Water damage is one of the most common — and most time-sensitive — phone emergencies. What you do in the first ten minutes can be the difference between a full recovery and permanent damage.

Turn it off immediately. If the phone is still on, power it down right away. Electricity and water together is what causes the real damage, not the water alone.

Don’t charge it. Never plug in a wet phone, even to check if it’s working. This is one of the fastest ways to short-circuit the internal components.

Dry the outside gently. Use a soft, absorbent cloth to pat down the exterior. Avoid shaking the phone, as this can push water further into the internal components.

Skip the rice trick. Rice is a popular myth, but it doesn’t actually draw moisture out effectively and can leave dust or starch particles inside the ports. It also delays proper professional drying, which matters more than people realise.

Don’t use a hairdryer or heat. Heat can warp internal components and damage the battery. Let it air dry only, and avoid any direct heat source.

Bring it in as soon as possible. The longer a device sits with moisture inside, the higher the risk of corrosion on the circuit board. Professional diagnostics can identify affected components before permanent damage occurs.

At TechFix, we offer same-day water damage diagnostics, so you know exactly what’s affected before we start any repair — no guesswork, no unnecessary costs.