Dropped Your Phone in Water? Do These 5 Things in the Next 10 Minutes
The moment your phone hits water, every second counts. What you do in the next few minutes determines whether your phone survives or not. Here’s exactly what to do — and what not to do.
The First 5 Things to Do Immediately
Every additional second submerged increases water ingress. Grab it now.
If the phone is still on, turn it off right now. Water and live electricity cause short circuits that permanently damage the logic board. Do not wait to “check if it still works” — turn it off first.
Open the SIM tray and remove the card. Take off any case. These trap moisture against the phone body and slow drying.
Use a clean dry cloth or tissue. Gently pat the screen, ports and edges dry. Do not rub — this can push water further into ports.
The first few hours are critical. Corrosion on the logic board starts within hours of water exposure. Professional cleaning with isopropyl alcohol removes water and inhibits corrosion far more effectively than drying at home.
Don’t charge it — water in the charging port plus electricity causes immediate short circuit damage.
Don’t put it in rice — rice is a myth. It does not absorb water from inside the phone. It wastes time while corrosion progresses.
Don’t use a hair dryer — heat can damage internal components and push water further inside.
Don’t press buttons repeatedly — this pumps water further into the phone.
Does My Phone’s IP Rating Protect It?
IP67 and IP68 ratings mean the phone has been tested for water resistance under controlled conditions — typically fresh water at a specific depth for 30 minutes. In real-world conditions, this protection is less reliable than it sounds.
IP ratings do not cover: salt water (beach, ocean), chlorinated water (pool), soapy water (sink), drops under pressure (shower), or phones with worn seals from being dropped or repaired.
An IP68 phone dropped in a swimming pool or the sea is at real risk of water damage despite its rating. IP ratings also degrade over time — a 2-year-old IP68 phone has significantly less water resistance than when it was new.
Heavy rain during Singapore’s monsoon season catches many people off guard. Pockets, bags and even “water-resistant” cases are not reliably waterproof in a sudden downpour. Treat your phone as unprotected in heavy rain regardless of IP rating.
What Happens Inside a Water-Damaged Phone
Water itself doesn’t always destroy a phone immediately. The real damage comes from what happens next:
Short circuits occur when water bridges connections on the logic board while the phone is powered on. This can permanently damage chips that are impossible to repair.
Corrosion begins within hours as minerals in the water react with metal contacts on the board. Tap water, sea water and pool water all contain minerals that accelerate corrosion. Even after the phone dries out, corrosion continues spreading under components.
Delayed failure is very common. A phone may seem fine after getting wet, then fail completely days or weeks later as corrosion progresses invisibly. This is why professional cleaning immediately after water exposure is so important — even if the phone appears to be working.
What Professional Water Damage Treatment Involves
At our workshop, water damage treatment involves disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning of the logic board with isopropyl alcohol, inspection under magnification for corrosion, and reassembly with testing. This process removes the minerals and residue that cause delayed corrosion failure.
The success rate depends heavily on how quickly you bring the phone in and what type of water it was exposed to. Fresh water treated within a few hours has a high success rate. Salt water or pool water treated the same day is more challenging. Any phone left overnight without treatment has a significantly lower chance of full recovery.
Common Questions
My phone still works after getting wet. Do I still need to bring it in?
Yes — strongly recommended. Corrosion progresses invisibly inside the phone. Many phones that “seem fine” fail completely within 1 to 4 weeks of water exposure due to advancing corrosion. Professional cleaning immediately after exposure prevents this.
I dropped my phone in the toilet. Is it salvageable?
Often yes, if treated quickly. Toilet water is generally not salt water or chlorinated, so the corrosion risk is similar to tap water. Power it off immediately, do not charge it, and bring it in as soon as possible.
My phone dropped in the sea / pool. Is it salvageable?
Harder but possible if treated within hours. Salt water and chlorinated water are significantly more corrosive than fresh water. These cases require immediate professional treatment — do not leave it overnight.
How long does water damage repair take?
Initial assessment is done same day. Full cleaning and repair typically takes 2 to 4 hours depending on severity. We’ll give you a timeline after diagnosis.
Water damage? Come in now
Time is critical — the sooner you bring it in, the better the outcome.
Westgate · AMK Hub · Bugis Village · Bedok Mall · 11am–9pm daily
