There is nothing more frustrating than dropping your phone into the toilet. It was a beautiful sunny day when you took your phone out of your pocket to take a picture of your dog chasing a ball. Suddenly, while trying to frame the perfect snapshot, you slipped and dropped it into the toilet; it may seem like the device is beyond repair.
However, there are some simple steps you can take to clean up your phone and hopefully save it from a watery grave. This guide will walk you through how to clean your phone if it was dropped in the toilet and is no longer turning on or charging.
Remove the Phone From the Toilet as Soon as Possible
If you drop your phone in the toilet, don’t panic. It’s not the end of the world. If you act quickly and follow these steps, you can save your phone.
Remove the phone from the toilet as soon as possible. The longer it stays submerged in water, the more likely it will be permanently damaged.
Turn Your Phone Off
If the phone was on when it fell in (and you need to turn it off immediately), this could be enough to save your device from severe damage. However, if the phone was off when it fell in and didn’t turn back on after being removed from the water, you’ll need to do more than turn it off.
Remove Any Protective Cases From Your Phone
The best thing you can do is prevent water from getting into your device in the first place by removing any protective cases you have on your phone before going into a bathroom or pool area where there are wet surfaces and objects nearby. This includes cases that aren’t waterproof but might offer some protection against moisture (like silicone rubber cases).
Wipe the Outside With a Paper Towel
If your phone fell into the toilet bowl itself, or if it’s only been partially submerged in water, give it a good wipe down with a paper towel. If you have access to some rubbing alcohol, that can help remove any residue left behind by the water.
Remove all visible moisture, and then dry off your phone as thoroughly as possible. You may also want to use canned air (or a compressor) to blow out any remaining water and debris inside your device.
Remove the Battery and SIM Card
Before anything else, remove the battery from your phone as soon as possible. This is because most batteries are not waterproof and will corrode if they come into contact with water for even a few seconds.
The next step is removing any SIM cards from your device if it has one. If there are any other removable parts like SD cards or headphones, remove those as well before proceeding with cleaning your phone.
Wipe Down Your Phone With Isopropyl Alcohol
You have to get water out of your phone as soon as possible, so start by drying it with a paper towel or two. If you don’t have any paper towels, use a clean cloth or T-shirt instead.
Once your phone has dried out, you’ll want to clean all its surfaces with 70% isopropyl alcohol or 70% ethyl alcohol. You can find this at most drug stores or hardware stores (such as Home Depot). Be sure not to use rubbing alcohol, though! It has different properties than what we need here, so it won’t work as well at removing corrosion. Use a cotton swab or Q-tip dipped in the liquid to wipe down every surface of your device until it’s scorched again.
Put it in a Bucket of Rice
If you’ve dropped your phone in the water, you need to act fast. According to Apple’s support page on iPhone water damage repair, water can get into the phone and cause corrosion within just a few minutes of exposure.
You may have heard that putting your phone in rice will dry it out and help it recover from water damage. But does this work?
The answer is yes — but there’s a catch: It only works if you’re quick about it and have good luck.
Rice is a natural moisture absorber, so it’s a good idea to place your phone in a bag or bowl with some uncooked rice before putting it in your pocket or purse, where it could easily fall out again. This will allow any moisture left inside the phone to evaporate before it causes permanent damage.
Experiment with Electronics Repair Stores If All Else Fails
Many electronics stores offer free diagnostics on phones that have been damaged by water or other liquids. These places can sometimes fix water-damaged phones, but it depends on the type of damage and how quickly you act. Some even have a drying machine that will suck out all the moisture inside your phone and leave it functioning again. If you have an old cell phone lying around, test it in the drying machine to see if it works again afterward.
How to Keep Your Phone Out of the Toilet
Water is one of the most destructive elements of electronic devices. You can damage your phone in just a few seconds if you accidentally drop it into the water.
There’s nothing worse than dropping your phone in the toilet.
But it happens, and you have to deal with it. And if you’re going to do that, you’re going to want to make sure that your phone is waterproof.
The good news is that most smartphones these days are at least somewhat water-resistant — even if they don’t advertise this feature in their marketing materials. But you can still do some things to prevent your phone from falling into the toilet or other water sources.
- Don’t bring your phone into the bathroom with you. If you need to use your phone while in the bathroom, put it on airplane mode. This will help reduce the chances of your phone coming into contact with water.
- Don’t use your phone while washing your hands at public restrooms because people often touch them without washing their hands first, which can spread germs on them, which can eventually cause infections if not treated properly!
- Don’t leave your phone on the counter while cooking — this is particularly dangerous if you’re cooking in a kitchen with wood floors or tile (which can be slippery), but it’s also just as risky on carpeted floors since there’s no traction for your feet. If possible, put it on top of something higher than the countertop so it’s not at risk of falling off accidentally.
- Don’t bring your phone into the bathroom with you. If you need to use your phone while in the bathroom, put it on airplane mode. This will help reduce the chances of your phone coming into contact with water.
Final Thoughts
If you’re lucky, you’ll only need to take the steps above to save your phone from an untimely end. Once your phone is dry, it should work fine again but be sure to inspect it closely before using it and ensure no water seeped into any ports or behind any buttons. If you’re not so lucky, you might need to take your phone to a repair shop for a more in-depth fix—make sure to clean off that screen before you do! Whatever happens, remember: don’t panic.
Amos Christen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Drexel University — Philadelphia, PA. Since 2003, Amos has worked with top interior design professionals in this area, including architects and interior/graphic/lighting designers. As a skilled interior designer, Amos Christen is highly versed in fine arts and crafts and uses that to supplement his main area of expertise. He often publishes articles related to home décor on several websites, including Sprucetoilets.com, Sprucebathroom.com, and Mybesuitedhome.com. He also contributes to leading interior design magazines.