Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Choose a drying agent
• Part 2 of 3: Get your phone out of the water
• Part 3 of 3: Use a desiccant
• Tips

If you accidentally drop your phone in water and need to dry it, don't worry. There are several ways to do this without dipping your phone in a bowl of raw rice. Rice may not even be the most reliable way to get moisture out of a wet phone. When you dry your phone, it is imperative that you take it out of the water and take it apart as soon as possible. Wipe the internal components dry and let them sit in the drying agent for at least 48 hours. Also, never shake the phone while it is wet, as this may damage it.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Choose a drying agent

1. 1 Try silica gel cat litter. It absorbs moisture extremely well and does an excellent job of absorbing moisture from a water-damaged phone. Silica gel fillers can be purchased at any major supermarket or pet store.
   • Do not use other types of cat litter. Clay or powder fillers can stick to your phone, turning it into something wet and covered in clay.
2. 2 Try instant oatmeal. Instant oatmeal is much better at absorbing moisture than regular oatmeal or unprocessed oats. If you already have oatmeal at home, it may be the most effective substance to dry your phone.Please note that if you use oatmeal to dry your phone components, it may leave small sticky pieces of oat dust after it.
   • Instant unleavened oatmeal is available at the grocery store.
3. 3 Find some sachets of synthetic desiccant. Synthetic desiccant pouches are about 2 cm pouches that are placed in a package containing a variety of goods, such as shoes and leather goods, dried foods (such as beef jerky or spices), and electronic devices. These pouches are usually filled with silica gel beads, which are highly absorbent and can draw moisture out of the phone. Packages do not need to be torn apart. Just place them on your phone and wait until they absorb all the moisture.
   • This method is only applicable if you have saved up the silica gel packets for several months in advance. However, this is not a bad idea: many have smartphones, and everyone can drop their smartphone into the water.
   • If you haven't collected silica gel bags, order them in bulk from an online store.
4. 4 Use couscous grains to dry your phone. Couscous is a type of ground and dried grain of wheat. The small dry grains will act like beads of silica gel or oatmeal, pulling moisture out of the phone's components. You can buy couscous seeds at the grocery store or supermarket. They won't leave dust on your phone components, making this option cleaner than oatmeal.
   • Buy only couscous for this purpose without spices or other additives.

Part 2 of 3: Get your phone out of the water

1. 1 Take the phone out of the water immediately. If you've dropped your phone in the toilet, bathtub, or lake, the first thing you need to do is get it out of the water as soon as possible. The longer the phone stays in the water, the more damage it will take.
   • Leaving the phone in water for a long time will give it time to absorb into more internal electronic components.
2. 2 Remove the phone battery and other internal parts. Remove the electrical components before taking any steps to dry the outside of the phone. Open the phone case and remove the battery and SIM card. If your phone has a micro SD card, remove it as well.
   • Internal components are responsible for the health of the phone. If they become saturated with water, the phone will stop working.
3. 3 Blow off the water from the phone components and pat dry with a towel. Blow on the electrical parts of the phone to remove most of the water. Wipe the phone parts with a clean, dry towel to remove any remaining moisture from the parts. Use a drying agent to remove moisture that has entered the phone components.
   • Instead of blowing out the water, try shaking the parts of the phone to dry them out. Be careful not to accidentally throw the battery across the room.

Part 3 of 3: Use a desiccant

1. 1 Place the phone components in a 1–2 L container. If you're going to cover your phone with a desiccant, you'll need a fairly large amount. So, open the cabinet and take out a large empty jug, large bowl, or saucepan. Lower all the disassembled components of the phone to the bottom of the container.
   • The plastic back cover of the phone can be left outside. It is not so important to the phone's performance and will air dry.
2. 2 Place at least 4 cups (340 grams) of desiccant onto your phone. Whichever remedy you choose, do not skimp. You will need a significant amount to remove the last remaining water from the electrical components of your phone.
   • Place a lid on the container if you are using a non-edible product such as silica gel.
3. 3 Leave the phone in the container for 2-3 days. It will take time for the phone to dry to the point that it can be used again.Leave it in a drying agent for at least 48 hours. If you take out the phone ahead of time, there may still be water inside during assembly.
   • If you need to make an urgent call, ask your friend if you can borrow their phone for a while. Or, just chat via email and social media instead of text messages and phone calls.
4. 4 Assemble your phone and try turning it on. After 48–72 hours, dip your hand in the desiccant and remove the phone. Shake off any bits of the product and insert the battery, SIM card, and SD card back into the phone. Press the power button to turn your phone back on.
   • If the phone does not turn on after drying - or turns on but works intermittently, or its screen is damaged - take it to a professional phone repair shop.

Tips

• If you don't have a desiccant, leave the phone in a cool room with a fan.
• Never place your phone in a warm oven or under a hot hair dryer. Warm air can damage - or even melt - important parts of your phone.
• If you have a Galaxy (or other Android) smartphone, open the case with your fingernail. Some cases may require a small Phillips screwdriver to remove, which is used to repair glasses. For the iPhone, you need a special pentalobe screwdriver.