HELP !! Coffee incident

[AbigayleHolt]

I have a samsung galaxy s3. For the last couple of days I have not been using my phone because it just hasn't had any charge and I can't be bothered to charge it... Literally just a minute ago I took a look on my phone and I was COVERED in coffee/cappuccino... So I have just taken it apart and I don't know what I should do next... PLEASE HELP!!!

[Nabs]

Hi AbigayleHolt,

I'm sure you are aware that phones and liquids don't play nice together. 

Best thing to do is take it appart (as you have done) remove the battery, SIM and any memory cards then place the phone in a bag of dry rice and leave for a day or so. The rice should soak up a lot of the liquid.

I'd maybe give it until tomorrow night then put the phone back together and see if it switches on. If it does then have a quick run through and check if its working. If it doens't switch on, or doesn't work correctly then i'm afraid it will be time for a new phone.

Nabs

[hrym]

Nabs's suggestion is a good one as the immediate thing to do.   Some years ago, Channel 5's The Gadget Show experimented with rescuing water-damaged devices and came up with similar solutions.  They also recommended putting the device under a 60watt bulb, but nothing warmer.  A couple of series ago, someone pitched a chemical bag on BBC Dragon's Den that claimed to remove the salts that can cause later damage to the circuit boards.  I can't remember the product name, I'm afraid, but it was available on eBay for about £15 and might be worth a try if the device will switch on after the initial treatment.

[Nabs]

I think this is what @hrym is refering to http://www.rescuetec.com/

[hrym]

Actually, it's Revivaphone and you can get them on Amazon.  I've never tried one, so can't give a personal recommendation.   This one specifically claims to do more than just dry the device out and the pitch was that, even if a phone works after it's been dried, damage can occur to the circuit boards that causes a failure later.

(I finally had the brainwave of Googling the problem plus "Dragon's Den" and up it came.)

[Retired-Laura]

Hi AbigayleHolt,

How's your phone doing now?

Hopefully the phone is working now. If not do you have insurance on your phone?

You might want to make a claim.

Thanks,

Laura