The most important thing when a smartphone falls into water or gets wet is to switch it off quickly and keep it away from any power source. Panicking and leaving the phone on, charging it or shaking it to get the water out can do further damage to the sensitive components inside.
A technology report by the Pakistani outlet Geo News sets out what to do immediately to protect a wet phone, and what to avoid.
According to the report, if a phone falls into water or water gets inside it, it should be switched off at once, even if it is still working, without pressing any other button. Pressing the screen or other buttons can push the water further inside, so after switching the phone off no button should be pressed unless necessary. The wet phone should then be kept away from any electrical source or charger. If current flows while it is wet, the sensitive circuits and parts inside can burn out, and the user can even get an electric shock.
If possible, remove the battery, although most modern phones do not allow it. Take out the SIM card and any memory or SD card quickly as well.
How to dry it
Once the phone is off and away from power, start drying it. First wipe the display, the back and the sides thoroughly with a clean, soft cloth.
Then carefully try to wipe away or remove drops of water collected inside the charging port and the headphone port.
After wiping away as much water as possible, leave the phone in a dry, clean place. It needs to be left in the air for several days to dry completely, because even a little moisture can damage the components inside.
Silica gel can also be used. Put the phone in an airtight bag with a few silica gel packets and seal it. The silica gel found in boxes of electronics, medicines or shoes to absorb moisture can help soak up the excess water in the phone.
If there is no silica gel to hand, the phone can be left in dry uncooked white rice, although the chance of this method working is comparatively low.
Mistakes to avoid
Do not shake the phone hard to get the water out. Rather than coming out, the water can spread further through the complex parts inside.
Likewise, do not use a hair dryer or any kind of heat to dry the phone. Excess heat can permanently damage the sensitive circuits and wet components inside.
What to do once it is dry
After several days of drying, if the phone seems completely dry, try switching it on. If the first steps were taken quickly and correctly, there is a chance it will work again.
If it does switch on, check over the next few days that the speaker, microphone and charging all work properly. If it will not switch on at all, it is better to take it to a specialist technician than to experiment with it yourself.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report