Putting your toilet phone in rice doesn't fix it
- David Moore
- Jun 24, 2019
- 2 min read
Many of your well-meaning friends will tell you to put your phone in rice...or the freezer...or some other hokie substance...in an attempt to save it after a swim.
It isn't hard to look at a modern phone and surmise that this is just wishful thinking.
They are expensive so who wouldn't wish for a simple and cheap fix?
Besides, look at them....how would water get in anyway?
Well, the phone is dead so water has got in. Getting it out is a whole other story. Getting the water out before it causes damage is impossible.
Jessa Jones, an expert on repairing phones and the like, is quoted here and writes about this myth:
Corrosion is instant when a phone hits water. Sometimes the corrosion hits important components, sometimes not. If we resist turning the phone on until it dries on the counter, in the rice bag, or anywhere else, sometimes we get lucky. If we had the phone in the rice bag, we think the rice saved the phone. But it didn’t! Even if the phone seems to be working, it will have oxidized solder joints that are weakened and brittle. Corrosion will continue to spread inside the phone. We have done nothing but experienced temporary luck.
If you don't have the skills or the special tools then your best bet is to get the phone to a repair shop ASAP BEFORE you are temped to try turning it on...but I guess it is too late for that right?
You've already tried turning it on because that IS how you know it is dead. Oh well.
If you want to have a crack at fixing it yourself it is possible.
The iFixit web site outlines the procedure in detail and, naturally, sell you the tools to do the job the properly and as easily as possible.
iFixit is all about the "repairer" movement and customer's right to repair (as opposed to throw away).
iFixit is a great resource towards fixing anything you want fixed.
P.S. I once fixed my electric toothbrush and beefed it up with a bigger battery. It cost me about $10 as opposed to having to replace it for stupid money.
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