Do you put a wet smartphone into a bowl of rice? This method is a myth. And a dangerous one at that

It is difficult to say clearly how the myth about the “miraculous” properties of rice that would save smartphones from water damage was born. The fact is, however, that this method is generally considered effective, and the Internet is – nomen omen – flooded with guides that encourage drying wet electronic devices in a bowl of rice.

In fact, this “lifehack” also appears in pop culture. In one of the episodes of the new series “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” from the Amazon Prime platform, the main character also “repairs” the smartphone in this way. Let us add that in this case, the rice dries the device in just a few minutes, although – according to most online guides, it takes at least 12-15 hours.

The problem is that there is no evidence or scientific research that would in any way confirm the effectiveness of this method. Yes, rice has hygroscopic properties. This means that it absorbs water well. However, while it can help collect moisture from the screen and housing of the device, it certainly will not “pull out” water from internal components that have become wet.

So where does the myth about the effectiveness of rice come from? Why do many smartphones suddenly start working after spending several hours in a bowl of Asian grain? This is probably due to the fact that during these several hours the device actually dries out, but the rice has a marginal or even no effect on this.

iPhone Apple

Apple warns. Don’t put your iPhone in a bowl of rice

Maybe it’s still worth drying your phone in rice – just in case? This is still not a good idea. At least that’s what Apple says. In a guide on how to deal with a flooded iPhone, the Cupertino company clearly warns against using this method

Don’t put your iPhone in a bag of rice because the tiny rice particles may damage it.

– . Apple also warns against drying the phone “using an external heat source and compressed air,” and against placing foreign objects, such as a cotton pad or paper towel, in the USB/C or Lightning charging connector.

So how do you deal with a flooded phone? Apple advises that you first disconnect the cable from your iPhone and do not reconnect it until the device and the cable are completely dry. To dry your iPhone:

• Tap the phone gently against your palm with the connector facing down to remove any remaining liquid. Leave your phone in a dry place with good airflow.
• After at least 30 minutes have passed, start charging your iPhone.
• If the message appears again, there is still liquid in the connector or under the cable contacts. Leave your iPhone in a dry place with good airflow for a day. While you wait for it to dry, you can try to charge your iPhone again or connect the accessory. The drying process may take up to 24 hours.
• If your phone has dried out but still won’t charge, unplug the power cord from the power adapter and unplug the power adapter from the wall outlet (if possible), then plug it back in.