Dropping your phone in water is one of those moments where time slows down and your brain starts negotiating. “It was only in there for a second.” “It still turns on, so it’s fine.” “If I just let it sit overnight, it’ll dry out.”
Here’s the truth: the first few minutes matter more than the next few days. The goal isn’t to “dry it faster.” The goal is to stop electricity from moving through places it shouldn’t, and to avoid pushing moisture deeper inside the device.
If your phone takes a swim, the best move is to power it off immediately. Not “let me check if it still works” off. Off-off. Every tap, vibration, and attempt to charge increases the chance of a short. If it already shut off on its own, don’t try to revive it. That’s not a challenge; that’s the phone asking for mercy.
Next, remove what you can. Case off. If your phone has a removable SIM tray, pop it out. If it has any accessories connected, disconnect them. Then gently dry the outside with a clean cloth and let gravity help you. Keep ports facing down so water isn’t encouraged to settle inside.
The biggest mistake we see is charging. People think, “If it charges, it’s okay.” Charging is one of the fastest ways to turn a manageable water issue into a bigger repair, because the charging port is basically an invitation for moisture to meet power. If you remember one thing from this post, let it be this: do not plug it in.
Another common move is heat. Hair dryers, heaters, car vents, ovens, “just a little warmth”… all risky. Heat can warp seals, soften adhesives, and push moisture into places it hasn’t reached yet. The outside may feel dry while the inside stays damp, and that’s where corrosion starts quietly doing damage over time.
And yes, we have to talk about rice. Rice is better at attracting pantry bugs than it is at saving electronics. It doesn’t remove moisture from inside the phone effectively, and it can introduce dust and tiny particles into ports and openings that create new problems. If you need a place to rest your phone, somewhere dry with good airflow is better than burying it in dinner ingredients.
Sometimes the phone will “seem fine” for a day or two, then start acting weird. That’s corrosion doing its slow thing. You might notice random reboots, a speaker that suddenly sounds muffled, charging that becomes inconsistent, or a screen that starts flickering. Those are the warning signs that the water didn’t leave cleanly.
If you’re in the Lee’s Summit area and your phone got wet, reach out to Summit Phone Repair as soon as you can. The earlier it’s checked, the better the odds of preventing long-term damage. Even if it looks normal today, a quick evaluation can save you from the surprise meltdown later.