Can electronics be saved after water damage? Yes! You can save your electronics after water damage - and here's how. Follow these simple steps, and your water-logged cell phone, M-P3 player, or laptop should be in working condition again in no time.
First, as soon as you discover that your electronic item is wet, turn it off, unplug it and remove any and all detachable parts: batteries, face plate, antenna, a/c cord, USB cables, etc. If you can safely unscrew or pop off the cover that houses the item's interior, do so, being careful not to cause further damage. Using a soft, clean, lint-free cloth, dry each of the pieces individually and set them aside. Do the same with the body of the item, gently working the cloth into any crevices or cavities. Try shaking the item gently to force the moisture out of areas you can't reach. You can also use a hair dryer, on the lowest setting, to remove water from tiny perforations where your cloth won't fit. This should force water droplets out onto the surface, where you can use the cloth to wipe them off. Be very careful not to let your electronic item overheat - keep the hair dryer several inches away, and pause frequently so as not to damage delicate, heat-sensitive components. You don't want to save your electronics from water only to have them melt!
When gentle shaking and careful blow drying no longer produce water droplets, set the item in a dry place with all its parts still detached and any doors or hatches open. You will want to leave it for at least twenty-four hours, preferably with a fan blowing on it to help dry any remaining moisture. Change the item's position from time to time, checking periodically for moisture, and keep using that soft, clean, lint-free cloth to remove any water that appears. Don't reassemble, plug in, turn on or attempt to use the item for at least twenty-four hours - you want to make sure the item is thoroughly dry. The wetter the item, the longer you should wait before using it.
If, after at least twenty-four hours, your electronic item has produced no additional moisture, you should be able to safely reassemble it. Go slowly, inspecting and verifying that each component is dry before you reattach it. Finally, once you have your item back together, reinsert the batteries (or plug it in) and turn it on. Your electronic item should be dry and ready to use!
First, as soon as you discover that your electronic item is wet, turn it off, unplug it and remove any and all detachable parts: batteries, face plate, antenna, a/c cord, USB cables, etc. If you can safely unscrew or pop off the cover that houses the item's interior, do so, being careful not to cause further damage. Using a soft, clean, lint-free cloth, dry each of the pieces individually and set them aside. Do the same with the body of the item, gently working the cloth into any crevices or cavities. Try shaking the item gently to force the moisture out of areas you can't reach. You can also use a hair dryer, on the lowest setting, to remove water from tiny perforations where your cloth won't fit. This should force water droplets out onto the surface, where you can use the cloth to wipe them off. Be very careful not to let your electronic item overheat - keep the hair dryer several inches away, and pause frequently so as not to damage delicate, heat-sensitive components. You don't want to save your electronics from water only to have them melt!
When gentle shaking and careful blow drying no longer produce water droplets, set the item in a dry place with all its parts still detached and any doors or hatches open. You will want to leave it for at least twenty-four hours, preferably with a fan blowing on it to help dry any remaining moisture. Change the item's position from time to time, checking periodically for moisture, and keep using that soft, clean, lint-free cloth to remove any water that appears. Don't reassemble, plug in, turn on or attempt to use the item for at least twenty-four hours - you want to make sure the item is thoroughly dry. The wetter the item, the longer you should wait before using it.
If, after at least twenty-four hours, your electronic item has produced no additional moisture, you should be able to safely reassemble it. Go slowly, inspecting and verifying that each component is dry before you reattach it. Finally, once you have your item back together, reinsert the batteries (or plug it in) and turn it on. Your electronic item should be dry and ready to use!
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