A recent Apple tip renders a long-trusted fix for phones that are unintentionally submerged in water outdated.
Long thought to help a wet phone return to normal, placing it in a bag of rice was said to absorb the moisture; however, this widely used trick may actually harm your phone.
A new function on iPhones warns you through an alert when they get wet, telling you not to charge them right away.
You may be tempted to pop your mobile in a bag of rice, but Apple has warned users: ‘Don’t put your iPhone in a bag of rice.’
They added: ‘Doing so could allow small particles of rice to damage your iPhone. Don’t dry your iPhone using an external heat source or compressed air.
‘Don’t insert a foreign object, such as a cotton swab or a paper towel, into the connector.’
And don’t try to charge your iPhone – if you plug your device in while it’s wet, it could corrode and cause further issues, Apple warned.
How do you dry your phone?
Apple recommends gently tapping your iPhone against your hand to knock out excess water, then make sure your connector is facing down.
After that, leave your iPhone in a dry area with airflow, wait half an hour and then repeat the process.
If the alert re-appears, leave your iPhone in a dry area for up to a day to help it dry out completely.
Are there other methods?
BBC Focus suggests using pure alcohol might be better to dry out your mobile.
They said: ‘Rice will draw out the moisture, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your phone will work properly afterwards.
‘The water may already have fused the phone’s circuits or left behind traces of minerals that corrode the electronics. Also, rice may get stuck in the headphone socket.
‘Soaking the phone in pure alcohol may be a better bet. The alcohol drives water out and removes any mineral deposits. But pure alcohol is highly flammable and must be treated with the utmost care.’
