Ever dropped your cell phone in the sink, or even worse... the toilet? Did you ever leave it in your pocket and run it through the washer? Did you ever swim with your cell phone in your pocket? Ever have it fall into the pet's water bowl? Getting your cell phone wet usually means you have to replace it, but sometimes if you're fast enough, you might be able to save the phone! Follow the steps outlined in this article to try and save your wet cell phone.
http://pad1.whstatic.com/images/thumb/4/49/Two-******-mobile-cell-phones.jpg/250px-Two-******-mobile-cell-phones.jpg
STEPS
1 Take the phone out of the water as soon as possible. The plastic covers on cell phones are fairly tight, but water can enter the phone in a short period of
time, perhaps only 20 seconds or less.
Grab your phone quickly! Don't switch
the phone on, as this can cause it to
short circuit – if it has been in water,
assume it needs drying immediately whether or not it is working. If you can't get to the phone in time,
your best bet is to remove the battery
while it is still under water. Water helps
to dissipate heat from shorts that can
damage the phone, so most damage
occurs when the inside of the phone is wet and connected to a power source.
This can go both ways, however. Being
under water is more likely to short the
battery to even more sensitive contacts,
so be careful.
2 Don't panic. Your phone will probably not be too damaged if you take it out of
the water right away. A longer period of
immersion, such as being in the washing
machine cycle, will be cause for more
alarm but it is still worth trying the
following steps before giving up completely.
3 Remove the battery. This is one of the most important steps. Don't take time
to think about it; electricity and water do
not mix. Cutting power to your phone is
a crucial first step in saving it. Many
circuits inside the phone will survive
immersion in water provided they are not attached to a power source when
wet.
To find out if the phone is truly water
damaged, check the corner near where
the battery is – there should be a white
square or circle, with or without red
lines. If this is pink or red, your phone
has water damage. Quickly read the manual to your phone if
you're not sure how to remove the
battery.
4 Remove the SIM card if you have a GSM carrier. Some or all of your valuable contacts (along with other data) could
be stored on your SIM. For many people,
this could be more worth saving than
the phone itself. SIM cards survive water
damage well, but some of the following
steps might damage it, so getting it out immediately makes good sense. Just pat
it dry and leave it aside until you need to
connect your phone to your cellular
network.
5 Remove all other peripherals and covers that can be removed. Remove any covers and external connectors to
open up as many gaps, slots, and
crevices in the phone as possible.
6 Dry your phone. If there is even one drop of water left inside, it can ruin your
phone by corroding it and making the
wrong contact. Obviously you need to
remove as much of the water as soon as
possible, to prevent it from easing its
way into the phone:
Gently wipe off as much water as
possible without dropping the phone.
Avoid shaking or moving the phone
excessively, so as to avoid moving water
through it.
Wipe down using a towel or paper
towel. Ideally, try not to clog the wet
paper in the gaps and grooves of the
phone. Keep wiping, to gently remove
as much of the remaining water as
possible.
(Optional): If you pulled the battery out
in time, cleaning the inside of your
phone with cleaning ******* (*******
will displace the water) or contact spray
might remedy the problem. Wipe with something soft and dry
Wipe with something soft and dry Dry any remaining excess moisture by
moving your dry or mitten-clad hand
across the surface.
7 Use a vacuum cleaner if possible. If you want to try and suck the liquid out
of the inner parts of the phone, try using
a vacuum cleaner. Remove all residual
moisture by drawing it away with a
vacuum cleaner held over the affected
areas for up to 20 minutes, in each accessible area (take it in turns with a
friend). This is the fastest method and
can completely dry out your phone and
get it working in thirty minutes.
However, unless the exposure to water
was extremely short, it's not recommended to attempt to turn your
phone on this soon.
Be careful not to
hold the vacuum too close to the phone,
as a vacuum can create static electricity,
which is even worse for the phone.
Contrary to common advice, it is not recommended that you use a hair dryer (not even on the "cold" mode) to dry out the phone.
Using a hair dryer may force moisture further into the small components, deep inside the phone, as the air blows inward. And if it is too warm, it will likely melt them. If moisture is driven deeper inside, corrosion and oxidation may result when minerals from liquids are deposited on the circuitry. Using a hairdryer might be a temporary fix, but this will eventually cause component failure inside the phone.
