How to Keep a Cell Phone Working After a Fall in Water

Your cell phone may not be waterproof, but water on your phone does not have to mean a death sentence. Accidents happen, you forget your cell phone is in your pocket at the beach or pool or maybe a morning primping caused your phone to fall in the, dare I say, toilet. Cell phones may not be waterproof, but if yours ends up in water you might be able to revive it.

I have learned from a few friends, not only that accidents happen, but to not try and turn your phone into your insurance after a water accident. Most phones have a little dot (often under the battery) that changes color when it comes in contact with water. Your phone carrier will check that first before filling your claim. If you don't have accident insurance coverage they will probably just give you the phone back and tell you to go buy a new one. So, it is even more important to learn how to revive your cell phone after it ends up in water.

Follow these steps for the best chance at keeping your cell phone alive:

Get it out - The first step is to get your phone out of the water. The quicker you get your phone out of the water and follow these steps the higher the likelihood you will be able to save your cell phone.

Turn it off - If the phone is on, turn it off. If it is not on it is very important to not even try to turn it on. It is important to hold off the urge to try your phone until the drying process is completely done. Turning a cell phone on when it is still wet could cause permanent damage.

Take it a part - Remove the battery and any SIM or memory cards it might have. If it flips open, whether up, sideways, half flip or whichever, open it up and leave it open. Also, make sure you take off any cover it might have.

Pat it down - With a towel or cloth pat the phone down completely trying to get all the moisture you can off of the phone.

Prepare it - Bury your cell phone in a bowl of white rice and seal up the bowl. If you don't have white rice on hand that is ok, I personally never do. The rice helps absorb extra moisture, but you can still just keep your drying cell phone in a warm dry place, maybe a window seal if your don't have rice.

Let it be - This next step is the hard part. You need to keep your phone sitting for 1 or 2 days. Yikes, I know a couple days without a phone is crazy, but think of turning it on before it dries completely and ending up without your phone, contacts and appointments permanently. On that hand a couple days is really just a small price to pay.

After the couple days of phoneless agony are over remove your cell phone from the rice, or warm spot, and gently dust it off. Now try and power your phone on. I suggest powering it on with one hand and keeping your fingers crossed on the other.

It should turn on and function, but if after all of that your phone doesn't turn on i'm sorry to say you will probably have to say your good byes and just remember the good time you had together and buy a new phone to make new memories with.