Articles Tagged ‘rice’

How to Dry out a Phone

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We at Puritan Flood Restoration specialize in drying out commercial and residential properties. Inevitably, we come across questions about how to dry out a cell phone. Here are some tips about how to save your phone and not break the bank.

Let’s say you or a friend has dropped his or her phone in the pool or left it out in the rain.

After the initial panic you may find yourself blowing air on it or using a hairdryer. Some may even put it in their oven for thirty seconds – don’t do this. If your phone was on, then immediately turn it off and resist the urge to turn it on for a few days. We don’t want it to short circuit.

The oldest trick in the book is to submerge your phone in a bag rice for two or three days. This method could lead to complications because if the rice absorbs a lot of water then you may find your phone covered in wet and messy rice. Place a napkin or paper towel over your phone before you try this technique.

While this trick has proven to be effective from time to time there are more efficient options.

Instead of using rice, try using desiccant pouches. Desiccants are hygroscopic substances used as drying agents. They are found when you order a new pair of shoes, a hard drive, cooking supplies, and a lot of other goods. Begin saving these and storing them in a sealed container. Place your soaked phone in the container for about twenty-four hours. You will now have a way to dry out your phone better than most commercial options, and the best part is it’s free.

If you are unable to find any desiccant pouches, a nearby grocery or pet store is likely to have silica gel in the pet aisle. Silica gel is a type of desiccant that is commonly used for cat litter. Who knew cat litter could save your phone?