OT: Dropped mobile phone in water

[GB]

I picked up my DW's mobile phone to hand it to her and promptly dropped it in a jug of water.

I have no tools handy for the next 24 hours, so all I have done is remove the battery and shake out as much water as possible.

Should I simply leave it somewhere to dry out, or is that going to encourage salt deposits? Will drying it out work okay nearly all the time?

Once I get it home, I can dismantle it, rinse with demineralised water and dry it out. But is that actually overkill?

Any advice gratefully received. :)

[The Natural Philosopher]

Remove battery immediately. dunk it and the battery in surgical spirits or at a pinch methylated spirits. That will absorb nearly all the water.

Then shake it and dry in airing cupboard for at least 24 hours, maybe 48.

[Simon Mason]

Shove it in a large bag of rice in an airing cupboard.

[Harry Bloomfield]

GB laid this down on his screen :

If the water was clean tap water and a the area is a soft water area, just dry it out, otherwise give it a good rinse through with demineralised water.

To dry it out, shake out as much as you can, then put it in a bag dried rice to draw the moisture out and/ or play an hair dryer on it for a few hours.

[Jeff Layman]

More or less the right answer. Best way is to use a small resealable (eg sandwich) bag and change the rice in it a few times over several days. I would also use white rice rather than brown, and don't be in a hurry to turn the phone on again. If necessary, get a very cheap temporary replacement and use the sim from the dunked phone in the replacement for a few days.

I saved my mobile by drying it with rice. I didn't think it would work, but it did.

[GB]

Thanks all, and I've put it in a coffee jar with some white rice.

It's been dunked in hard water, unfortunately, but I'll try drying it rather than taking the risk of dismantling it.

[Tim+]

Actually, there are probably far better desiccants than rice available.

Tim

[Simon Mason]

I have 5kg of Silica Gel that I got from work when I retired.

[Mr Pounder Esquire]

Translation: I have 5kg of Silica Gel that I stole from work when I retired.

[James Wilkinson Sword]

It's not stealing, it's embezzling, everybody does it. Are you telling me you don't have a few CO2s lying about that you didn't pay for?

[Bob Eager]

I have a large bag sitting right next to me, as it happens.

[Graham.]

I installed a lot of Brother printers before I retired (on Monday) Each one came with a bag of Muslim deviants, which I collected.

Correction. A *muslin* bag of *desiccant*.

[Simon Mason]

Along with 0.5kg of Mercury, 2.5l of conc. HCl, staplers, road grit, wine making carboys, lab glassware and Ammonia test gear for my fish pond.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Don't you have a room where you can get away from your wife?

[Zephirum]

Bung it in a bag of rice, or if you have any handy silica gel

[Brian Gaff]

It is probably knackered. You had better get an Iphone 7 next time if this is a tendency of yours. Brian

[Simon Mason]

Why? This is free, has no contract and works anywhere in the world.

[Bod]

Except underground, in long tunnels etc.

Mr Pedantic :-)

[Simon Mason]

I was in my bathroom at 0430 today and rang my downstairs phone using it via an Iridium satellite.

[GB]

Thanks, Tim. That's very helpful.