iPhone dropped in water HELP!

macko420 · Apr 7, 2014

Bob dropped his phone in water today (don't ask!) Anyway, we put it in a bag of rice but think we should remove the battery too. It looks a little difficult. And the YouTube I watched recommended 'special' tiny tools which we don't have.
Does anyone have any experience with this? What are the odds it will work again??? We got the phones last Oct and I bought a Square trade warranty on my own for them. Do you think they will replace the phone? Thanks in advance :doh:

pjrose · Apr 7, 2014

macko420 said:
Bob dropped his phone in water today (don't ask!) Anyway, we put it in a bag of rice but think we should remove the battery too. It looks a little difficult. And the YouTube I watched recommended 'special' tiny tools which we don't have.
Does anyone have any experience with this? What are the odds it will work again??? We got the phones last Oct and I bought a Square trade warranty on my own for them. Do you think they will replace the phone? Thanks in advance

Whether the warranty will replace the phone depends on its terms - whether it covers accidental damage. Some (NSSI) does, most don't.

I have revived three phones (not iPhones) this way:

1. take apart the phone as much as you can, remove battery, cover, and anything else.

2. pour rubbing alcohol in a bowl or pan, and swish the phone and its parts through the alcohol (the alcohol displaces the water and evaporates more quickly than water, and also kills the yuckies if need be)

3. shake, shake, shake, to get out as much water/alcohol as you can

4. lay the phone and parts out under a bright light to speed evaporation. shake and rearrange periodically. Optional - put in a warm oven no more than 100 degrees for awhile, maybe a half hour. shake shake shake. keep it in bright light for a few days.

5. when there is no more obvious liquid shaking out of it, put it in a zip bag with some of those packets that come in shoes and purses to prohibit moisture. It might take a few days of that. These packets work far better than rice.

macko420 · Apr 7, 2014

Thanks PJ Rose! I can't get it apart though. I think we have accidental coverage but it is still under Apple's warranty too. I guess I need to look into that too and see what they recommend.

55plus · Apr 7, 2014

Take the phone apart as much as you can and cover it with rice in a container then cover the container.

ace2000 · Apr 7, 2014

morrisjim said:
Take the phone apart as much as you can and cover it with rice in a container then cover the container.

+1 That worked for us. You can use either tupperware container or a ziploc bag to contain the rice. Good luck OP.

csxjohn · Apr 7, 2014

What ever you do, don't try to turn it off or on or touch any buttons, that may cause you to short everything out.

If the rice fails, do like a friend of mine did. She washed her phone with her jeans and the rice did not work. She put it back in a pair of jeans and ran it through the dryer and it worked fine after that.

I don't recommend this if you do have insurance that may cover the phone.

I took mine (non-smart phone) into the hot tub with me for about 3 seconds before I remembered it was in my pocket. I could not recover it or the battery but I did hit a button before I tried to dry it out. I ended up buying one like it on eBay.

Passepartout · Apr 7, 2014

DW did the rice trick. It sort of worked a couple of days after, but lost some functions. When she turned it off it wouldn't restart. It was out of warranty and eligible to upgrade, so she re-upped into a new phone.

Clemson Fan · Apr 7, 2014

About 6-9 months ago our 3 y/o tried to flush one of our iPhone 5's. It was completely dead. I put it in a pot of rice and left it there for 4-5 days. I didn't take it apart or anything. When I finally took it out I tried charging it and it charged up and turned on just fine. It's been working well since. So, yes there is hope.

Sandi Bo · Apr 7, 2014

+1 on the rice (worked for me (but wasn't an i5)). Also worked for coffee spillled on the keyboard of my laptop (although the tech at work was not impressed when I needed help cleaning the rice out of the keyboard).

macko420 · Apr 7, 2014

OK, thanks - going to ramp up the rice and dessicant (sp?) treatment and call Square Trade to see what they say. My son says they will just sent a new one but we need to keep any cards that are in it. I have no idea on either count there!!

