You dropped your phone in water. Your heart sank. What do you do next? Acting fast is critical when it comes to water damage. As Portland’s top water damage repair specialists at iRepairPhonesPortland, here’s exactly what you should do in the first 24 hours.
Step 1 — Get Your Phone Out of the Water Immediately
Every second counts. The longer your phone stays submerged, the more water gets into the internal components. Pick it up immediately.
Step 2 — Turn It Off Right Away
Do NOT try to use your phone or check if it still works. Water and electricity don’t mix — turning on a wet phone can short circuit the motherboard and cause permanent damage. Power it off immediately.
Step 3 — Do NOT Do These Things
- ❌ Don’t put it in rice — this is a myth and doesn’t work
- ❌ Don’t use a hair dryer — heat can damage internal components
- ❌ Don’t charge it — water + electricity = permanent damage
- ❌ Don’t shake it — this spreads water to more components
- ❌ Don’t press any buttons — this can push water deeper inside
Step 4 — Dry the Outside Gently
Use a soft, dry cloth to gently pat the outside of your phone dry. Remove your case, SIM card tray, and any accessories.
Step 5 — Bring It to iRepairPhonesPortland Immediately
This is the most important step. Bring your water damaged phone to our Portland repair shop as fast as possible. The sooner we can open it up and dry the internal components properly, the better your chances of a full recovery.
At iRepairPhonesPortland, our water damage recovery process includes:
- ✅ Full disassembly and inspection
- ✅ Professional cleaning of all internal components
- ✅ Ultrasonic cleaning for motherboard corrosion
- ✅ Full diagnostic after drying
- ✅ $0 diagnostic fee — you only pay if we fix it
Can a Water Damaged Phone Be Saved?
Yes — in many cases! The key is acting fast. Phones brought to us within 1–2 hours of water damage have a significantly higher recovery rate than phones left sitting for days. Even if your phone won’t turn on, we may still be able to recover your photos and data.
Come See Us in Portland Right Away
Don’t wait — every hour matters with water damage. Walk into our shop at 3240 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland OR 97214 and we’ll get started immediately.
📍 Visit us: 3240 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland OR 97214
📞 Call or text: (503) 583-7971
⏰ Hours: 10am – 6pm daily
🚶 Walk-ins welcome — come in immediately!