Drop Your Phone In Water? This Quick Fix Is Even Better Than Rice
July 17, 2019
source: Whatswithjeff Tech News
If you’ve ever dropped your phone in water, you’re certainly not alone. Maybe someone thought it would be funny to push you in a pool, not knowing that your phone was in your pocket. Maybe you got caught unawares in a torrential downpour and there was just no chance to protect your phone. Or the worst possible outcome — you’ve heard that horrifying “plop” of your phone falling into the toilet.
If any of these things have happened to you, you’ve likely gone straight for the white rice. And although rice is an effective way of absorbing water from your phone, it’s not necessarily the best way to save it.
According to Gazelle, silica gel (found in those little packages when you buy many common items) is your best bet. The little beads absorb water like nothing else, with the only downside being that you may not have enough of them (or any) on-hand. Thankfully, there’s a next-best solution.
Crystal cat litter has been shown to absorb great amounts of water when you bury your phone in it. I hope it goes without saying that you need to try this hack with fresh, unused litter… because yuck! Anyways, the crystals are super effective, and you can buy this type of cat litter pretty much anywhere.
If your phone does have water damage, Gazelle first recommends shaking, blowing, or vacuuming out as much water as possible before submerging it in silica beads or crystal cat litter. The more days you are able to leave the phone submerged in whatever product you choose, the better chance it has of surviving.
Gazelle also revealed that couscous, instant oatmeal, and classic oatmeal seem to dry phones out better and faster than rice does. So if this unfortunate circumstance happens to you, you’ve got some options!
As with anything, your best bet for protecting your phone from water damage is to practice prevention. Invest in a waterproof case, or easier, leave your phone far away from pools, lakes, and your back pocket (especially when going to use the washroom!). However, if your phone does suffer water damage, just remember these simple hacks before thinking that all hope is lost.