The typical scenario is the cell phone slipping out of our hand and falling into the toilet, sink, or bidet, or getting soaked after a rainstorm. We're still lucky, because it's still fresh water. The greatest danger to the circuits of our cell phones is salt, which corrodes them. The freshwater/saltwater factor is crucial to the success of the rescue, as is the time factorThe less the phone is exposed to water and the substances dissolved in it, the greater the chance that the damage will not be so terrible.
And if the procedure to save our smartphone is, unfortunately, not a certain success, there are certainly things that should not be done: for example,never shake the phone, contrary to instinct, nor tap, much less blow. These are actions that could push the water even deeper, and certainly compromise its functioning.
Again, we don't press any buttons or try to turn it on if it turns off when it comes into contact with water.
Further precautions include always holding a wet phone upright, turning it off, and removing everything removable: battery, SD card, case, and so on.
The cell phone, or the smartphone, fallen into water, is one of the main causes of death of these devices. This concerns 11 percent of those sold each year.A huge waste of items that we often pay a fortune for. And the strange thing is that cell phones don't just fall into water during the summer, when we're at the beach, but also at home, in a sink or toilet. Hence the first thing to do: avoid keeping your cell phone within reach when you come into contact with flowing water.
Here are ten steps to try to limit the damage caused by a wet smartphone:
- Remove your phone from the water as quickly as possible. Seconds, not minutes, are precious, and a delay can be decisive.
- Turn it off, and don't make the mistake of immediately trying to turn it back on: just pressing the buttons could be enough to move the liquid into the circuitry. And that would be the end.
- Immediately remove the charger, case, SIM card, and SD card. Separate anything that can be dried separately from the device, following specific procedures. SIM cards, for example, can survive water but certainly not excessive heat.
- Never use an oven to dry your cell phone, or even its parts: neither an electric nor a microwave oven. The heat can warp the circuit boards and entire internal parts of the phone.
- Don't use a hair dryer, which can cause further damage by pushing water inside the phone.
- Try to suck out the liquid, obviously without ever swallowing it.
- Dry as gently as possible, using a cotton cloth or absorbent paper.
- Leave it to dry, without turning it on, for at least 24 hours in summer and 48-72 hours in winter.
- Place the various parts in a small bowl containing dry rice or silica gel, the kind found in sachets in shoe boxes. One night will be enough.
- Reassemble your phone, including battery and cards, charge it, and then turn it back on.
Lastly, the device may sometimes fool you into thinking it works again, only to shut down completely. So, plan ahead, and As soon as you turn it back on, make a backup.
Read also:
- A great app for saving on household expenses, avoiding wasted electricity and gas, and keeping your home safer.
- How to avoid unnecessary food waste: here are all the apps and digital platforms for saving food
- Medical consultations at your fingertips? Now it's possible with the Babylon Health app.
Want to see a selection of our news?
- Sign up to our newsletter clicking here;
- We are also up Google News , activate the star to add us to your favorite sources;
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram e Pinterest.



