Water damaged iPhone 3GS.

[Bez59]

Hi,

My wife put my sons bed sheets in the washing machine and didn't realise his phone was wrapped up in there so it got washed.

I'm guessing it isn't going to work anymore but is there any chance that if i leave it in a warm place for a long time to dry and hope it was turned off and the battery was empty that it might work again?

I don't think my son is going to be very happy when he gets back from school.

Thanks Bez.

 

[emacna1]

The old trick is to put it in a bag of rice and leave it there for more than a few days. Don't turn it on at all. It's not guaranteed to work, but sometimes people have some good luck.

 

[Bez59]

The old trick is to put it in a bag of rice and leave it there for more than a few days. Don't turn it on at all. It's not guaranteed to work, but sometimes people have some good luck.

Thanks i will give it a go and keep my fingers crossed.

 

[iThinkergoiMac]

A bowl of rice would be better. If you put it in a (sealed) bag, you'll just trap all the moisture in there and nothing will change...

 

[PNutts]

I did the same thing with the kid's iPod except I also ran it through the dryer. I figured that was equal to a day or two in rice. The water under the LCD did look kind of cool. It's been running fine ever since but I assume corrosion is slowing eating the insides. At some point it came out of the Otterbox case but the headphone jack, connector, etc., were never covered or plugged by the case so they were open to water.

But... I am NOT recommending you put the phone in the dryer.

And... I had a talk with my daughter about leaving it not just "on" the bed but "in" the bed.

 

[Bez59]

I did the same thing with the kid's iPod except I also ran it through the dryer. I figured that was equal to a day or two in rice. The water under the LCD did look kind of cool. It's been running fine ever since but I assume corrosion is slowing eating the insides. At some point it came out of the Otterbox case but the headphone jack, connector, etc., were never covered or plugged by the case so they were open to water.

But... I am NOT recommending you put the phone in the dryer.

And... I had a talk with my daughter about leaving it not just "on" the bed but "in" the bed.

I have gone for the bag of rice option over the dryer lol.

I have told him not to leave things on his bed from now on not that he will remember.

 

[Julien]

A bowl of rice would be better. If you put it in a (sealed) bag, you'll just trap all the moisture in there and nothing will change...

If you put it in an open bowl the rice will pull moisture from the air and not the iPhone. If in a climate controlled environment the bowl will be fine but if there is humidity you should use the bag. The rice absorbs the moisture and this removes it from the iPhone.

 

[Interstella5555]

I have gone for the bag of rice option over the dryer lol.

I have told him not to leave things on his bed from now on not that he will remember.

Old enough to have a phone but not old enough to do laundry?

 

[iThinkergoiMac]

If you put it in an open bowl the rice will pull moisture from the air and not the iPhone. If in a climate controlled environment the bowl will be fine but if there is humidity you should use the bag. The rice absorbs the moisture and this removes it from the iPhone.

Hadn't thought about it that way. I guess it all depends on which has more moisture... the phone or the air.

 

[Bez59]

How long do you think i should leave it in the rice for?

 

[G-Mo]

Don't waste your effort with all this rice stuff and dryer that... Even if you do get the phone to work again, there's no guarentee of how long, it's just a matter of time. Just get an out of warranty replacement for $169.

 

[Bez59]

Well just to update i left it in a bag of rice for a week taking it out a few times to give it a quick blast with the hair dryer on low heat of course and it doesn't work so i will have to buy him a new one.

He says he wants a 4s what a joker lol.

 

[trekkie604]

He says he wants a 4s what a joker lol.

How about he can wash his own bed sheets next time

 

[jimmyjones]

The rice should work but the battery life may have diminished if it works again.

 

[Applejuiced]

The rice should work but the battery life may have diminished if it works again.

Rice doesn't fix shorted electronics.
It's worth a try but most times the damage is irreversible.

 

[Bez59]

How about he can wash his own bed sheets next time

That sounds like a very good idea thanks