gel or instant oats and will absorb moisture from your phone’s components. You can buy couscous at grocery stores or supermarkets. Couscous won’t leave dust on your phone, making it a cleaner option than instant oats.
- Make sure to purchase plain, unflavored couscous.
Remove the Phone from Water
Take the phone out of the water immediately. Whether you dropped your phone in a toilet, bathtub, or lake, the first step is to remove it from the water as quickly as possible. The longer your phone stays in the water, the more severe the damage will be.
- Leaving your phone in water for too long can allow water to seep into its internal components.
Remove the phone’s battery and external components. Before drying the exterior of the phone, disassemble its electronic parts. Open the phone’s back cover and remove the battery and SIM card. If your phone has an SD card, don’t forget to take that out as well.
- The internal components determine the phone’s functionality. If they get wet, the phone won’t work.
Blow water out of the phone’s parts and wipe them dry. Blowing on the phone’s electronic components will remove most of the water. Next, use a clean cloth to wipe each part and absorb any remaining surface moisture. Only use moisture-absorbing materials to soak up leftover water inside the components.
- Instead of blowing, you can also shake the components vigorously. However, be careful not to toss the battery across the room.
Use Moisture-Absorbing Materials
Place the phone’s components in a 1-2 liter container. If you want to submerge the phone in moisture-absorbing material, you’ll need a large amount of it. So, check your kitchen cabinet for a large empty jar, bowl, or pot, and place all the disassembled phone parts inside.
- You don’t need to treat the phone case. This accessory isn’t critical to the phone’s functionality and will dry on its own when left in the air.
Pour at least 4 cups (340g) of moisture-absorbing material over the phone. Don’t skimp on the material you’ve chosen. You’ll need a significant amount to absorb all the remaining moisture from the phone’s electronic components.
- Cover the container if you’re using non-edible moisture-absorbing materials like silica gel.
Leave the phone in the moisture-absorbing material for 2-3 days. It takes time for the phone to dry completely and function normally. Therefore, keep the phone in the moisture-absorbing material for at least 48 hours. Removing it too soon may leave water inside the device.
- If you need a phone during this period, consider borrowing one from a friend. Alternatively, use email or social media for communication instead of calls or texts.
Reassemble the phone and try turning it on. After 48-72 hours, remove the phone from the moisture-absorbing material. Brush off any remaining material, reinsert the battery, SIM card, and SD card, then press the power button to start the phone.
- If the phone doesn’t work after drying—or if it turns on but malfunctions or has a damaged screen—take it to a repair center.
Tips
- If you don’t have moisture-absorbing materials, place the phone in a cool room and use a fan to blow air onto it.
- Avoid placing the phone in a warm oven or using a hairdryer. Heat can damage or even melt critical phone components.
- For Samsung Galaxy phones (or other Android devices), you can open the back cover with your fingernail. Some models may require a small screwdriver, like those used for eyeglasses. For iPhones, a specialized pentalobe screwdriver is needed.
