How to Save a Cell Phone That's Been Dropped in Water

Here are some tips to saving a cell phone that's been dropped in water. Before you panic, try these steps - they can get your phone working again.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Q-tips
• Bowl
• Paper Towels
• Can of compressed air or a blow dryer
• Uncooked rice

1. Remove the battery immediately! Don't try to turn the phone on or use it in any way. Dry the battery off as much as possible with paper towels and Q-tips. Wrap the battery dry paper towels and set it aside.

2. 

   Dry the phone off as much as possible with Q-tips, paper towels, etc. Be thorough. Get inside the battery case, between buttons, and inside any connectors going into the phone.

3. Shake the phone. More water might appear. Keep drying it. When no more water appears when you shake the phone, set the phone down.

4. 

   Use compressed air or a blow-dryer and blow air into the keypad, the ports, and the battery case. If you use a blow-dryer, remember to hold it away from the phone so the phone isn't damaged or melted by the extremely hot air.

5. 

   When you have dried the phone as much as you can in all other ways, put the phone into the bowl. Pour uncooked rice over the phone and completely cover it. Let the phone sit in the rice for a day. The rice acts as a dessicant and sucks any residual moisture from the device.

6. After a day in the rice, the phone should be very dry. Reinsert the battery and power the phone on. There is a good chance your phone might turn on and work. Chances of success improve if you haven't tried to power the phone on while it was wet, and you dry it as soon as possible. Good luck.

Tips & Warnings

• Many cell phone batteries have indicators that show the phone has been dropped into water AND most cell phone insurance plans don't cover phones that have been submerged. Keep this in mind if you need to replace your phone, you might be better off buying a new battery before you RMA the cell phone.
• Remember to take the battery out as soon as the phone gets wet. Do not try to power it on to "check that it works."

[askapeach]

on 10/12/2009 We had this situation once and you are right, take the battery out immediately! Good advice and well written.

[meredithhawk]

on 8/19/2009 I did this yesterday after dropping my Nokia 5800 in the toilet eek. Quickly rushed through to laptop and found this article.Just put the phone back together today and it worked yay!!!This has saved me a lot of money buying a new phone so so pleased it worked.Great article!

[johngriggs]

on 8/16/2009 Excellent tips on how to save a cell phone dropped in water! 5* rec

[Melani]

on 8/2/2009 Thanks for the info. With toddlers in the house I really need this.

[goodsense]

on 7/11/2009 This is a good article, this is exactly what I did about 5 years ago (except the rice part) and my phone kept working for another year.