Power the phone off immediately, dry the outside with a towel, and avoid plugging it in or turning it back on until it has been professionally checked. The biggest mistakes people make are leaving the phone on, charging it right away, or assuming a working screen means everything is fine corrosion can develop over the following days even if the phone seems okay at first.
Do This Immediately
Turn the phone off right away, even if it still appears to be working an active electrical charge moving through a wet circuit board is what causes most permanent damage, not the water itself. Remove any case and gently dry the exterior and ports with a soft towel, without inserting anything into the charging port or speaker grilles.
Avoid These Common Mistakes
Don’t plug the phone in to charge, even to “test” it. Don’t use a hair dryer, which can push moisture deeper into the device or cause overheating. Rice is also not an effective drying method — it doesn’t reach internal components and can leave dust inside the phone.
Why Acting Fast Matters More Than Anything Else
Corrosion is a chemical process that progresses over hours and days, not instantly. A phone brought in within the first 24–48 hours after a spill, and never powered back on, has meaningfully better repair odds than one that sat for a week or was repeatedly tested in the meantime.
What Happens at a Professional Check
A technician will open the phone, inspect the logic board and battery for moisture and corrosion, and clean any affected components before testing the device. This catches problems that aren’t visible from the outside and that a phone simply “turning on” won’t reveal.
CTA Block: Dropped your phone in water in Richmond Hill? Power it off and bring it to Future Gadgets at 10909 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill, ON as soon as possible, or call (905) 770-7331 for guidance right now.