Help with Water logged cell phone

[DisneyPoly]

Can anyone suggest a method that they used to dry out a cell phone? My daughter is doing a science project and we do not have enough cell phones to experiment with each method (rice, hair dryer, pantyhose with silica, etc.) We are looking for some feedback on tried methods (whether they be successful or failed attempts).

Thanks so much!!!

 

[Poohs#1fan]

my Mom used a hair dryer to dry hers out, but make sure it's on a cool setting

 

[lurkernj]

DS jumped in a pool with his cell phone in his bathing suit pocket. He swam for a few minutes as well, before realizing phone was in his pocket. He took the battery out and let it airdry, but it still didn't work. I put it in a ziplock bag (battery out of phone, but in bag of rice too). I wedged as much rice as possible in any openings. THREE DAYS LATER IT WORKED!!!! At first, it worked, but the front screen was messed up with lines and strange letters, but eventually it was, and still is, completely functional like new.

 

[Disney1976]

One of my friends has a bad habit of keeping his Blackberry in his front shirt pocket. Twice after he's stood up to flush the toilet, he's leaned over and well, you know...

Both times, he fished it out, took the back cover off, and battery out, and let things air dry. When it seemed dry enough, he put the battery back in, and it worked again.

I guess it didn't get that wet though, it wasn't in the toilet long before he "fished it out". Gross.

 

[Lstar311]

The rice works!! Don't use a hairdryer you will overheat and melt the battery.

 

[NotUrsula]

The key is removing the battery ASAP and drying it separately. The contacts will degrade if they are left wet for even a few hours. I also think it is best to remove the face plate if it comes off; a lot of water gets in around the keyboard buttons and settles underneath them.

 

[disneymarie]

Can anyone suggest a method that they used to dry out a cell phone? My daughter is doing a science project and we do not have enough cell phones to experiment with each method (rice, hair dryer, pantyhose with silica, etc.) We are looking for some feedback on tried methods (whether they be successful or failed attempts).

Thanks so much!!!

She could do her research by personal interview method to gather statistics for the methods used and results from DISers.

We had an LG 3500 and it went in the toilet. I took out the battery. The battery has a wet indicator on it. Get a new one.
Then let the phone lay on its face down. I just let it air dry. For a few to several days.

For three past disers, one and LG and one unknown they did the same thing. One went through the washer and dryer, the other was dropped outside and left in the rain.

All bought new batteries and dried the phones. They were back to work.

I would use the hypothosis: Cell phones that receive water damage are salvagable if dried as soon as possible and the battery is replaced.

Then use colums of phone brand, Battery indicator wet affected how long left to dry. Reslults with original battery, and with another battery.

If she has about 5 -6 people she interviews which on here she should get more with a posting like this, gather the information.

Check with the research on the makers sites too for their instructions for equipment that is wet.

So make a hypothosis, gather equipment, collect data, analyze the data and draw a conclusion.

That is an A +++ project for sure!
di

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I had an LG phone that got knocked off into the kitchen sink. I retrieved it - took out the battery and let the phone and the battery dry separately for about 2 days. That was over a year ago and the phone still works perfectly!!

 

[gallafamily]

I have witnessed several firefighters lose cell phones in water. We have learned if you take the battery off the cell phone & place them both seperately in the refrigerator, that is a dehumidifier & that it truly helps remove the water from the battery & the phone. Has worked wonders!

Just a suggestion.

 

[agnes!]

I know that this isn't truly scientific, but you could always Google the issue. Also, you can put up a poll here on the DIS & that would have some statistics associated with it.

agnes!

 

[katiebug86]

One time I let my phone in my jean pocket and washed it in the washing machine and dried it in the dryer. After coming out of the dryer it worked perfectly! (It smelled nice too)

 

[nicki.momof3]

After it gets wet DO not turn it on. Bury it in clumping kitty litter and it will putt the moisture out. I have heard from a friend that it works. Good luck