Stop putting your wet phone in rice, it can make things worse
Experts debunk popular myth (photo: Getty Images)
If your smartphone falls into water, almost certainly someone will tell you to put it in rice. In recent years, this hack has become extremely popular.
TechRadar explains whether rice really helps save a water-damaged phone and what you should actually do.
Where the myth came from
Tips for drying a phone in rice vary in detail, but the main idea is usually the same: place the device in raw rice as quickly as possible, completely covering it in a sealed container or bag. The belief is that rice absorbs moisture faster than air.
At first glance, this seems logical – rice soaks up water when cooking and is perceived as a natural sponge. Add years of online mentions and personal stories of successfully saved gadgets, and the myth became firmly established.
Some users may have experienced temporary “success” with this method. However, experts warn that this does not mean rice actually saves the device.
What the experts say
“It’s a myth that putting a wet phone in rice helps dry it out,” says Ritesh Chugh, associate professor and socio-technical expert at Central Queensland University, Australia.
According to him, rice is not only ineffective but can sometimes be harmful. It absorbs moisture too slowly to remove water that has entered modern sealed smartphones.
Small grains and dust can also get stuck in charging ports, complicating repairs. For this reason, many smartphone manufacturers do not recommend using rice.
Stephen Etwell, CEO of The Big Phone Store, says the hack became especially popular around 2014. “Rice absorbs moisture far too slowly to remove the water that can get trapped inside modern sealed smartphones. And small rice grains or dust can become lodged in charging ports, making repairs more difficult,” he explains.
Chugh adds that the method sometimes worked on early mobile phones and digital cameras, especially in very humid conditions. However, this experience was mistakenly applied to modern smartphones.
Rice may remove surface moisture enough to power the phone on, but experts emphasize that this does not restore the internal components.
What to do instead
If rice is not the solution, what should you actually do?
“Turn it off immediately and leave it off. Don’t charge it, don’t press buttons, don’t shake it, NOTHING. Just pat it dry, and if you’ve got silica gel or proper desiccant packs, use those,” advises Etwell.
If not, the best option is to let the smartphone air dry in a well-ventilated room, avoiding heat sources.
The key point is to give the device enough time. “You should leave the phone to dry for at least 24 to 48 hours, because the device must be completely dry before it is switched on again. Electricity and water together cause short circuits and corrosion,” Chugh stresses.
Experts also recommend visiting a service center if possible. According to Etwell, a professional can clean the board before corrosion becomes irreversible, which is far more reliable than hoping rice will save the device.
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