Saving a wet phone or tablet

I've heard otherwise directly from a repair/tech guy.
If you drop your phone in water it is vital that it stays wet, otherwise the drying process will leave some kind of residue (can't remember which one he mentioned) which makes it impossible to rescue the device without replaceing hardware.

My wife dropped her phone in the dishwasher without noticing and turned on the machine. she noticed it when she emptied the machine later (long program with drying at the end).

I'm gonna guess that the device is frakked.

Snowy...everyone I've ever spoken with (including tech folks) said, "Turn it off, immediately! If it's off, it can't short out."

As for residue? If it's syrup (coke or the like) not good. There's no real way to get it out. Also, if it's the toilet...I'd say get a new phone since it's gonna turn out "crappy" no matter what (and the germs? yuck).

Salt water, etc.? You can try rinsing with increasing pure alcohol concentrations...no real, reliable help out there, but I'd plan on a new phone. You can let your best repair guy play with it...probably it's a loss, though.

Main issue with keeping it wet so as to do a slow dry....is if it's on...aka current/shorting/etc.  If there's no battery connected then remaining wet for a length of time isn't going to be an issue.

Slow, 'natural ' drying via silica is the way to go....as like leather boots in front of a fire...NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! try speeding the process with heat.

I'd definitely mop up any water/liquid I could as silica gel has a limited capacity. 

How about putting it in a bowl covered with rice?

SJN - That doesn't work...rice isn't hygroscopic enough. Silica gel (when absolutely dry is...

The real problem is that no one has done a really well designed experiment to test. What we're left with is anecdotal reports...

Sounds like a good way to go.  i did, 2 years ago, 'save' a cell phone after swimming with it (accidentally) via the open it, disconnect sim/bat wipe out  and fan for 2 days.  It worked.  (Lucky, am I?)  About the residue, it may be the minerals / chemicals in the municipal water.  I note that when I boil a lot of water, i get a residue on the sides of the pot - same for cell?

My phone went in water and sand last year. Followed the steps Doc outlined except I used rice instead. Worked like a dream. When you don't have Silica gel Rice will do the job. So far no aftereffects. Nice thread DOC. Useful Info.

Just one word. Or more....

Liquipel or buy something else than that BS apple phone (like the next sony xperia Z2 or samsung galaxy S5)

Thanks, guys.

I suspect that in the cases in which rice worked, the water really didn't get into the device's guts...anyway, thanks for the interest and the tips.

For rice to work it MUST be [with the device] sealed in an airtight bag [and raw, naturally]...;)

When it comes to substitutes for Silica gel, if your in the southern states of the USA, try grits instead of rice. They will do a better job since they absorb 3 times as much water than rice does.

It's a regional thing though since I doubt you can buy them anywhere else.

"What's a grit?"  

I'd call BS on you not knowing what a grit is if it wasn't for the JK emotion.  

Now my turn...What's a ute?

This is a ute....

that'll outperform pretty much anything else on four wheels.

But not the original Utes on their original utes... (yeah, I know it's short for utility vehicle, but I couldn't resist).

Snow...I know you have a 'thing' for utes...but trust me....they handle like shit.  You are FAR better off with the ute's 'sensible' stable mate....the normal bloody sedan...;)

Remember....I'm talking from the country that invented 'utes'....and have seen what they try to pass off as 'ute racing' [usually as a support event at real racing].

Chuck a big V8 in anything and it'll go....but when it has the mechanical sophistication of a doll's pram....it'll bite you in the knackers soon enough....;)

....come to think of it....chuck the V8 in a bucket of grits.....and it'll be a better ve-hick-ul ....;)

Oh, the V8 Monaro VXR Bathurst I would pick over any car, hands down!

I was going to suggest that, but thanks for the tip. 

How about another question.  Most people do not leave the silica gel packs lying around. But they do make a new type of kitty litter that is basically the silica without the packs..  Would they work?

Elana - are you really my wife?

She did the same thing.

And thanks to the reference to My Cousin Vinny.  One of my favorites.  Especially Marissa Tormei!

No, not your wife.  I'm the twin sister she never knew she had!     Great minds think alike!