How to Fix a Cellphone After it Gets Wet

How do you fix a cell phone after you've dropped it in water? Good question!

There are many contingencies that cause your cellphone to get wet. I've heard stories of people dropping their cellphones in lakes, swimming pools, toilets, buckets, and even the occasional rainstorm. My wet cellphone fixing story is certainly not unique, but I discovered a few great ways to prevent damage from being permanent. Of course, there is no all-around panacea for curing your cellphone disaster, but with a little luck and ingenuity, you can fix your wet cellphone after you drop it in water.

I'll describe what happened in my experience; you may want to inquire with your manufacturer or retailer for technical details.

Recently, I accidentally dropped my LG Chocolate in a sink full of dishes. Lucky for me, the battery did not short out, but the phone went dead. I ended up saving it from destruction, here's how:

1. I opened the cell phone, removed the memory card and the battery.

2. Immediately, I dried the phone with a paper towel.

3. I then put the cell phone and battery in a coffee can (full of coffee-grounds) and let it sit overnight.

The next morning, I put the phone back together, and it still functioned. It wasn't a perfect solution; water remains behind the screen, and it doesn't work as well as before.

I smelled like coffee the entire day, but I didn't have phone insurance, and it saved me a few hundred dollars, so it was most definitely worth it.

The other options that I have heard of:

1. Uncooked Rice

After drying the cellphone, battery, memory card and SIM chip, place all the parts in a bag of uncooked rice. Theoretically, the rice will absorb the water overnight.

2. Desiccation Packet (Do Not Eat)

After drying the cellphone, battery, memory card and SIM chip, place all parts in a ziplock baggie with a desiccation packet inside and leave it overnight. You may find a dessication packet inside of most shoeboxes, or if you cannot find a shoebox, go to your local grocery store and purchase a packet of seaweed for sushi. There is always a desiccation packet inside seaweed or similar item. It's the packet that says "DO NOT EAT".

Solutions that I do not recommend:

Compressed Air Duster

The compressed air duster may seem like a compelling solution for a wet cellphone, but I do not recommend using one. The air that sprays out tends to freeze. It is a bad idea to freeze the inside of your cellphone, the water will evaporate easier in a high-temperature environment. You can also damage the circuitboards inside your phone.

Do not obsessively check to see if your phone works.

It may seem like a good idea to check the dryness of your cellphone but inserting the battery and powering it on. Keep in mind that you can cause a short circuit by powering on the cellphone while it is still drying. The damage has already been done, if your cellphone is going to work miraculously, it's going to be hours before the microscopic places inside the phone are dry. Let it be and try it the next day.

You'll have to experiment with your own solution, with luck and ingenuity that would make Macguyver proud, you can find a cellphone solution that will save you money.

If you own a phone that is not so tech-friendly, such as an iPhone, you may be better off simply buying a new one, or taking it to the store for repairs. It's not worth the stress to perform your own repairs if your phone cannot be opened without special tools or experience.

Or, you could always buy a new phone.