Dropped my phone in the bath - AIBU to think it's totally wrecked?

[ILoveAndrew]

I've had my phone less than a week and yep, was just listening to Spotify in the bath thinking what a lovely day it's going to be, and it slipped from my hands into the water. I got it out within seconds but it's totally wrecked isn't it?! I don't have any rice to soak it so I've taken the back and battery off and will check it later. I'm soooo mad at myself. I have waited for about a year to have a phone at all because of my poor finances and now this! Is there anything else I can do to reduce damage limitation apart from rice?

Leave it somewhere warm but not hot to dry out. Do you have any of those little packets of silica gel you get in shoeboxes hanging around they work just as well as rice.

Pretty certain that most phones are built to cope with this these days? As long as its fresh water and its just a dip.

Many modern phones are quite well waterproofed so it might have a chance. The crucial thing is not to use it until it's had a chance to thoroughly dry out (a few days) - I know it's hard to resist as you want to know whether it's OK but switching it on while it's still wet inside can be as bad for the phone as the initial dunk. Open or remove any covers you can, and remove the sim card and SD card. I don't think rice is actually a good idea as it can produce powder/dust that gets inside, but if you have any of those little silica gel packets that come in packaging, put some of those in with it, they are great for drying things out.

Wait, which phone has a separate battery now?

Thank you for all of your replies. It is a modern phone, but is an Alcatel. It was one of the cheapest Androids (around £50) but I really like it and was really pleased I was able to get a new phone! FFS, I am SO mad at myself.

I don't have any silica gel unfortunately. I have it stood up with the dehumidifier on full belt. I'll leave it for a few days and see what comes of it.

I can already see that some water has got behind the screen. Hope that might dry out too.

Fingers crossed!

Surely it depends entirely on what type of phone you have?

Have a look at the user manual and look to see if it has an IP67 or IP68 rating — both mean the device can withstand being submerged in water for 30 minutes, at varying depths. The newest Apple and Samsung phones are at least IP67.

I think from memory IP67 means it can cope with being submerged in water 'up to' 1m, whereas IP68 is 'up to' 5m. I've got an exceptionally deep bath and even full to the brim it's not 1m deep!

I once dried out an old phone by placing it under a towel in my cat's bed. She's super warm; a couple of nights underneath her and it was completely fine again🙂

Put it in a bag of rice

Do not try to use it or charge it until completely dry. It will take a few days. Do not use rice, you are likely to get dust in the phone adding to your problems. Do not use any direct heat, that will damage your phone. Make sure the phone is off, place somewhere dry, perhaps on a towel, and wait! After at least a few days, try turning on your phone. Fingers crossed! I once spilled an entire cup of coffee on a games console. I was sure it would be wrecked. However, after drying for a few days as above, it works fine.

I dropped my Samsung phone in a sink full of water while doing dishes and it was fine! I just dried it off, put it in front of a fan to dry out, switched it on 12 hours later and worked without any issues. I have heard rice is not a great idea anyway as it can get bits in the phone.

Appreciate you said you don't have rice but can you nip out and get some? It's a miracle worker and what I've used when I've dropped my phone in water.

I believe there are silica gel thingies in lateral flow tests if you've got any?

Go to the range or similar and buy some of the drying crystals. They are about £5 for a bag and saved my phone.

I dropped my new phone in a toilet once. I put it inside some kitchen roll (to stop dust) in a bag of rice and sachets of silics gel. I did not try and turn it on for a week (took a lot of willpower althoufh I did take my sim out to put in a my old phone). It worked fune for 2 years until I smashed it! I would buy rice or try and get some from a neighbour. Good luck!

Also good to have air movement near it if you can, like an open window or outside (only if dry). Don't use a hairdryer. If you have a fan set it up in the same room.
It's not necessarily completed fucked. Make sure it's off, and taken into pieces, put it on a towel or somewhere it's safe, then try to get air movement to it. Something like a bus with the windows open would be ideal.

Keeping phones out of bathrooms is a good idea

Ha! Obviously I've learnt my lesson.

Go out now and buy some rice. It works pretty well.

If that fails have you checked your home or phone insurance to see if it’s covered?

Apparently cat litter is better than rice - which does make sense - but just leaving it out to dry probably has about same chance of working.

If you do buy some rice, put your phone in a pop sock/ cut off tights first to keep the worst of the dust out, and to stop grains of rice getting stuck in the charger port. I speak from experience!

This.

Go and buy some rice! and don’t turn it on for 36 hours.

Uncooked Rice Isn't the Best Way to Save Your Water-Damaged Phone

Apaprently rice isn't great and it possibly comes from decades ago hack of storing camera equipment in humid climates rather than actually saving wet electronics. Can rice actually save your wet phone?

your-smartphone-got-wet-heres-what-do-first

Basically if you have silca use it - otherwise air it out on the side and don't turn back on till sure everything is dry.

I did that and all that happened was the camera wasn't great afterwards - the colours weren't quite right.

I wondered that, too. It's been several phones ago that I had one with a removable battery.