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Wet smartphone? Do these 4 things

Hopefully, you’re reading this blog out of curiosity, or in the spirit of preparedness. But, if you’re gazing at a sopping wet smartphone and you had the foresight to choose Verizon Protect, you can file your claim for a replacement. Didn’t sign up for Verizon Protect with Tech Coach when you bought your phone? If it’s been less than two weeks, you still can! Or, you can sign up during open enrollment. Contact your wireless expert for more information!

Read on for four tips on handling your wet smartphone.

1. Don’t turn it on!

Here’s the golden rule: don’t turn it on! And, definitely, don’t plug it in to charge, yet. Most people want to see if their phone still works, so they immediately hit that power button. Even if your phone is rated as water-resistant, it’s not meant for prolonged swimming. So make sure your smartphone is completely dried out before trying to check your texts. The reason is that water, by itself, usually isn’t that damaging. It’s adding electricity that causes circuit boards to short out.

2. Don’t put it in rice. Let it dry on the counter.

Urban legend says the rice will absorb all the water (hey it works for the salt shaker, right?), but rice adds gooey starch and dust to your delicate electronics. You’re better off letting your phone dry naturally. Remove the case, battery cover and battery and SIM. Dry the phone gently with a towel. Maybe point a little fan at it to help nature out.

3. Consider using a company that dries them for a living.

They have special machines that boil the water out in a vacuum. (Don’t worry; the boiling comes from pressure, not extreme heat.)

4. Rinse it?

While plain water is bad for electronics, chlorinated or salt water is definitely worse. Even though it seems counter-intuitive, consider rinsing your phone off if you dunk it in the pool or ocean. Those chemicals will corrode your smartphone’s insides beyond repair.

Think Ahead

Save those little silicone packets from new shoes and electronics. Put your phone inside a bowl of those packets to draw out water. You avoid the starch and dust of rice, but it speeds things along. In the event your smartphone suffers an untimely demise, it’s a good idea to keep key information—like passwords and phone numbers—stored in a secure location on another device or in the cloud.

Prevention

Heading into rainy weather? Of course, you should look into a good, waterproof case. But, if you want to be extra-sure or just don’t have a case yet, then try the Ziploc method. You’ll still have to take it out of the bag to use it, but at least you can keep it with you and have it stay relatively dry.

Don’t … just, don’t.

There are lots of DIY “hacks” floating around on the internet for saving your wet smartphone. Some are ineffective, and some are just, well, not … smart. Here’s a list of things to avoid with your soggy smartphone:

  • Microwave.
  • Oven.
  • Heat sources in general.
  • Freezer.
  • Rubbing alcohol.

Here’s to keeping your smartphone dry!

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