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How do you fix a cell phone after it gets wet? Most of us have experienced the frustration of dropping our cell phone in water or another liquid or spilling something on our cell phone. Fortunately if you follow these simple steps, you may be able to save your cell phone.

Most cell phone makers and service providers don't cover replacement phones for phones that have water damage. In fact on the inside of most phones under the battery, there is usually a white circle, when wet the circle changes color permanently to show that water damage has occurred. So you want to do everything you can to save your cell phone, because buying a new phone can be costly.

Turn it off - As soon as you've gotten your cell phone wet, turn it off immediately. Try to gently wipe off any liquid on the surfaces of the phone too.

Take it apart - Water damage can ruin the battery first, so be sure to remove the battery right away. If your phone can be taken apart more, such as taking out the SIM card, removing the back or faceplate, and so forth do that as well. Gently wipe each piece down with a paper towel. You may gently shake the phone itself to get excess water out, but do so carefully.

Air dry only- Once you've gotten excess water out of your phone and have the battery removed, air dry the phone only. Place all the parts on a flat surface on a paper towel and allow it to air dry completely. This may take a while, but air drying is the safest way to fix your phone after getting it wet. Do not try to dry your phone with a blow dryer, a common mistake done by man, as this can cause the inside circuitry to become brittle and break. Using a hair dryer to dry out the phone can also damage the screen, damage the battery, crack the casing, and ruin the wiring of the phone.

Also this should be common sense, but avoid putting your phone in the microwave, oven, dryer, or any other high heat device in an attempt to dry it. Doing so can cause the battery to explode. Air dry only after wiping down with a paper towel.

Sticky liquids - If you've spilled something like soda or beer on your cell phone, it can leave sticky residue inside and on your cell phone. This can be hard to fix as you can't get all the liquid out once it dries up. You can however use a slightly damp paper towel to wipe down the battery and external parts of the phone. Make sure the paper towel is not dripping water, and wipe down the phone gently. At the very least, if the phone works after being wet, your cell phone buttons won't stick.

Getting your cell phone wet can damage some or all parts and features of your cell phone. Fully submerging your phone in a liquid, like accidently going into a pool with it in your pocket or dropping it in the toilet, often times leaves the phone useless and dead. Spills are easier to save your phone from as you can usually get the phone dried off before the liquids have a chance to get to the circuitry inside the phone. Also it is important to realize that even if your phone functions normally after getting wet; this might be short lived. Some phones work great after being dried, only to go dead a few hours or days after getting wet.

Hopefully this advice will help you fix your cell phone if it gets wet and it is always worth a shot to try and fix the cell phone before you resort to purchasing a new one.

Learn more about this author, Maxwell Payne.
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