It happens. You put your cell phone on a table and someone knocks over a drink. Or you leave it outside on the deck and it rains all night. Or you visit the bathroom, take that must-answer phone call from work and—oops!—there it is, submerged in six inches of flushable water.
Assuming you’re brave enough to retrieve your phone from wherever it lands, what do you do next?
Do you shake it out as best you can and try turning it back on? (Not recommended. The moisture might cause permanent damage). Do you look for the nearest microwave to dry it out? (NO!) Or do you take it back to the T-Mobile, Sprint, or AT&T phone shop and hope water damage is covered by the warranty? (Prepare to be disappointed!)
There is another way to go. If you act quickly, it’s possible the phone can be saved. Here’s what you should do:
1. Immediately remove the battery. (If you own an iPhone, skip this step. The battery is not removable).
2. If you have a removable SIM card, take that out as well. Even if your phone is beyond repair, you should be able to retrieve most of the information—like your phone book—that’s stored on your SIM card.
3. Get rid of any heavy moisture by blowing on the phone, gently shaking it, or dabbing it away with a paper towel. (Those cans of compressed air used to clean computer keyboards are ideal for the task, but we’re assuming you don’t carry those around with you). Do not use a hair dryer, an oven, or any other kind of heat-intensive dryer as this could permanently fry the delicate electronics.
