Stop Putting Your iPhone in a Bag of Rice When it Gets Wet – Here’s What Apple Says to Do Instead

This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Disclosure, visit this page.

Traveling with a smartphone has become a necessity for most travelers. We use it to stay in touch, find out how to get from Point A to Point B (and Z), to buy all sorts of things and of course, document every step of the way with the phone’s camera. RELATED: How to Quickly Make an Emergency Call On an iPhone

However, when you accidentally get your phone wet, it usually causes huge problems, mainly because it can’t be used for a number of hours or worse, ever.

Most iPhones are water resistant not waterproof, which is why it’s imperative to protect it from falling in the water. When I go to the beach, I always take a clear waterproof case, not only so I can take photos with it while I’m swimming but more importantly, so I can keep my phone (and money) on me while I’m in the water so no one steals them.

However, I’ve still foolishly gotten my phone wet in other circumstances like the time I used it in the rain or when I accidentally dropped it in a drink. Both times, I got an error message that the phone could not be charged.

The old advice was to put your phone in a bag of uncooked rice to suck the moisture out but it turns out that little trick could do more harm than good. According to Apple in a new release, “Don’t put your iPhone in a bag of rice. Doing so could allow small particles of rice to damage your iPhone.”

Apple also warns not to “dry your iPhone using an external heat source or compressed air.” They also say not to “insert a foreign object, such as a cotton swab or a paper towel, into the connector.”

Instead, if your iPhone has detected liquid in the Lightning or USB-C connector or on the cable or accessory, you need to take action to protect your phone and the accessory.

Here’s Apple’s latest advice if your iPhone or accessory is wet:

“Unplug the cable from your iPhone and unplug the other end of the cable from the power adapter or accessory.

Don’t plug the cable in again until your iPhone and the cable are completely dry.

Dry your iPhone:

1. Tap your iPhone gently against your hand with the connector facing down to remove excess liquid. Leave your iPhone in a dry area with some airflow.
2. After at least 30 minutes, try charging with a Lightning or USB-C cable or connecting an accessory.
3. If you see the alert again, there is still liquid in the connector or under the pins of your cable. Leave your iPhone in a dry area with some airflow for up to a day. You can try again to charge or connect an accessory throughout this period. It might take up to 24 hours to fully dry.
4. If your phone has dried out but still isn’t charging, unplug the cable from the adapter and unplug the adapter from the wall (if possible) and then connect them again.”

I stopped using rice a while ago when I read that it’s best to use small silica gel packets instead, the ones that come in packages to prevent moisture from damaging certain foods and various other products. I’ve been collecting them for a while just in case I need to dry my phone. BTW: If you don’t have any of these silica gel packets you can buy them on Amazon.

Hopefully, you won’t have to use this advice but if your phone does get wet, especially while traveling, this is great to know so you can get back to doing what you do best. Here’s some more advice from Apple for every type of iPhone.

KEEP READING:

–The Grossest Thing in Your Hotel Room Isn’t What You Think … And Might Even Be Dirtier Than the Toilet
–This Portable Safe Helps Keep Your Valuables Safe
–How Much to Tip Housekeeping & Make Sure They Get It
–Think Before Leaving Your Toothbrush out in Your Hotel Room
–Why You Should Always Lock The Deadbolt While In A Hotel Room

Want more travel news, tips and deals? Sign up to Johnny Jet’s free newsletter and check out these popular posts: The Travel Gadget Flight Attendants Never Leave Home Without and 12 Ways to Save Money on Baggage Fees. Follow Johnny Jet on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for all of my travel posts.