It happens fast. One moment your phone is fine, the next it's in the sink, the toilet, or face-down in a puddle. What you do in the next 30 minutes can be the difference between a full recovery and a write-off.
Most people reach for the rice. Don't. Here's what actually works — and what makes things worse.
Do This Immediately
1. Turn it off right now
If the phone is still on, power it off immediately. Water and electricity are a bad combination — leaving the phone on while wet increases the chance of a short circuit that permanently damages the logic board. Don't tap around the screen. Just hold the power button and turn it off.
2. Remove the case and SIM tray
Cases trap water against the phone. Remove it. Then use a SIM tool or a pin to eject the SIM tray — this opens a small path for water to escape and air to circulate.
3. Dry the outside gently with a cloth
Pat — don't rub — the phone dry with a lint-free cloth or tissue. Pay attention to the charging port, speaker grilles, and buttons. Tilt the phone in different orientations to encourage water to run out of the openings.
4. Bring it to a repair shop as soon as possible
This is the most important step. The longer water sits inside a phone, the more corrosion it causes. Even if the phone seems to be working, water damage often causes delayed failures — a phone that works fine today can stop working in a week once corrosion has had time to spread across the board.
At Voltrex in Clapham Junction, we'll open the phone, inspect the board for water damage indicators and corrosion, clean the internals where needed, and let you know honestly whether it can be saved.
What NOT to Do
Don't put it in rice
The rice myth is everywhere, but it's been thoroughly debunked. Rice doesn't absorb moisture efficiently from inside a phone — it absorbs moisture from the air around the phone. Meanwhile, you're wasting time while corrosion is progressing inside. Rice also leaves starch dust that can get into ports and cause additional problems.
Silica gel packets (the "Do Not Eat" packets you get in shoe boxes) are better, but still not a substitute for proper professional treatment.
Don't charge it
Applying power to a wet phone is the fastest way to cause a short circuit and permanent damage. Even if it looks dry on the outside, there may be water inside near the charging port or battery connector. Wait until a technician has confirmed it's safe.
Don't use a hairdryer
Heat can push water further into the phone and warp internal components. It can also damage the display, the battery, and the adhesive seals that help with water resistance. Don't do it.
Don't press buttons repeatedly
Every time you press a button or tap the screen, you're potentially forcing water further into connectors and gaps. Keep interaction with the phone to a minimum after it gets wet.
What About "Waterproof" Phones?
Many modern phones — iPhone 12 and newer, Samsung Galaxy S series — carry an IP67 or IP68 water resistance rating. This means they can survive being submerged in fresh water at a specific depth for a specific time. But there are important caveats:
- Water resistance degrades over time. A 2-year-old IP68 phone is not as water resistant as a new one.
- IP ratings are tested in fresh water. Salt water, pool water, and other liquids are more corrosive and not covered.
- Drops and physical damage can compromise the seals before water exposure.
- Water resistance is not covered by manufacturer warranties.
In short — don't rely on your IP rating to save you. If your phone gets wet, treat it with the same urgency regardless.
What Do Repair Technicians Actually Do?
When a water-damaged phone comes into our workshop in Clapham Junction, here's what we do:
- Open the phone and check the liquid damage indicator (a small sticker that turns red when wet)
- Inspect the logic board for visible corrosion or burned components
- Clean the board using isopropyl alcohol and soft brushes to remove mineral deposits from water
- Assess whether any components (charging IC, power management chip, etc.) need replacing
- Dry the phone fully before reassembly
- Test all functions — calls, charging, cameras, touch — before handing back
Not every water-damaged phone can be saved. If the logic board has suffered severe corrosion or a component has shorted, the repair may not be possible. But the sooner you bring it in, the higher the success rate.
The Short Version
Turn it off. Remove the case. Dry the outside. Bring it in as fast as possible. Don't use rice. Don't charge it. Don't use heat. Time is the critical factor — act fast and your chances of a full recovery are significantly higher.
Water damage? Come in now.
Walk straight to our counter — no appointment needed. The sooner you bring it in, the better the chance of saving it. Inside Clapham Junction Discount Store, SW11 1LJ.