8 Use a substance with a high affinity for water to help draw out moisture. Leave the phone in a bowl or bag of
uncooked rice overnight. The rice would
absorb any remaining moisture.
If available, it is preferable to use
desiccant instead. Desiccant will absorb
moisture better than rice. If you use this
method, slip the cell phone inside a
plastic bag that can be sealed or a plastic
container (airtight). Add the desiccant packet (often found with shoes, noodle
packets, etc.) in with the cell phone.
Leave as long as possible (overnight) to
absorb the moisture. Rotate the phone to a different position
every hour until you go to sleep. This
will allow any water left inside to run
down and hopefully find an opening to
escape.
9 Let the phone sit on absorbent towels, napkin, or other paper. After removing the phone from the rice or
desiccant (or if you were not able to use
either method), place the phone on
absorbent material. Remember that the
goal is to evacuate all of the moisture
and humidity, not to trap it or add even more.
Check the absorbent material every hour
for 4 to 6 hours. If moisture is evident,
repeat the vacuuming step and
desiccant steps
10 Test your phone. After you have waited at least 24 hours, or longer if
possible, check to see that everything on
and in your cell phone is clean and looks
dry.
Re-attach the battery to the phone.
Try turning it on. If your phone still does not work, try plugging it into its charger without the battery. If this works, you need a new battery. If not, try taking your cell phone to an authorized dealer. Sometimes they can fix it. Don't try to hide the fact that it has been wet – there are internal indicators that prove moisture and they're more likely to be able to help you if you explain exactly what has happened.
11 Take the phone apart if your phone doesn't turn on at all. If you feel comfortable doing this, try taking it
apart.
First, make sure that you have all
of the right parts and know exactly
where they go. Be sure to put
everything back in its proper place once
finished. As you're disassembling it, pat each individual part dry with a small
towel and use the vacuum cleaner once
more on the crevices (but be careful not
to accidentally suck up any loose parts –
keep them well to one side, or stretch a
length of old *****hose over the nozzle).
If this doesn't work, or you're
too unsure about undoing your phone,
get help from cell phone professionals.
If your phone is powering up but still acting strange after you've dried it, then it's probable that you've missed some liquid, or that the corrosion has already occurred. Dis-assembly and cleaning with a toothbrush and appropriate solvent may fix it. For the fainthearted, a skilled technician or engineer can often fix such an issue easily and quickly.
Credits to BLACK SAMURAI
http://pad1.whstatic.com/images/thumb/4/49/Two-******-mobile-cell-phones.jpg/250px-Two-******-mobile-cell-phones.jpg
STEPS
1 Take the phone out of the water as soon as possible. The plastic covers on cell phones are fairly tight, but water can enter the phone in a short period of
time, perhaps only 20 seconds or less.
Grab your phone quickly! Don't switch
the phone on, as this can cause it to
short circuit – if it has been in water,
assume it needs drying immediately whether or not it is working. If you can't get to the phone in time,
your best bet is to remove the battery
while it is still under water. Water helps
to dissipate heat from shorts that can
damage the phone, so most damage
occurs when the inside of the phone is wet and connected to a power source.
This can go both ways, however. Being
under water is more likely to short the
battery to even more sensitive contacts,
so be careful.
2 Don't panic. Your phone will probably not be too damaged if you take it out of
the water right away. A longer period of
immersion, such as being in the washing
machine cycle, will be cause for more
alarm but it is still worth trying the
following steps before giving up completely.
3 Remove the battery. This is one of the most important steps. Don't take time
to think about it; electricity and water do
not mix. Cutting power to your phone is
a crucial first step in saving it. Many
circuits inside the phone will survive
immersion in water provided they are not attached to a power source when
wet.
To find out if the phone is truly water
damaged, check the corner near where
the battery is – there should be a white
square or circle, with or without red
lines. If this is pink or red, your phone
has water damage. Quickly read the manual to your phone if
you're not sure how to remove the
battery.
4 Remove the SIM card if you have a GSM carrier. Some or all of your valuable contacts (along with other data) could
be stored on your SIM. For many people,
this could be more worth saving than
the phone itself. SIM cards survive water
damage well, but some of the following
steps might damage it, so getting it out immediately makes good sense. Just pat
it dry and leave it aside until you need to
connect your phone to your cellular
network.
5 Remove all other peripherals and covers that can be removed. Remove any covers and external connectors to
open up as many gaps, slots, and
crevices in the phone as possible.
