Water on my iPhone screen

[hgrimberg]

Today I answered a call on my iphone 5 with my hands wet and possibly my ear wet since I had to leave the shower.
After this, my screen started to have blueish stains in some areas like if it was the waters spreading inside. (photo attached) In any case, the phone is fully functional.
So, for what I read in other topics like this one, I could try with the typical rice method. Is it better to place the phone in the rice with the screen upside down or the screen on top?
Should I use a hair dryer at medium heat?
Or, should I take it to a repair shop and ask to take out the screen and then dry it out?
This is how the screen looks now:

 

[hgrimberg]

After using a combination of hair dryer at medium heat and rice I am making the blue stain become smaller supposedly although it still has some shadows as can be seen on this photo:
Is this a good way to fix it?

 

[eelw]

First thing, turn off the phone!!!! Leave it in rice to attempt to dry out the phone. Give it 2-3 days before attempting to turn on phone again. And how wet was your hand/face? You sure you didn't hold the phone under the shower?

 

[hgrimberg]

First thing, turn off the phone!!!! Leave it in rice to attempt to dry out the phone. Give it 2-3 days before attempting to turn on phone again. And how wet was your hand/face? You sure you didn't hold the phone under the shower?

I didn't answer the phone on the shower. I am not that wild
I just held the phone with my wet hand but my ear was probably very wet and I put some pressure on it.
My phone is off right now, I only turned it on a couple of times to check the status of the water behind the screen which I can see that it has decreased as you can see on the photographs I've taken.
I am keeping the phone submerged in rice (don't know if it is better to leave it with the screen on top or face down...), but I am realizing that after using the hair dryer, the water becomes less inside... So maybe it is the hair dryer better than just the rice...?

 

[Tyler23]

I didn't answer the phone on the shower. I am not that wild
I just held the phone with my wet hand but my ear was probably very wet and I put some pressure on it.
My phone is off right now, I only turned it on a couple of times to check the status of the water behind the screen which I can see that it has decreased as you can see on the photographs I've taken.
I am keeping the phone submerged in rice (don't know if it is better to leave it with the screen on top or face down...), but I am realizing that after using the hair dryer, the water becomes less inside... So maybe it is the hair dryer better than just the rice...?

Rice is better than the hair dryer. You have to give it time. And, turning on the phone at all is the worst possible thing you can do and is increasing the likelihood of internal damage to your phone. Just leave it alone for a few days.

 

[hgrimberg]

Rice is better than the hair dryer. You have to give it time. And, turning on the phone at all is the worst possible thing you can do and is increasing the likelihood of internal damage to your phone. Just leave it alone for a few days.

Ok, and do you think it is better the phone upside down or facing up?

 

[hgrimberg]

I ve been leaving my iphone in a bowl of rice upside down for the last week, but even though it got better, for the last 5 days it didn't improve too much or it actually stayed the same with the same dark stain and some small white/transparent dots. Before it had that blueish stain, now that is gone but a big dark stain is almost all over the screen as it can be seen on the attached picture. What should I do? Should I turn on the phone and keep it in rice but on? Upside down or facing up? Please help.

 

[lelisa13p]

After nearly a week and still looking bad, I'd take it to a repair place (Apple or alternative) and get it looked at. Also, in the future, if you're going to be in the shower, put your phone in a Ziploc bag and seal it up. I do this and it's easy to use thru the plastic if needed. Safe & DRY.

I would've said "facing up" since evaporation is aided by having the damp surface not trapped underneath but at this point it probably doesn't matter anymore.

 

[hgrimberg]

After nearly a week and still looking bad, I'd take it to a repair place (Apple or alternative) and get it looked at. Also, in the future, if you're going to be in the shower, put your phone in a Ziploc bag and seal it up. I do this and it's easy to use thru the plastic if needed. Safe & DRY.

I would've said "facing up" since evaporation is aided by having the damp surface not trapped underneath but at this point it probably doesn't matter anymore.

Do you think it is not a good idea to start using my phone at this condition? I just turned it on for just a few seconds several times during the last week and it looks like fully functional. Only that stain at the screen...

 

[wallstreetfool]

I ve been leaving my iphone in a bowl of rice upside down for the last week, but even though it got better, for the last 5 days it didn't improve too much or it actually stayed the same with the same dark stain and some small white/transparent dots. Before it had that blueish stain, now that is gone but a big dark stain is almost all over the screen as it can be seen on the attached picture. What should I do? Should I turn on the phone and keep it in rice but on? Upside down or facing up? Please help.

If your iPhone 5 is still on the standard Apple Warranty, I'd suggest you take the iPhone to the nearest Apple Store or Apple Service Center and get it fixed.

I personally have never really experienced this issue, despite having used my iPhone with wet hands. This is the first time I've heard something like this.

 

[hgrimberg]

If your iPhone 5 is still on the standard Apple Warranty, I'd suggest you take the iPhone to the nearest Apple Store or Apple Service Center and get it fixed.

I personally have never really experienced this issue, despite having used my iPhone with wet hands. This is the first time I've heard something like this.

No, my iphone 5 is not under warranty anymore and I am in Argentina where there are no apple stores here, so, my only chance is to go to a repair shop and make them open it and take out the water manually maybe... ?
Is it a good idea to use it, at least for a day on this condition?

 

[hgrimberg]

The guy at the repair shop said that there was no way to take the stain out of the screen and that it had to be replaced. Is it like that?

 

[lelisa13p]

If it's just a stain and there is no functional problem with the phone due to the water drops, then your decision is whether you can live with the stain or pay for a replacement screen. You'll have to answer that one for yourself. )

 

[hgrimberg]

If it's just a stain and there is no functional problem with the phone due to the water drops, then your decision is whether you can live with the stain or pay for a replacement screen. You'll have to answer that one for yourself. )

Yeah, well they said that eventually the stain will end up ruining the functionality of the screen, so sooner or later I'll have to replace it. Is there a recommendable site to buy one?
Also there want to use some ultraviolet rays to dry up the interior components so they don't get corroded.

 

[lelisa13p]

I don't know if they're telling the truth or not. I do know that corrosion is caused by leftover components (minerals, etc.) from the water or other liquid after it dries. I don't know what effect UV light would have, if any. Sorry.

Better wait for someone who knows more about this to come along.

 

[HarryWarden]

Surprised water would do that kind of damage considering water is what Apple recommends you use when cleaning the screens of all its devices, from phones to computers.

 

[lelisa13p]

Surprised water would do that kind of damage considering water is what Apple recommends you use when cleaning the screens of all its devices, from phones to computers.

Apple recommends using a slightly dampened soft cloth (i.e. t-shirt, etc.), not water droplets that can find their way into the device.

 

[hellala]

Today I answered a call on my iphone 5 with my hands wet and possibly my ear wet since I had to leave the shower.
After this, my screen started to have blueish stains in some areas like if it was the waters spreading inside. (photo attached) In any case, the phone is fully functional.
So, for what I read in other topics like this one, I could try with the typical rice method. Is it better to place the phone in the rice with the screen upside down or the screen on top?
Should I use a hair dryer at medium heat?
Or, should I take it to a repair shop and ask to take out the screen and then dry it out?
This is how the screen looks now:

You need to replace backlight. Part on ebay is ~ $8, you must be skillful person. Another option is to replace LCD panel ~ $40 on ebay.

 

[hgrimberg]

I replaced the whole LCD but I still have a vertical blueish stain on one side of the screen. What could it be?