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Why Rice Won't Save Your Wet Phone: The Truth About Liquid Damage

At FixLab Electronics, we often hear the same story: "I dropped my phone in water, so I put it in rice overnight. But now it won’t turn on."

It’s a common belief that uncooked rice can fix liquid-damaged electronics. While this household myth has been passed down for years, it doesn’t hold up under real-world scrutiny. In fact, using rice could delay necessary action and cause even more damage.

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Where Did This Myth Come From?

The idea likely came from the fact that rice absorbs moisture. But here’s the catch: rice doesn’t absorb moisture fast enough or from the right places to prevent corrosion or short circuits in modern electronics.

Think of it like this: dropping your phone in water is like soaking a sponge. Tossing it in rice is like setting the sponge in a dry room and hoping it dries from the outside in. It just doesn’t work that way.

What Really Happens When You Use Rice

• Delayed Repair: Every second counts when electronics are exposed to liquid. Rice buys you time in the worst way: by giving you false hope.
• Traps Moisture: The water doesn’t magically disappear. It gets trapped under chips and inside your device.
• Corrosion Begins Quickly: Within hours, the microscopic metal components on your circuit board begin to corrode. Once that happens, the damage is often permanent.
• Debris Risk: Rice particles and starch dust can actually get inside ports or jacks, adding to the damage.

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Understanding Water Damage in Electronics

To understand why rice doesn’t work, you need to understand how liquid damages electronics.

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How Water Affects Devices

• Short Circuits: Electricity follows the path of least resistance. Water changes those paths, causing arcing, blown components, or total failure.
• Corrosion: Even after the device is powered off, the water can begin to eat away at metal solder joints, connectors, and chips.

Time Is Your Worst Enemy

Corrosion begins within minutes and becomes visible within a few hours. You might think your device has survived, but problems often show up days or even weeks later as damage spreads.

Common Symptoms of Liquid Damage

• Touchscreen stops responding
• Charging port failure
• Random shutdowns
• Distorted audio or camera issues

Rice will not stop any of these problems from developing.

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What You Should Actually Do

Instead of reaching for rice, here’s what you should do if your device gets wet:

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Step-by-Step Emergency Guide

1. Power Off Immediately: Do NOT try to turn it on "just to check."
2. Disconnect Battery (if possible): This stops any further current from flowing.
3. Avoid Heat Sources: Don’t use hair dryers, ovens, or sunlight. Heat can warp internal components.
4. Leave it alone: Don't press buttons or try to use it.
5. Bring it to a Professional: That’s where FixLab Electronics comes in.

How We Handle Water Damage

• Disassemble the device completely
• Use ultrasonic cleaning tools to remove corrosion and contaminants
• Replace or repair damaged components
• Test thoroughly before returning it to you

This approach gives you the best chance of full recovery—something rice can never do.

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Trust the Pros at FixLab Electronics

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Real Results, Not Myths

Rice may have a place in your kitchen, but it doesn’t belong in your repair plan. Every day at FixLab Electronics, we help people recover from liquid damage the right way.

We offer:

• Free diagnostics
• Board-level micro soldering repairs
• Same-day service on most repairs
• 90-day warranties

Let Us Save Your Device

Time matters when it comes to water damage. Don't let a myth cost you a phone, a tablet, or a gaming console.

If your device has taken a dive, skip the rice and come straight to FixLab Electronics. We're located in Longview, WA, and always ready to help.

Call us today at 360-270-0461 or visit www.fixlabelectronics.com to schedule your repair.

FixLab Electronics — Where Tech Gets a Second Chance

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