Save a wet smartphone
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
Hey guys, I'm Sharon Vaknin and today I'll show you my go to solution for drying out a wet cell phone, plus, how to prevent these accidents from happening in the future. Hey guys, I'm Sharon Vaknin and today I'll show you my go to solution for drying out a wet cell phone, plus, how to prevent these accidents from happening in the future.
So, say you're out enjoying lunch in the sun when suddenly [MUSIC] Spill a big glass of ice water all over your phone. So, say you're out enjoying lunch in the sun when suddenly [MUSIC] Spill a big glass of ice water all over your phone.
[NOISE] [NOISE]
Before you do anything, turn your phone off immediately. Before you do anything, turn your phone off immediately.
Before the water has had a chance to come in contact with the circuit boards and short circuit. Before the water has had a chance to come in contact with the circuit boards and short circuit.
When it comes to drying out a wet device I've heard plenty of non-solutions. When it comes to drying out a wet device I've heard plenty of non-solutions.
You've got the hair dryer, the oven, the bag of rice and even the microwave. You've got the hair dryer, the oven, the bag of rice and even the microwave.
Well, let me set the record straight by telling that none of those solutions are reliable. Well, let me set the record straight by telling that none of those solutions are reliable.
The first thing you want to do is remove any parts you can such as the back cover, the battery and the sim card and dry them off with a towel. The first thing you want to do is remove any parts you can such as the back cover, the battery and the sim card and dry them off with a towel.
Then do the same thing with the outside of the phone. Then do the same thing with the outside of the phone.
Now here comes the secret ingredient, silica gel packets. Now here comes the secret ingredient, silica gel packets.
They're desiccants, so their designed to absorb moisture very efficiently. They're desiccants, so their designed to absorb moisture very efficiently.
Collect these as you find them in your packaged products because they'll come in handy for times like these. Collect these as you find them in your packaged products because they'll come in handy for times like these.
And if you don't have any on hand, order some online. And if you don't have any on hand, order some online.
Their cheap. Their cheap.
Or buy a dedicated product like the Bheestie bag which is essentially the same thing. Or buy a dedicated product like the Bheestie bag which is essentially the same thing.
What these magical packets will do is absorb all of the moisture trapped in your phone without damaging it. What these magical packets will do is absorb all of the moisture trapped in your phone without damaging it.
So grab a handful. So grab a handful.
And put them in a zipper top bag. And put them in a zipper top bag.
Then grab your phone and any other parts, like the battery and nestle it among all of the packets. Then grab your phone and any other parts, like the battery and nestle it among all of the packets.
Seal the bag, and then wait about 72 hours for the phone and any parts to completely dry. Seal the bag, and then wait about 72 hours for the phone and any parts to completely dry.
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
When your 72 hours are up grab your phone put it all back together and try to turn it on hopefully if you did everything right it'll be back in working condition, but remember two things. When your 72 hours are up grab your phone put it all back together and try to turn it on hopefully if you did everything right it'll be back in working condition, but remember two things.
First, your warranty is probably void. First, your warranty is probably void.
Most phones have a water indicator that let the manufacturer know if your phone came in contact with any liquid. Most phones have a water indicator that let the manufacturer know if your phone came in contact with any liquid.
On the iphone 5S, for example, it's here, in this sim card slot. On the iphone 5S, for example, it's here, in this sim card slot.
The second thing is, that even if your phone goes back to working condition, there were parts that were exposed to water. The second thing is, that even if your phone goes back to working condition, there were parts that were exposed to water.
And they can corrode over time. And they can corrode over time.
So if your phone is dying a slow and painful death, you know exactly why. So if your phone is dying a slow and painful death, you know exactly why.
So that's what you should do if your phone gets wet. So that's what you should do if your phone gets wet.
But if you wanna make sure this doesn't happen in the future, you have a few options. But if you wanna make sure this doesn't happen in the future, you have a few options.
My favorite for the klutzes out there, is the Life Proof case. My favorite for the klutzes out there, is the Life Proof case.
It's waterproof, shockproof. It's waterproof, shockproof.
Freeze proof. Freeze proof.
You name it. You name it.
It works by fully enclosing your phone so that if you drop it, it's safe. It works by fully enclosing your phone so that if you drop it, it's safe.
This is my real phone, by the way. This is my real phone, by the way.
And that's [SOUND] how much I trust this case. And that's [SOUND] how much I trust this case.
A more temporary solution is a waterproof pouch. A more temporary solution is a waterproof pouch.
This is something you would use while swimming or doing water sports, so that your phone is safe from any splashes, plug you can take underwater photos. This is something you would use while swimming or doing water sports, so that your phone is safe from any splashes, plug you can take underwater photos.
Finally, keep an eye out for phones that are waterproof and water resistant. Finally, keep an eye out for phones that are waterproof and water resistant.
The Sony xperia Z1S is just one example, but there are plenty more to come. The Sony xperia Z1S is just one example, but there are plenty more to come.
So just remember that if your phone takes a dip, it's not the end of the world. So just remember that if your phone takes a dip, it's not the end of the world.
And if you know that you're prone to these kinds of accidents, now you know how to keep your phone safe. And if you know that you're prone to these kinds of accidents, now you know how to keep your phone safe.
If you have any questions or tips of your own, hit me up on Twitter, and check out howto.cnet.com for the written version of this guide. If you have any questions or tips of your own, hit me up on Twitter, and check out howto.cnet.com for the written version of this guide.
For CNet, I'm Sharon Vaknin. For CNet, I'm Sharon Vaknin.
