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What to Do When You Spill Water on Your Laptop or Phone
Spilling water on a laptop or smartphone by accident can be a nightmare. Water damage may result in severe problems like loss of screen or battery functions and damage to internal parts. But there are some immediate things you can do to minimize the damage and improve your chances of being able to salvage your device.
Here’s a step-by-step rundown on how to respond when water gets into your laptop or phone:
Take Device Out of Service Right Away
Turn off the device as soon as you can. When water gets inside both smartphones and laptops, they short-circuit, so the first thing to do is to turn them off to prevent further damage to the internal components.
Laptop: Disconnect from any power source. If the device is not responding, please press and hold the power button for 10-15 seconds to force the device to shut down.
PHONES: Power off your smartphone right away to minimize damage to its internal circuits.
Disconnect External Devices and Accessories
Power down your device and unplug any peripherals, including:
An outside keyboard, mouse, or USB drives (for laptop computers)
Headset, charging cable, or memory cards (for phones)
This stops the waters from working their way across parts of the device and the other way too, protecting external devices from the water as well.
Dry the Exterior
After fixing the device, turning it off, and removing all accessories, now comes the turn to dry the outer body of the device to keep the further liquid to get seeped into the internal parts.
Phone: Using a microfiber cloth or a soft towel, gently wipe down the surface of your phone, including the screen, back and edges. Just make sure not to rub too hard, as this can force the water further in.
Laptop: With a clean, dry hand towel, wipe down the keyboard, screen and ports. Compressed air: If you have it, use it to delicately blow off any excess water near the keyboard or device ports.
Drain the Water (For Phones)
If water has gotten into a phone with a removable battery (which is not too common these days), remove the battery as soon as possible.
For devices that do not have removable batteries, try holding the phone in a downward position, allowing gravity to help drain excess water from the device.
Shake the phone softly to help free any water trapped inside ports or openings.
Use Silica Gel or Rice (Optional but Effective)
Putting your device in a bag of rice or using silica gel packets helps absorb any remaining moisture from the device. The rice technique is more or less, one of the common methods, where silica gel is a little more effective in moisture absorption.
Put your phone or laptop in a bag with multiple silica gel packets. Or bury it in a container of uncooked rice. Submerge the device fully, the device alone, with no moisture around it.
Step 10: Leave the device in this setup for at least 24-48 hours. Refrain from activating device during this duration to prevent short circuiting.
Avoid Using Heat Sources
And while the first instinct might be to blast-dry your device with a hairdryer or place it in the oven, this is a bad idea. Internal components are very sensitive to temperature extremes and prolonged exposure to high heat can lead to devastating effects, especially on the battery, screen, and motherboard.
Do not try to speed up the drying process using hairdryers, ovens or microwaves. Instead, allow the device to air dry in a cool, dry environment.
Inspect for Damage Before Powering It Up
Leave your device to dry out for 24-48 hours before turning it back on. The longer you wait, the better the odds are that the moisture will have evaporated completely.
Do not switch on the device yet, look for signs of water damage, hold the phone up, and:
Condensation Between The Screen Or Back Panel
Rust or discoloration around the charging port or buttons
Uncommon sounds or smells when you turn on the power
If you notice any signs of moisture or corrosion, it’s advisable to call a professional technician to evaluate the damage.
Power On the Device
After you’ve waited long enough, turn on your device and see if it works.
For laptops, make sure the keyboard and touchpad respond. If lad is the issue, try plugging it in to make sure the battery functions. You should also check for display, sound and general functionality.
For phones: Test the touchscreen, buttons, camera and charging port. In this regard, ensure that your battery is tested in such a way that it charges correctly and holds its power.
If you’re reading this and everything seems to work OK, your device probably has escaped major damage. If not, now is the time to move on to the next step.
Seek Professional Help
If your device is still not functioning as expected after trying the above-mentioned steps, your device might have suffered internal damage. Moisture can get in there, which may not be visible at the time but can be a long-term problem.
For Laptops: Have a professional technician perform a hardware inspection of your laptop. The problem may include the motherboard or keyboard, which are not easy to repair without the help of a professional service.
Phones: Go to a certified repair center or service provider to check the internal parts. Technicians can get inside the device, clean any internal components and reinstall or replace damaged ones.
Prevent Future Water Damage
Though accidents happen, it’s a good idea to take steps to limit water damage in the future:
Get a water resistant case for your phone.
Make sure you keep liquids a distance from your laptop or phone, as it might get spilled over accidentally.
If you want more protection, consider a keyboard cover or a laptop sleeve.
Conclusion
Water damage to your phone or laptop can seem like a crisis, but by acting quickly and following these steps you can improve your chances of saving your device a great deal. Keep in mind that time is critical with water exposure. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to contact someone who can help to stop any further damage.
Root around for your device, and keep a schedule.