[SOLVED] Washed my phone in the washing machine... :(

[monkeyboy]

you're crazy for constantly trying to turn your phone on like that... it GREATLY increases the chance of damage.

when you first get a phone doused, you should *immediately* remove the battery. don't even try to charge it or anything that might run *any* currents through its circuit. remove the battery and make all attempts to completely dry it out FIRST.

how you dry it out depends... if the water was fairly clean (washing machine prolly counts), then you can try the simply methods first. First, of course, is physical, try to remove as much water as possible using "G-force". Then you can bake the device in LOW heat (perhaps 120-150deg F), preferably wrapped in dry towels. Or if you have access to a drying oven (low heat, with a dessicant (e.g. calcium chloride or calcium sulfate).

If however, you poured Coke, wine, coffee, etc on your device, you'll want to wash the device with a solvent. Generally ethanol (90-95%, EtOH) works the best. It *will* also dissolve some ink markings, but it should be safe with the plastics, most glues and paints. EtOH really "grab" the water and then evaporates quickly. Here's where removing the battery is absolutely essential, since liquids like Coke or Wine are quite acidic and you are setting up all these little batteries and resistors where they shouldn't be -- very easy to destroy circuits and components. Pure water, OTOH is not a good conductor.

ONLY after you are sure, and double sure that the device is *completely* dry (wait an extra few hours, if need be), should you even attempt to reinstall the battery and test the device. The second you see its not, remove the battery and try drying more...

Just last week, my son ran his flipphone through the washing machine. I did as I prescribed above and its fine now... took about 3 hours of drying, baking, etc.