How to Fix a Water Damaged Device, Rice Doesn't Work!

When panic sets in after dropping your phone in the sink or spilling liquid over your laptop, your first thought may be to put your device in rice. Despite what Google says, putting your phone in rice after accidentally dropping it in liquid is a widely circulated myth that has been debunked by experts in the field.

Rice is often believe to be a remedy for liquid damage because it can absorb moisture, but it is not effective for electronic devices as it doesn't remove the minerals and impurities left behind by the liquid. These residues can lead to corrosion and further damage to the device over time, see picture below:

Corrosion damage on an iPhone logic board, which was left in rice. All data was successfully recovered by AJ I.T Services.


In reality, the best course of action is to immediately power off your device if you can, remove the battery if possible, and bring it to a professional like AJ I.T Services for proper drying and liquid damaged repair, for example, ultrasonic cleaning. Even if your device continues to work after being exposed to liquid, it's strongly advised to have your device professionally checked anyway to prevent further issues at a later date, so many people regret not doing this and have lost all their pictures and other important data that wasn't backed up because they presumed the device was ok.

It is important to note that putting your device in rice can actually do more damage than good, for example, it can leave dust and debris inside the device, further compromising its functionality. It is crucial to act swiftly and seek professional help to salvage your device after water damage, rather than relying on ineffective home remedies.

If you have any questions or need urgent assistance with a liquid damaged device please don't hesitate to get in touch.

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