It’s all too easy to accidentally dunk our phones in water.
You might unintentionally give it a swim in the washing machine or drop it in the toilet (gross, I know, but rescue that phone quick!).
We paid thousands of bucks for a good phone. Of course, we’d do anything to protect it from water damage.
You might consider air drying your soaked phone in a breezy spot, but let’s face it: that can take a painfully long time, especially if your phone is really water-logged.
Plus, the longer water lingers inside your phone, the higher chance it has of damaging those crucial internal parts. That’s exactly why you’re here, right?
If you’ve been on a Google hunt, you’ve likely faced a flood of conflicting advice on how to save your drenched device.
Some articles suggest this, others recommend that. It’s overwhelming, I know. But rest easy, every solution I’ll provide here has been personally tried and tested, and they work.
The Clever Fix:
Leave the phone in a container with silica gel packets overnight.
Now, if you find yourself with a wet phone, your first step is to switch it off immediately to avoid any electrical short-circuit.
Remove any casing and gently wipe away any visible water with a dry towel, making sure not to push any liquid into the charging port or any other openings.
Next, deposit your phone and some silica gel packets into an air-tight container.
It’s crucial that the container is sealed tight; if air gets in, the silica packets will just absorb that ambient moisture rather than drawing it out of your precious phone.
As for determining how many silica packets to use, the more the merrier. You really can’t overdo it.
This silica gel trick works for minor splashes, like when water has slipped into your charging port or other openings, and even for larger spills where your phone has taken a full-on dive.
Typically, you’d need to leave the phone in the container for between 12 to 24 hours. But if your phone has taken a deep-sea adventure in the bathtub, for example, you might need to leave it in there for 48 hours or longer.
Where to get silica gel packets
Silica gel packets are those little packets boldly labeled “do not eat” that you often find in new purses, shoe boxes, or pill bottles.
If you need a bunch fast, try your local hardware store or superstores like Home Depot or Walmart.
Sure, you can buy them online too, but if you’re in a rush, waiting for a delivery isn’t going to work.
If fetching silica gel packets isn’t an option, don’t sweat it. I’ve got alternative ways to speed up the drying process, especially focusing on that pesky charging port.
What not to do
Do not shake your phone
Our first instinct might be to shake the phone, hoping to jiggle the water out of the charging port, but trust me, that’s not doing your phone any favors.
It could actually make things worse by sending water deeper into the device. A gentle shake should be enough if you’re trying to coax the water out using gravity.
Do not insert a cotton swab in the charging port
You might be tempted to poke a cotton swab in there to sop up the water, but resist the urge.
A cotton swab could just end up causing a buildup of debris inside the port.
Do not use any heating device
Remember, cellphones and extreme heat are not friends due to the delicacy of their internal components.
Don’t try to speed up the drying process with a heating device like a hairdryer, especially pointed at the charging port.
Do not place the phone directly in sunlight
Regardless of whether your phone is wet or dry, direct sun exposure can lead to overheating, and that’s a no-no.
If you’re opting for air drying, choose a breezy spot, but keep it out of direct sunlight.
Do not put the phone directly into the silica gel beads
Keep those silica gel beads in their packets.
There’s a chance the tiny beads could get lodged in the charging port if you immerse your phone directly into them. This could cause a whole new set of problems, so it’s best to steer clear.
How to get water out of the charging port
If your phone has a neat feature that alerts you when there’s moisture in the charging port, thank your lucky stars!
Use it as your guide to know when all the water has been successfully evicted from your device
1. Wipe the wall of the charging port
Even a simple little splash of water or juice in the charging port can spell trouble — we’re talking about an electrical hazard here.
However, this quick solution is best suited for minor mishaps and not for total phone submersions.
Here’s the proper way:
- Grab a paper towel and fold it into the size of the charging port.
- Press it gently (do not force it!) inside the charging port.
- Repeat a few times.
After this, give your phone some alone time — a few minutes to an hour — just to be sure all the moisture has made its exit.
Alternatively, you can use a lint-free cloth to clean the inside walls of the charging port. If there’s an eyeglasses wearer in your house, you may already have one of these handy.
2. Place the phone in front of a cooling fan
Air-drying can be a slow process, but a fan can kick things up a notch.
Plus, it’s gentler than using a hair dryer.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Point the fan directly towards the phone charging port.
- Adjust the distance and the fan speed so there is a gentle breeze blowing on the phone.
- Let the phone sit there for 20-30 minutes (if minor) or up to 24 hours (if severe).
The goal here is to boost the air circulation around your phone.
Be careful not to crank the fan up too high or put your phone too close — you don’t want to risk driving the water further into the phone.
3. Use vacuum hose
Pointing a vacuum hose at the charging port and giving it a few seconds of suction can pull the water right out — easy peasy!
This method works well because it pulls the water away rather than risking it spreading across the phone.
Just be cautious not to overdo it, as extreme air pressure can be harmful to your phone’s components.
If none of these tips seem to do the trick, you might be dealing with a more serious water invasion than you initially thought.
4. Submerge the phone in uncooked rice
If you can’t find those handy silica gel packets, there’s another solution you could try, although it’s not universally recommended.
It’s simple: just seal your phone in a jar full of uncooked rice for 24 hours.
We all know that dry rice does a great job of absorbing moisture.
However, there are some folks who frown on this trick due to potential risks of mold growth and corrosion caused by the rice grains.
Plus, there’s the concern about tiny rice particles worming their way into the charging port or other openings.
Despite its potential downsides, I can vouch for this method based on my own experience and testimonials from others. It’s my go-to solution for those “oops” moments when I’m all thumbs and drop my phone in water.
Wrapping up
If your phone has taken a bath, don’t despair.
Solving this issue requires patience because it could take hours, even days, for you to see results.
You might want to try a combination of solutions to make sure you’ve banished every drop of water from the charging port and elsewhere.
The top-tier fix is securing your phone in a jar with silica gel packets. But if you don’t have these on hand, there are some solid alternatives:
- Wipe the walls of the charging port.
- Place the phone in front of a cooling fan.
- Use a vacuum hose.
- Submerge the phone in uncooked rice.
If your phone continues to send out water detection alerts, give it a few more days to dry out naturally.
Keeping it with silica gel packets can accelerate the drying time.
If after a week you’re still facing issues, it’s time to take your phone to a service center for a professional check-up.
And of course, we’d love to hear about what worked for you!