6 Dry your phone. If there is even one drop of water left inside, it can ruin your
phone by corroding it and making the
wrong contact. Obviously you need to
remove as much of the water as soon as
possible, to prevent it from easing its
way into the phone:
Gently wipe off as much water as
possible without dropping the phone.
Avoid shaking or moving the phone
excessively, so as to avoid moving water
through it.
Wipe down using a towel or paper
towel. Ideally, try not to clog the wet
paper in the gaps and grooves of the
phone. Keep wiping, to gently remove
as much of the remaining water as
possible.
(Optional): If you pulled the battery out
in time, cleaning the inside of your
phone with cleaning ******* (*******
will displace the water) or contact spray
might remedy the problem. Wipe with something soft and dry
Wipe with something soft and dry Dry any remaining excess moisture by
moving your dry or mitten-clad hand
across the surface.
7 Use a vacuum cleaner if possible. If you want to try and suck the liquid out
of the inner parts of the phone, try using
a vacuum cleaner. Remove all residual
moisture by drawing it away with a
vacuum cleaner held over the affected
areas for up to 20 minutes, in each accessible area (take it in turns with a
friend). This is the fastest method and
can completely dry out your phone and
get it working in thirty minutes.
However, unless the exposure to water
was extremely short, it's not recommended to attempt to turn your
phone on this soon.
Be careful not to
hold the vacuum too close to the phone,
as a vacuum can create static electricity,
which is even worse for the phone.
Contrary to common advice, it is not recommended that you use a hair dryer (not even on the "cold" mode) to dry out the phone.
Using a hair dryer may force moisture further into the small components, deep inside the phone, as the air blows inward. And if it is too warm, it will likely melt them. If moisture is driven deeper inside, corrosion and oxidation may result when minerals from liquids are deposited on the circuitry. Using a hairdryer might be a temporary fix, but this will eventually cause component failure inside the phone.
8 Use a substance with a high affinity for water to help draw out moisture. Leave the phone in a bowl or bag of
uncooked rice overnight. The rice would
absorb any remaining moisture.
If available, it is preferable to use
desiccant instead. Desiccant will absorb
moisture better than rice. If you use this
method, slip the cell phone inside a
plastic bag that can be sealed or a plastic
container (airtight). Add the desiccant packet (often found with shoes, noodle
packets, etc.) in with the cell phone.
Leave as long as possible (overnight) to
absorb the moisture. Rotate the phone to a different position
every hour until you go to sleep. This
will allow any water left inside to run
down and hopefully find an opening to
escape.
9 Let the phone sit on absorbent towels, napkin, or other paper. After removing the phone from the rice or
desiccant (or if you were not able to use
either method), place the phone on
absorbent material. Remember that the
goal is to evacuate all of the moisture
and humidity, not to trap it or add even more.
Check the absorbent material every hour
for 4 to 6 hours. If moisture is evident,
repeat the vacuuming step and
desiccant steps
10 Test your phone. After you have waited at least 24 hours, or longer if
possible, check to see that everything on
and in your cell phone is clean and looks
dry.
Re-attach the battery to the phone.
Try turning it on. If your phone still does not work, try plugging it into its charger without the battery. If this works, you need a new battery. If not, try taking your cell phone to an authorized dealer. Sometimes they can fix it. Don't try to hide the fact that it has been wet – there are internal indicators that prove moisture and they're more likely to be able to help you if you explain exactly what has happened.
11 Take the phone apart if your phone doesn't turn on at all. If you feel comfortable doing this, try taking it
apart.
First, make sure that you have all
of the right parts and know exactly
where they go. Be sure to put
everything back in its proper place once
finished. As you're disassembling it, pat each individual part dry with a small
towel and use the vacuum cleaner once
more on the crevices (but be careful not
to accidentally suck up any loose parts –
keep them well to one side, or stretch a
length of old *****hose over the nozzle).
If this doesn't work, or you're
too unsure about undoing your phone,
get help from cell phone professionals.
If your phone is powering up but still acting strange after you've dried it, then it's probable that you've missed some liquid, or that the corrosion has already occurred. Dis-assembly and cleaning with a toothbrush and appropriate solvent may fix it. For the fainthearted, a skilled technician or engineer can often fix such an issue easily and quickly.
Credits to BLACK SAMURAI