My Cell Phone Got Wet! What should I do?

So you dropped your cell phone in the water.  Or you put it in the washing machine.  Or maybe it fell out of your pocket in a snowball fight and it stayted there over night.  It really doesn't matter how it happened... the facts are:

• It got wet.
• It doesn't work.
• You don't know what to do.

Well... nobody really does.  I mean, maybe there are some geeks out there who's entire existence is to experiement and figure out what to do if your bubble gum loses it's flavor on the bedpost every night...but I don't know any of them.  So let's just do the basic stuff to see if we can get your phone working again.  I do just about everything in '10's:... so let's narrow this down to the top ten things you can do.

 

1. Get it out of the water as soon as possible. Even on the most airtight phone, you have about 20 seconds before the insides get wet. If it talkes longer than that, then try to remove the battery while it is still under water. There's a technical reason for this, having to do with conductivity and heat... but what's the use of explaining it.  Just do it.
2. Panic does no good. If you get to it in time, and follow instructions, you have a 75% chance of your phone still working. .
3. Remove the battery. Don't think about it, just do it. Electricity and water do not play well when it comes to circuitry. Cutting power to your phone is a 'have to'.
4. Remove your SIM card. Alot of your contact info is on those cards. 
5. Do your best to dry the phone. Shake it out without dropping it, then use a towel or paper towel (ideally trying not to clog the wet paper in the gaps and grooves of the phone) to gently remove as much of the remaining water as possible. It may make you feel stupid... but if you can make big circular motions with your arms... that will help force some of the water out.
6. Remove any covers and external connectors, so that water can drain from those as well.
7. Use a vacuum cleaner if possible. Do not use a hair dryer.  Vacuums will suck the water out... blow dryers push it back in. 
8. Leave the phone in a bowl or bag of uncooked rice overnight. This should draw the water out.  If you have something like "BHEESTIE Bag™" "DRY-ALL" "Damp Rid" or "Dry Right"...even better
9. Set the phone on absorbent towels, napkin, or other paper. If there's still water there after about 4 hours... repeat steps 7 and 8.
10. Put the battery back in and test it after you have waited a day or two. If your phone does not work, try plugging it into its charger without the battery, if this works, you need a new battery. If not, try taking your cell phone to an authorized dealer. Sometimes they can fix it, sometimes they can't. Don't try to hide the fact that it has been wet. There are internal indicators that prove moisture.

If none of the above works... well... I don't know what you can do other than get a new phone.  Lots of luck!