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
Hey guys, I'm Sharon Vaknin and today I'll show you my go to solution for drying out a wet cell phone, plus, how to prevent these accidents from happening in the future. Hey guys, I'm Sharon Vaknin and today I'll show you my go to solution for drying out a wet cell phone, plus, how to prevent these accidents from happening in the future.
So, say you're out enjoying lunch in the sun when suddenly [MUSIC] Spill a big glass of ice water all over your phone. So, say you're out enjoying lunch in the sun when suddenly [MUSIC] Spill a big glass of ice water all over your phone.
[NOISE] [NOISE]
Before you do anything, turn your phone off immediately. Before you do anything, turn your phone off immediately.
Before the water has had a chance to come in contact with the circuit boards and short circuit. Before the water has had a chance to come in contact with the circuit boards and short circuit.
When it comes to drying out a wet device I've heard plenty of non-solutions. When it comes to drying out a wet device I've heard plenty of non-solutions.
You've got the hair dryer, the oven, the bag of rice and even the microwave. You've got the hair dryer, the oven, the bag of rice and even the microwave.
Well, let me set the record straight by telling that none of those solutions are reliable. Well, let me set the record straight by telling that none of those solutions are reliable.
The first thing you want to do is remove any parts you can such as the back cover, the battery and the sim card and dry them off with a towel. The first thing you want to do is remove any parts you can such as the back cover, the battery and the sim card and dry them off with a towel.
Then do the same thing with the outside of the phone. Then do the same thing with the outside of the phone.
Now here comes the secret ingredient, silica gel packets. Now here comes the secret ingredient, silica gel packets.
They're desiccants, so their designed to absorb moisture very efficiently. They're desiccants, so their designed to absorb moisture very efficiently.
Collect these as you find them in your packaged products because they'll come in handy for times like these. Collect these as you find them in your packaged products because they'll come in handy for times like these.
And if you don't have any on hand, order some online. And if you don't have any on hand, order some online.
Their cheap. Their cheap.
Or buy a dedicated product like the Bheestie bag which is essentially the same thing. Or buy a dedicated product like the Bheestie bag which is essentially the same thing.
What these magical packets will do is absorb all of the moisture trapped in your phone without damaging it. What these magical packets will do is absorb all of the moisture trapped in your phone without damaging it.
So grab a handful. So grab a handful.
And put them in a zipper top bag. And put them in a zipper top bag.
Then grab your phone and any other parts, like the battery and nestle it among all of the packets. Then grab your phone and any other parts, like the battery and nestle it among all of the packets.
Seal the bag, and then wait about 72 hours for the phone and any parts to completely dry. Seal the bag, and then wait about 72 hours for the phone and any parts to completely dry.
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
When your 72 hours are up grab your phone put it all back together and try to turn it on hopefully if you did everything right it'll be back in working condition, but remember two things. When your 72 hours are up grab your phone put it all back together and try to turn it on hopefully if you did everything right it'll be back in working condition, but remember two things.
First, your warranty is probably void. First, your warranty is probably void.
Most phones have a water indicator that let the manufacturer know if your phone came in contact with any liquid. Most phones have a water indicator that let the manufacturer know if your phone came in contact with any liquid.
On the iphone 5S, for example, it's here, in this sim card slot. On the iphone 5S, for example, it's here, in this sim card slot.
The second thing is, that even if your phone goes back to working condition, there were parts that were exposed to water. The second thing is, that even if your phone goes back to working condition, there were parts that were exposed to water.
And they can corrode over time. And they can corrode over time.
So if your phone is dying a slow and painful death, you know exactly why. So if your phone is dying a slow and painful death, you know exactly why.
So that's what you should do if your phone gets wet. So that's what you should do if your phone gets wet.
But if you wanna make sure this doesn't happen in the future, you have a few options. But if you wanna make sure this doesn't happen in the future, you have a few options.
My favorite for the klutzes out there, is the Life Proof case. My favorite for the klutzes out there, is the Life Proof case.
It's waterproof, shockproof. It's waterproof, shockproof.
Freeze proof. Freeze proof.
You name it. You name it.
It works by fully enclosing your phone so that if you drop it, it's safe. It works by fully enclosing your phone so that if you drop it, it's safe.
This is my real phone, by the way. This is my real phone, by the way.
And that's [SOUND] how much I trust this case. And that's [SOUND] how much I trust this case.
A more temporary solution is a waterproof pouch. A more temporary solution is a waterproof pouch.
This is something you would use while swimming or doing water sports, so that your phone is safe from any splashes, plug you can take underwater photos. This is something you would use while swimming or doing water sports, so that your phone is safe from any splashes, plug you can take underwater photos.
Finally, keep an eye out for phones that are waterproof and water resistant. Finally, keep an eye out for phones that are waterproof and water resistant.
The Sony xperia Z1S is just one example, but there are plenty more to come. The Sony xperia Z1S is just one example, but there are plenty more to come.
So just remember that if your phone takes a dip, it's not the end of the world. So just remember that if your phone takes a dip, it's not the end of the world.
And if you know that you're prone to these kinds of accidents, now you know how to keep your phone safe. And if you know that you're prone to these kinds of accidents, now you know how to keep your phone safe.
If you have any questions or tips of your own, hit me up on Twitter, and check out howto.cnet.com for the written version of this guide. If you have any questions or tips of your own, hit me up on Twitter, and check out howto.cnet.com for the written version of this guide.
For CNet, I'm Sharon Vaknin. For CNet, I'm Sharon Vaknin.
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
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