It is not uncommon to find people’s cell phone drop into the water, either by their own fault or when children are playing. If this happens and nothing is done quickly, the phone screen goes blank after some minutes. Knowing that this could happen, here are a few tips to save your phone:
Step 1: Do not turn on the phone
Why do water and Smartphone’s don’t mix? It is because the water shuts out the Smartphone’s electrical circuit. So if it happens when not in use, don’t turn it on to check if it will still work.
Step 2: Pull out the battery and SIM card
Pull out the battery, the SIM card and the memory card, if your phone has one. As long as that battery is in there, it’s providing power to your phone, and that’s what you need to stop immediately.
Some phones, like the iPhone don’t have a removable battery. Unfortunately, you’ll just have to skip this step and hope it does not die with it.
Step 3: Freshwater rinse
Did you drop your phone in salt water? The salt can corrode your device. So after you pull out the battery and SIM card, immerse your phone in fresh water to rinse out the salt.
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Step 4: Dry your phone using compressed air
If you have a compressed air-can handy — the kind that’s used to clean computers or keyboards — run it full-blast all over your phone, with the back cover taken off if you can. A vacuum cleaner also works, even though it’s pulling the air in the other direction. As long as it’s blowing cool air over those circuits to dry them out, it’s all good.
Don’t stick your phone in the oven, even on low. The heat can melt your phone’s circuits and its internal components. You shouldn’t use a blow dryer either, unless it has a heatless setting. A fan might help, but a microwave is out of the question.
Step 5: Disassemble and cover your phone with uncooked rice
Although this sounds funny, but putting a wet phone into a sealed container of rice would actually dry it out, and bring it back from the death. The idea behind the rice is that the dry grains will absorb moisture. So get a sealable plastic container, and fill it with enough rice to cover your smartphone. (A plastic zipper bag will work too, in a pinch.) Then bury your phone in the rice, along with its battery and other parts, then wait at least 24 hours for the rice to do its work.
Another option is using Silica gel, the stuff in those packets that keep new clothes or shoes dry. But most of us don’t have a shoebox full of the stuff lying around, so rice will probably have to do. It may get pieces of rice into the crevices and cavities in your smartphone, but this is an emergency, and time is of essence.
Should you use white or brown rice? It doesn’t matter, so long as it’s hard and dry and uncooked.
Step 6: Turn your phone back on
After you’ve waited at least 24 hours, it’s time for the moment of truth. Reassemble your phone, charge it and try to power it on.
Culled from: www.pingtechtips.blogspot.com
