Have you ever accidentally dropped your cell phone in the sink, or even worse the toilet? Did you leave it in your pocket and run it through the washing machine? Did you get beaten by the rain? Did your toddler drop it in a container of water? Or perhaps it fell out of your pocket into the gutter?

What should you do? First, do not panic. Just like humans that require first aid treatment, your phone will also need one. Before you do anything else, remove the phone as quickly as possible from the water. The longer it stays there, the more water or liquid will trickle through the cracks and openings of your phone.

If your phone has stayed immersed in water for less than thirty minutes you have a chance of saving it. To save your device, try one of the following methods:

Note that you should use the method for your type of phone. Be rest assured, these methods come with easy-to-follow steps. During this phase, you need to treat your phone like a delicate patient.

Before trying any of these methods, do not do the following:

▪ Do not turn it on if it is off.

▪ Do not press any buttons or keys.

▪ Do not shake, tap, or bang the phone.

▪ Do not take the phone components apart, this could void your warranty.

▪ Do not use a hairdryer or any other heating device to dry the phone. This could send water into other internal parts of the phone which have not been reached yet, causing more damage in the process.

▪ Do not put your phone back in your pocket. This will not help either because they are also too close to your body heat which will only cause more problems for your phone.

▪ Do not insert any other objects inside the charging port. Like cotton swabs or towels.

▪ Do not accessories like headphones.

▪ Do not charge your phone. Even with a wireless charging mat.

Method 1 (For non-water-resistant phones with removable batteries)

Step 1- Remove the phone from the water.

Step 2- If your phone falls into salt water, alcohol, or other liquids, rinse in still water.

Step 3- Remove the battery from the device and the protective casing if you have one around it.

Step 4- Remove the microSD and SIM cards from their slots.

Step 5- Take a cloth or paper towel to delicately dab it dry. You may want to avoid spreading the liquid around as it could go into the phone’s openings.

Step 6- Place your phone in a Ziplock bag full of uncooked rice or put it into a bowl with dry rice for a few days. As hard as this might be, try not to touch it since it is wet.

Rice will absorb any fluid that might still be inside the device. After 24 hours, it is recommended to remove your phone and place it in a dry cloth for another 24 hours. You should then be able to use your phone as normal (if it does not have any physical damage).

OR

Step 6- Put alligator clips or a paper clip onto one of the corners of the battery and attach it to a metal object like a spoon or nail on the table. This will create a short circuit and drain out all the power from inside your phone which will eliminate any chance of it being damaged by water or electricity.

Method 2 (For Water-resistant phones with non-removable batteries)

Step 1- Remove the phone from the water and turn it off immediately.

Step 2- If your phone falls into salt water, alcohol, or other liquids, rinse in still water.

Step 3- Dry it off with a paper towel or cloth, but make sure it is gentle and lint-free.

Step 4- Wait until it is dry to switch it on again. It doesn't matter what water-resistant phone you have. If it is wet and it is off, it must stay off until it is completely dry.

After trying one of these methods and a few days have passed by. It is time to see if all your efforts paid off. Take the phone out of wherever you left it and put it all together. Then plug the phone in and try to turn it on. If it works, you have succeeded! Stay on the lookout for any odd behavior, though, at least for a few days. Also, test all the components. Make a call to see if the microphone and earphones work, test the speaker, etc.

Now, if the phone does not work, it is time to accept defeat and take it to a professional and see if it can be saved. You can also claim insurance if you have it. Not to sound like a doctor, but after this point, we have done everything we could. Sometimes you just have to let the phone go. Go ahead and check out our list of favorite phones if you must get something else.

Moving forward, you can avoid the stress and frustration of a water-damaged phone by taking a few proactive steps. For starters, investing in a waterproof case is one of the easiest things you can do to protect your device. You should also invest in water resistant phones.