Rice, cotton or hairdryer: what not to do if your phone falls into water

When a cell phone falls in waterfallthe owner tries to do everything in his power to remedy the situation by intervening as soon as possible with the aim of preventing the damage from worsening further: …

Rice, cotton or hairdryer: what not to do if your phone falls into water

When a cell phone falls in waterfallthe owner tries to do everything in his power to remedy the situation by intervening as soon as possible with the aim of preventing the damage from worsening further: there are those who dismantle the appliance immediately to avoid stagnation and then uses the hairdryer from a safe distance and those who directly immerse the phone in the rice, convinced that we can rely on its moisture absorption function. Nothing could be more wrong, according to Apple, which provides advice to iPhone owners, dispelling the myth of some of the most popular remedies online.

Not only. In the support document provided on its online portal, the Cupertino giant clearly explains that these are actions to be categorically avoided, since they can generate even greater damage: nothing rice, cotton or hairdryertherefore, if you want to save your cell phone.

But why rice? The cereal is often placed in salt shakers with the aim of preventing the formation of annoying lumps, but it has always been considered a quick, practical and economical method for generally absorbing thehumidity and for this reason it is also used to try to save various types of electronic devices that have inadvertently ended up soaking in water. According to what Apple reported in its support document, however, this would be an even more harmful practice for devices. “Don’t put your iPhone in a bag full of rice”we read in the document, “if you do, small particles could damage it.” These small fragments of cereal could then enter the cracks and ports of the phone and cause further damage, but this is not the only DIY remedy contested by the Cupertino giant.

Road blocked hairdryer And air compressorswhich are generally used to dissipate humidity, as well as others cotton, used to dab damp or wet parts. In some cases, the practice of using the microwave oven in the most desperate cases had even found space on the web, but in this case Apple makes no mention of it.

The best course of action if your cell phone ends up in water, despite the fact that the latest models have greater resistance, is to place the electronic device in vertical and give small blows with the palm of your hand to facilitate the escape of the drops from inside. After that, the smartphone should simply be kept for at least half an hour, always in a vertical position, in a dry and well-ventilated environment. Once this is done, insert the charging cable: if the system notifies the presence of liquid thanks to its internal sensor, then it is best to wait again, leaving the phone in the same position even for a whole day. If the subsequent tests with the cable also fail, it is a good idea to take the mobile phone directly for assistance.