Wet smartphone? Here's what you should do

The monsoons are here, bringing with it pleasant vistas across the landscapes and an enjoyable weather for the next few months. However, the season also brings one of the most dreaded issues that every well-to-do person has to face in the modern times — wet smartphones. Ever since the first drops descend from the skies, people try their best to keep moisture at bay from their smartphones. While that’s usually not an issue for modern flagship smartphones that sport water and dust resistance, budget smartphone owners try to shove their phones under safety from the water.

While most of you manage to spend the monsoons without letting your smartphone face the drops, some of you may not be lucky enough. If you are one of those unlucky ones who has ditched his/her phone in a puddle or left it exposed to the rains for a considerable period of time, here’s what you can do see it greeting you every morning in the future.

1. The first thing to keep in mind is to stay calm. Most smartphones, even the budget ones, have some kind of resistance built in, although not as extensive as the IP certified devices. Therefore, chances are that you might be able to recover the smartphone.
2. If you have got a smartphone dripping wet, make sure you immediately switch it off, even if it stays switched on.
3. Disconnect headphones or any other accessory to let water trapped in the nooks and crannies seep out. Also, make sure that you remove any SIM card and micro SD card from the phone. If you are using cases, it’s advisable to remove them as soon as possible. If your device has a removable back cover or a battery, then remove and keep them aside.
   
   
   
   
4. Don’t connect the phone to a charger as it may lead to a short circuit.
5. Wipe the moisture off the device with a soft cloth or a towel. Make sure you scrub off excess moisture around the speaker grille, the USB ports and the headphone jack. You can also use a vacuum cleaner to suck out water from the delicate parts. However, don’t expose your phone to heat as it may lead to condensation inside the device and damage the circuitry as well.
6. After you are done with wiping, leave the device under a fan or in front of an air conditioner to let it dry out. Do remember that it takes a considerable amount of time for the moisture inside the casing of the phone to dry, which is why you should be leaving it for at least 48 hours in an airy environment.
7. Another suggestion is to leave your phone in a sack of rice. Rice is known to absorb water, thereby drawing out moisture from the insides. You can also refer to silica packets usually found in the packaging of electronic appliances.
8. Once you have given your phone enough time to dry itself, try booting up the device. If it boots up, you are good to go. If the device doesn’t boot up, then try charging up the battery before trying once again.
9. If your phone doesn’t boot up after all these efforts, it is advisable to visit the service centre for a thorough inspection by trained professionals.

However, do remember that prevention is better than cure. Therefore, make sure you keep your smartphone under waterproof pouches or store it inside your backpack.

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