Water doesn’t kill a phone instantly: the real damage is corrosion, which eats away the contacts on the board over a few days. That’s why what you do in the first minutes matters most.
What to do right away
- Take the phone out and switch it off. Don’t wait for it to shut down by itself.
- Remove the case and pull out the SIM tray.
- Wipe the phone with a dry cloth, turn the ports downwards and shake it gently.
- If it fell into sea water, pool water or a sugary drink, don’t delay the repair — these liquids corrode contacts the fastest.
What not to do
- Don’t charge it or switch it on “to check” — voltage on a wet board causes short circuits.
- Don’t dry it with a hair dryer or on a radiator — heat can unglue the screen and damage the battery.
- Don’t put it in rice: it doesn’t pull moisture from inside the phone, and starch dust clogs the ports and speakers.
Will water resistance (IP68) help?
IP67 and IP68 ratings apply to a new, undamaged phone in fresh water. If the phone has been repaired, dropped or is a few years old, the seals may already be weaker.
When to bring it to a technician
Ideally the same day. I open the phone, clean moisture and corrosion off the board and check the battery and screen. Diagnostics are free, and you can drop the device off in the evening too, until 10 pm.
