Quick answer: get it out, turn it off, don’t charge it, wipe it dry, tap the port gently against your palm and leave it to dry in moving air. No rice, no hairdryer. If it went in salt water, a drink or the toilet, bring it in the same day.
Do this now
- Get it out of the water straight away.
- Turn it off if it’s on. Don’t press buttons repeatedly to “test” it.
- Don’t plug it in. Charging a wet phone is the fastest way to cause permanent damage.
- Remove the case and the SIM tray, and wipe the outside with a dry cloth.
- Hold the phone with the charging port facing down and tap it gently against your palm to let water drain out.
- Leave it to dry standing up, port down, in a dry room with moving air – in front of a fan on a cool setting is ideal.
- Wait at least 24 hours before charging, and only once any “liquid detected” warning has gone.
What not to do
No rice. Rice doesn’t pull water out of a sealed phone and leaves dust and starch in the ports. Why rice is a myth.
No heat. Hairdryers, radiators and ovens can warp parts, damage the battery and melt adhesive.
No cotton buds or tissue in the ports – fibres get stuck inside.
When to bring it in straight away
- It went in salt water, chlorinated pool water, a drink or the toilet. Sugar, salt and chemicals cause corrosion within hours, even if the phone seems fine.
- The screen shows lines, spots or flickers.
- The phone gets warm while switched off.
- There’s condensation behind the camera lens or screen.
- The screen or back glass was already cracked.
Isn’t my phone waterproof?
Modern phones are water-resistant, not waterproof, and the seals weaken with age, drops and repairs. Read water resistance explained.
Water damage repairs work best when they’re early. We open the phone, clean corrosion from the board and test every part – the sooner, the better the chance of saving it and your data.
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Explained
Fix it yourself
Fix it yourself