Did you accidentally drop your phone in water and need to know how to remove corrosion from water damaged phone? You have come to the right article because we got you!
No good thing will happen when your phone and any other electronic devices come in contact with water. Mild to severe damages will occur, and in the worst-case scenario, you may end up losing your phone.
What is corrosion, and what does it do to your phone?
Corrosion is one of the reasons why electronics and water just don’t mix. It is the gradual breakdown of material, typically metal, due to a chemical reaction between the material and its environment.
The most encountered form of corrosion happens when metal (line your phone’s components) is combined with oxygen and water. It results in the formation of iron oxide, more commonly called rust.
Depending on the severity of water damage and humidity levels, corrosion may occur a few hours or even days after the encounter. Other factors like the duration of your phone submerged in water and how it is made significantly affect the time frame of damage occurrence.
Removing Corrosion From Your Phone After Water Damage
Cleaning corroded electronics, like your phone, requires utmost care. Not only can you worsen the damage, but you can also create harm to yourself.
It is advisable that average customers should not attempt repairing devices without professional assistance. However, here are a few tips that may be helpful in dealing with corrosion on water damaged devices:
Step #1. Remove any batteries, power supplies, and power connectors first
In order to prevent short circuits and any harm to you, you must remove any batteries and power supplies, and connectors first. Doing this will also help you discover more connectors that also got corroded.
Step #2. Inspect your phone for any white or green “crusty” areas
Take a closer look at your device and spot any white or green crusty areas on charging ports, battery connectors, logic boards, circuit boards, SIM card connectors, and other major metal connectors in your device.
Step #3. Clean the corrosion away
Prepare cotton swabs saturated with a cleaning solution like isopropyl alcohol, vinegar, or baking soda and water. Use them to gently apply the solution onto the affected areas.
Wipe the corrosion back and forth until it is removed. If the damage looks like it needs more, you can try leaving an amount of the solution in the area for some time before wiping it away later.
Step #4. Dry your phone
The last step is to dry your phone using a soft cloth or a hairdryer in a cool setting, as you should never use heat to dry your device. Make sure that it is completely dry before putting the batteries and attempting to turn it on to avoid further damage.
Quick response tips to save your water damaged phone
You have no second to waste when it comes to trying to save your phone that just swam into the water. Here are some emergency responses you have to put in your mind:
- Take your phone out of the water immediately and turn it off.
- Wipe it clean with a microfiber cloth and use gloves if necessary.
- Dry the phone as thoroughly as possible.
- Remove the battery (if removable), SIM card, and earphones/headphones.
- Sit your phone upright if you cannot remove the battery.
You can also check out this guide on how to back up water damaged phone for more helpful tips.
Things you should never do in case your phone has water damage
These things may seem really odd to do, but some people actually do these. However, reminding you not to do the same won’t hurt.
- Drying your phone in the microwave.
- Putting a water damaged phone in the freezer.
- Using heat to dry your phone.
- Putting your phone near a radiator.
Practical tips to prevent phone water damage
Dropping our phones is something that usually happens. In more unfortunate events, we happen to do it beside a water source, so here are some tips to take note of:
- Get your phone a waterproof case, or you can even get a water-resistant phone. We suggest you read this article on what phone can be fixed when water damaged to get some ideas.
- Always be mindful of your surroundings. Avoid using or placing your phones in areas near a water source.
- Avoid texting in the toilet. It is a very common scenario to drop phones in toilets, so the best way to prevent it is not to do it.
Conclusion
Lucky are those who can still save their phones even after letting them submerged in water for a while. Unlucky are those who tried their best to save theirs and even ended up creating more damage and losing their phones totally.
Although you now have an idea of how to remove corrosion from water damaged phone, it is still best to get professional help. This is especially true when you don’t know exactly what you are doing and if you are not confident enough to do it.