Ironwood · Apr 7, 2014

Don't give up on the phone even if it shows no life after several days. My son slipped off the end of a slippery dock about four summers ago with his IPhone 4 in his pocket. He said he was in the water maybe 10 seconds but it was enough to do it. Tried rice, hair dryer and after about 10 days.....still nothing. Meantime he got himself a new phone. I said don't throw it away, bring it home next time you come back. I put it in an upper shelf of a wall unit, in warmer air, left it for about 4 months, charged it and eureka.....it worked. It became my phone for a year until it began loosing it's charge prematurely and I got something new. It was never quite the same, but it did me well for a year after he had abandoned it.

Helaine · Apr 7, 2014

Apple's warranty specifically does not cover water damage. Square Trade's website says they do.

I used the rice trick on an iPhone for about 5 days and it worked, but, as said above, do not turn your phone on or off or touch the buttons for at least 5 days.

Good luck!

macko420 · Apr 7, 2014

I don't suppose there is anyway to check your voicemail if your phone isn't working is there??

csxjohn · Apr 7, 2014

macko420 said:
I don't suppose there is anyway to check your voicemail if your phone isn't working is there??

There are ways but it depends on your carrier. I don't remember the details right now but if I call my number from another phone and put in a code I can retrieve the messages.

Give your carrier a call and they will tell you how.

Helaine · Apr 7, 2014

With some phone companies you can call your cellphone number from another phone and enter your PIN number to get your messages.

macko420 · Apr 7, 2014

Ok thanks.....making a list of phone calls to make after work!

Patri · Apr 7, 2014

csxjohn said:
If the rice fails, do like a friend of mine did. She washed her phone with her jeans and the rice did not work. She put it back in a pair of jeans and ran it through the dryer and it worked fine after that.

That is just crazy. How would she even think of that?

csxjohn · Apr 7, 2014

Patri said:
That is just crazy. How would she even think of that?

When all else fails you need to think outside the box. I tried it with mine and it did not help.

HatTrick · Apr 7, 2014

macko420 said:
Ok thanks.....making a list of phone calls to make after work!

For $60 your next phone can be protected from water and other liquids.

http://www.liquipel.com

Clemson Fan · Apr 7, 2014

HatTrick said:
For $60 your next phone can be protected from water and other liquids.

http://www.liquipel.com

Leo Laporte got that treatment on an iPhone and tested it out by putting his phone in a glass of water. It killed his iPhone and he doesn't recommend that treatment.

Passepartout · Apr 7, 2014

IMNSHO, Insurance is more effective than any treatments.

NoeGirl160 · Apr 7, 2014

Dropped my iPhone5 in the pool at Hilton Waikoloa, and spent a good hour shaking out the water before getting back to our room and the rice at Kingsland. After a day, it came back to life. Our Au pair washed her iPod, and it revived after a week plus. So, there's hope! Good luck...

HatTrick · Apr 7, 2014

Clemson Fan said:
Leo Laporte got that treatment on an iPhone and tested it out by putting his phone in a glass of water. It killed his iPhone and he doesn't recommend that treatment.

Ian Hamilton with OC Unwired (Orange County Register) had a different experience.

http://www.ocregister.com/video/c/1125901233/latest/1648296157001/news-business-cell

Clemson Fan · Apr 8, 2014

Here's the link for Leo Laportes failed liquipel test.

http://www.waterproofiphone.info/liquipel-does-not-waterproof-your-iphone/

Keep in mind that he has 10 million listeners, so you have to figure they probably tried to do the best job on his iphone knowing he would probably test it on the air.

Also, if you look at their website, they offer no guarantees of anything.

macko420 · Apr 8, 2014

Talk to Squaretrade last night. They say it's covered but there is $100 deductible. That was what the phone cost with a new contract anyway! But we are not currently eligible for new contract yet. However I think I'm going to invest in one of those OtterBox waterproof cases for him to avoid this in the future!

iPhone dropped in water HELP!

macko420

pjrose

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

macko420

55plus

ace2000

csxjohn

TUG Review Crew: Expert

Passepartout

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Clemson Fan

Sandi Bo

macko420

Ironwood

Helaine

macko420

csxjohn

TUG Review Crew: Expert

Helaine

macko420

Patri

Tug Review Crew

csxjohn

TUG Review Crew: Expert

HatTrick

Clemson Fan

Passepartout

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NoeGirl160

HatTrick

Clemson Fan

macko420