Cell Phone Rescue Tips

[OldLincoln]

I've been told it's not if but when that you'll get your cell phone soaked, not just a quick dip, but as in finding it in a tub of water where it has been sitting for a couple days. So you toss it and get another right? Possibly, especially if you require it to be absolutely perfect when it is recovered. I didn't have much choice but to recover my NEW phone so I read up on it when it happened to me.

The general internet consensus is to take the battery out and put the phone in a container completely covered with uncooked rice, and leave it for a couple days. Didn't work.

So two days after pulling it out the screen has water sloshing around in it and the phone doesn't work (duh...). So on New Years day I go to a craft store and get silica gel crystals - what many of us know as descant but the craft store doesn't. Put it the phone in a bowl and cover it with the stuff. Leave it for a couple more days and now the phone is dry, but loaded with those friggin crystals. Ok, maybe next time I would recommend wrapping the phone with a paper towel.

Everybody should have on-hand a package of those magic crystals with enough to completely submerge your phone in a bowl. When the event happens remove the battery, shake out what water you can, wrap it in a paper towel, put it in a bowl and pour the crystals over it making sure it is completely covered. Do NOT cover the bowl. Leave it in there for at least two days without checking it. After setting the phone up to dry out, you can call your cell company and have them forward your number to another house or cell you have access to.

My phone is working, I think, but the display is dirty on the inside from taking so long to dry it out. I say I think because it's working at the moment but it's only been 1/2 hour since I turned it on.

[CJB]

i deal with wet electronics on a daily basis. the main problem is electrolysis from the battery. it will very quickly corrode/erode the copper, and the resultant residue will create partial shorts between pins. It also eats the solder out from any through hole connection, as well as smt connection, so you have what is basically a chemically induced cold solder joint.

#1 - remove the source of dc current - the battery
#2 - dry it out
as
we actually WASH boards in a solution of ammonia and water, then rinse them in fresh water to clear the ammonia. the boards can take it, when no dc is present. as for the screen...you MAY be able to clean it... maybe, if you can get it apart. the touchscreen is an overlay on top of the lcd, so you have water/gunk between the two. if you can get them apart, without damage, you can clean 'em.

[yqtszhj]

Don't use a hair dryer even with the battery out.

Don't ask me how I know his either.

[DubDubU]

I have also heard of using rice instead of the silica.

[OldLincoln]

I have also heard of using rice instead of the silica.
Buried it in rice for two days without joy before getting the silica which worked. Rice may work if you fall in a pool and immediately get out and remove the battery etc. But silica is the stuff you can put in your gun safe to keep the poisture out. Get two and switch them out then dry the used one and reseal in a freezer type baggie (double seal) and store in safe. Open sealed baggie and dry the old one.