How to dry out phones, music players and cameras, and keep them moisture free.

  One of the biggest enemies of electronic devices is moisture. Unfortunately, given the ever-increasing portability and popularity of smartphones, music players, cameras and tablet PCs, it seems all but certain that each of your vital tech tools will one day have a devastating encounter with H2O.

But all may not be lost even after your cell phone takes that free-fall into the toilet, or your iPod goes through the washing machine in the back pocket of your favorite jeans. There’s a chance — about 70 percent — that you’ll be able to completely dry the device and put it back to work within hours. In most cases, it won’t be quick, and you’ll have to be willing to make a bit of a mess. But you could save yourself a trip to the electronics store for a replacement.

Here’s how you can dry out wet smartphones, cameras and other electronic devices:


Basic Rescue Steps


Built-in water damage sensors change color if your phone has been damaged. But they can be very hard to see.

Although drying procedures for smartphones, music players, cameras and tablet PCs vary in certain ways, for the most part you would follow the same process for any of them upon major contact with water or other liquid:

Get it out of the water as soon as possible. An unprotected device has less than 30 seconds before water starts leaking into the hardware.
Remove the battery. As the power source, this is more likely to be damaged by water than the actual device, especially if the item was on when contact was made with the water.
Remove the memory and SIM cards if possible. Because in many cases your data is stored on these instead of the actual computer or phone, you’ll probably want to protect them as much as possible. Fortunately, they’re fairly durable, so you’ll be able to dry them initially with a cloth towel, then let them air dry for a day before reinserting.
Remove any covers and external connectors. This will open up as many gaps, slots and crevices as possible for drying, and help ensure that no moisture is trapped inside the device.
Remove any peripherals and set them aside to air-dry. This is especially true for very small devices as there’s not a lot you can do beyond this. Headphones, in particular, are tiny, but extremely water resistant, even capable of surviving multiple trips through a washing machine and dryer.
Look for signs of water damage. In the case of phones, manufacturers have placed a liquid damage indicator on the inside near where the battery sits. It’s normally a clear or striped pattern; if it’s a solid color (usually red or pink), you may have water damage.
Drying the Device


Uncooked rice is a classic drying tool for wet electronics as it soaks up excess moisture in a few hours.

Again, the process varies slightly based on the type of device, but most actions are the same be it an MP3 player or tablet:

Get the water out. Gently shake it out without dropping it, then use a cloth or paper towel to remove as much of the remaining water as possible.
Rinse carefully with fresh water. This is especially important if your device has fallen into salt water or muddy water.
Pat-dry the outside. Use a soft cloth towel to dry off the exterior of the unit. Do not use the towel on any lenses or screens as this can scratch them if dirt or sand particles are in the towel fibers. Instead, use a lens or microfiber cloth for these items.
Use a vacuum cleaner or hand vac if possible. This will draw residual moisture away from the circuitry. But don’t hold the vacuum too close or you’ll risk generating static electricity that could damage the device.
Try a can of compressed air. Carefully spray with the can straight up to release only air, not the freezing liquid. Aim it at the keys, crevices, microphone, speaker and any other openings to force excess liquid out.
Do a “dry soak.” Use a product with a high affinity for absorbing moisture, such as uncook