Let’s imagine you drag yourself out of bed and immediately grab your phone, numbly scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, and emails. You realize that it’s time to treat yourself, so you take a luxurious bath. As the hot water fills up the tub, your mind starts mulling over all of the tasks on your list for today.
As you hummed along to your lovely bathtime playlist, disaster struck! Your phone slipped out of your slightly wet hands and into the water-filled tub. Despite a few seconds of pause, you noticed that it was still on; however, just giving it CPR wouldn’t save this one. What should be done next to ensure that all is well with your phone?
How badly does water damage your phone, both inside and out?
After the initial shock of witnessing your phone taking a plunge into the bathtub, you might have tried to wipe it off and give it some shakes in an effort to remove any standing water. Sadly though, If your phone was dropped underwater for more than a few seconds, shaking it alone won’t be enough to help. You may be concerned that your phone will suddenly combust while browsing on it. Fear not! The answer is both yes and no.
Why? Smartphones today are designed to be waterproof. If you immediately rescue your phone after it’s been dropped in water, there is a good chance it will still work with impaired speakers and an obstructed microphone – however if you’ve left it in the water for too long, then unfortunately that may mean saying goodbye to your device forever! We understand that this was not done intentionally.
Chances are slim that your phone will explode; it typically occurs when you use either a faulty charger or battery or purchase a malfunctioning phone straight from the factory. Samsung’s Note 7 incident of 2016 stands as an egregious example: photographs circulated online featuring phones with burnt exteriors after being bought new and unopened. Despite its reputation taking a hit afterward, Samsung managed to rebound admirably – Nonetheless, these visuals remain difficult to forget.
So you've dropped your phone in water - how can you ensure its safety?
After your peaceful soak in the tub, Now you must decide whether it’s time to panic or not. Is there hope for your phone or did this watery incident render it useless? Fear not, we can help guide you on what steps should be taken when misfortune strikes and your phone takes a dip into water!
1) To begin with, switch off your device.
Admit it or not, turning off your phone is always the first step when you experience any technical issues. We understand that this decision makes sense – anyone with a basic knowledge of electronics knows that running power through wet circuits can be disastrous and even fatal in certain cases!
Nowadays, most smartphones are designed to automatically switch off after being submerged in water for a certain amount of time. However, don’t be too quick to turn it back on; if your phone remains powered on after you rescue it from the depths, then we strongly recommend shutting it down immediately in order to prevent any further harm and potential safety risks.
2) For an optimal clean, use a moist cloth to wipe off the surface.
In the event your cell phone takes a dive into something other than water, we suggest you quickly wipe it down with a lint-free cloth that is slightly moistened. Be sure to cover all surfaces of the device in order to ensure no remaining fluid resides on the surface of your smartphone.
Once you have cleared away all of the liquid, carefully wipe it with a dry cloth for extra precaution.
3) Make sure to remove any detachable parts before you proceed.
Your first course of action should be to remove your phone’s case before wiping off the unit. Once you’ve done that, take out all removable components such as your SIM card and tray, memory card, and if possible detach the battery too! Doing so prevents damage from water seeping into these parts.
To avoid any further damage, remove all detachable components and let them air dry.
4) Choose the ideal towel for effectively cleaning your phone!
If you want to avoid scratches and costly liquid damage on your phone, it is essential that you use a soft cloth. Much like the lint-free fabric used for cleaning eyeglasses, make sure the towel or cloth you use is gentle so as not to harm your device’s surface. Don’t forget about any removable parts; wipe those down too! When in doubt, look for the gentlest material available; this will ensure both safety and brilliance of your phone screen.
5) Allow it to air dry for best results.
You may desperately want to switch your phone back on after it’s been submerged, but this is the wrong thing to do. The components inside are likely moist and any current will just cause more damage. Wipe off all of the liquid that’s visible to you, then place your device and its pieces in an absorbent towel into a fresh airy spot so they can thoroughly dry out before turning your phone on again. You’ll sadly have no choice but wait until everything has dried up completely in order to determine if you need professional assistance or not – what an agonizing time!
6) Activate and Turn On Your Device
It’s time to find out if you will be running to the local phone repair shop, getting a new phone, or miraculously reviving your wet phone! Allow for at least 1-2 days of drying before attempting a power-up. When you finally switch it on again, cross your fingers and hope that all is well.
If your device turns on and functions properly, then you have been fortunate! However, if it is not working correctly, we strongly advise you not to plug it in to charge it as there may still be water inside of the device.
7) Let's investigate the problem when you switch your device on.
If you have been fortunate enough to have your phone still functioning after the accident, it is time to watch out for further damage that may arise. Listen carefully while playing music on your device, test all camera functions to ensure everything works correctly, and check if there are strange colours or lines showing up on the screen. If anything is amiss, do not ignore it!
8. Consider connecting with a reliable phone repair shop.
Although you may feel that your phone is working perfectly fine, it is always a good idea to get it checked out by an experienced smartphone repair technician near you. Many issues can develop over time without being noticed immediately and they become worse with time. We strongly suggest that you contact a reliable smartphone repair shop near you to get your phone examined for liquid damage. Several of these stores provide the service free of charge, and it is certainly beneficial for both your phone and wallet if you avail yourself of these offers!
