Dropping your phone in water is a heart-stopping moment. Whether it's the pool, the toilet, a cup of coffee, or the Mediterranean Sea, what you do in the first few minutes can make the difference between a full recovery and a dead device.
Step 1: Get It Out Immediately
Every second counts. Retrieve your phone from the water as fast as possible. The longer it's submerged, the more water seeps into internal components.
Step 2: Turn It Off — NOW
This is the most critical step. If your phone is still on, power it off immediately. Do NOT try to charge it, do NOT press buttons to test it, and do NOT try to turn it on to check if it still works. Short circuits happen when electricity meets water, and they can permanently destroy components.
Step 3: Remove What You Can
- Remove the SIM card and SIM tray
- Remove any case or cover
- Remove screen protectors if they're trapping water underneath
- If you have a phone with a removable battery (rare now), remove it
Step 4: Do NOT Put It in Rice
Rice does NOT work. This is one of the biggest myths in phone repair. Rice doesn't absorb moisture from inside your phone effectively, and worse, tiny starch particles and rice dust can get into your ports and speakers, causing additional damage. Professional repair technicians have to clean rice residue out of phones constantly.
Step 5: Do NOT Use a Hair Dryer
Excessive heat can melt adhesives, warp components, and push water deeper into the phone. Let your phone air dry with ports facing down, or better yet — take it to a professional.
Step 6: Bring It to a Professional — Fast
Time is the enemy with water damage. Corrosion starts within hours, and within 24–48 hours, it can become irreversible. At Phone Master in Ħamrun, Malta, we use ultrasonic cleaning to remove all traces of water and minerals from every component on the board.
Our water damage recovery rate is over 80% when the device is brought in within the first few hours.
What Does Professional Water Damage Repair Involve?
- Full disassembly — Every component is carefully removed
- Ultrasonic bath — Specialized cleaning solution removes water, minerals, and early corrosion
- Board inspection — Under microscope, we check for damaged components
- Component repair — Damaged ICs and connectors are replaced
- Reassembly and testing — Device is reassembled and tested thoroughly
Prevention Tips
- Use a waterproof case if you're near water
- Keep your phone away from the edge of sinks, pools, and bathtubs
- Remember: IP ratings degrade over time — your "water resistant" phone may not be as protected as you think
- Regular backups ensure your data is safe no matter what happens
If your phone has suffered water damage, don't wait — book an emergency repair or walk into Phone Master at 43 Triq il-Kappillan Mifsud, Ħamrun.
