• Source:JND
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WHILE Holi is around the corner, you probably are brainstorming on a list of friends you will meet and colour them. However, your medium of communication (in most cases) - the smartphone, may become prone to a bucket filled with water that can do irreparable damage in many cases.

Smartphones for protection from water and dust come with an Ingress Protection (IP) rating. These certified handsets are better prepared to tackle unforeseen damages that may come to them from splashes or the environment. But not all phones enjoy this certification and are prone to damage.

A smartphone is best placed at home on Holi. However, in case it acts as a medium of communication with friends and family while you are out, you may follow certain precautions. You may place the handset inside multiple plastic bags or buy a zip lock pouch to be safe.

Before proceeding, please note that water-affected phones are not covered under warranty by smartphone manufacturers and the remedy mentioned in the article does not guarantee 100 per cent success.

If the phone comes in contact with water, make sure to -

Step 1: Turn it off right away. It does not matter if it works fine in the short run, it might develop problems later. So, it is better to let it be in the anaesthetic state for a while.

Step 2: Uncover accessories from the phone, like the mobile case, followed by the SIM tray. If the phone has a back panel that can be snapped open, uncover it and remove the battery and other accessories.

Step 3: Use tissue paper or a soft cloth to wipe the water away. Go gentle and make sure no water drips into the ports and buttons during the process. Now let gravity do some work, lift the phone upright and try to drain water from ports gently.

Step 4: Leave the handset in the switched-off mode for a minimum of 48 hours. Before turning on the phone make sure it has no visible water traces.

While you might think of drying the phone with a hair dryer, heater or a similar appliance, this should not be done. You may use silica gel to absorb excess water instead. Plus, the charger can make things worse, so keep it at bay for some time. Lastly, we recommend you consult an authorised mobile technician at the earliest.