A glass knocked over onto a laptop, coffee on the keyboard, a phone in water. It happens in an instant, and a quick and correct reaction is exactly what decides whether the device survives. Let us go through what to do right away and what to avoid at all costs.

The first seconds decide

Water and electricity are enemies. While the device is powered and wet, there is a risk of a short circuit that destroys it. So you have to act immediately and calmly.

Immediately: disconnect the power and remove the battery

  1. Unplug the device and disconnect the charger.
  2. If possible, remove the battery as fast as you can (on devices where this is possible). Without power, no short circuit happens.
  3. Turn a laptop or keyboard upside down so the liquid drains out, not in toward the parts.

Never: do not turn it on or test whether it works

This is the most common and worst mistake. Never turn on a wet device and do not test whether it still works. Switching it on while wet causes a short circuit that finishes off what might otherwise have been saved. The urge to “try whether it works” has destroyed many a phone and laptop.

What to do next

  • Do not use a hairdryer with hot air, it pushes water deeper inside and can melt parts.
  • Dry the device on the outside and keep it in a dry place.
  • Put it in a closed container with a drying agent that absorbs moisture, for example rice, or even better silica gel sachets.
  • Let it dry thoroughly, ideally for several days, and do not turn it on.
  • Get in touch with us as soon as possible, professional cleaning significantly increases the chance of rescue.

Why not to underestimate it, even if the device works

The treacherous thing is that after getting wet, a device may work at first. But moisture gradually condenses inside, and water with impurities corrodes the contacts. The result can show only days or weeks later, when the device unexpectedly fails. So have it professionally dried and cleaned, even if it works on the outside.

Watch out for the type of liquid

Clean water does the least harm. Sweet drinks, coffee, alcohol and seawater are worse, because sugar and salt corrode and stick after drying. With those, quick professional cleaning is even more important.

Did you spill liquid on a phone, laptop or other electronics? Get in touch as soon as possible, we will clean, dry and try to save the device before corrosion damages it.