For more than a decade, a majority of Americans have owned smartphones – and, inevitably, some of us have dropped our beloved device in a swimming pool, the sink or the toilet.

For years, many have thought putting a wet device in a bag or bowl or rice would help suck the moisture out. Tech experts have dispelled this as an urban myth. Apple has apparently reiterated the dubiousness of that strategy.

The tech giant says on its support site that you should not put your wet iPhone into a bag of rice. "Doing so could allow small particles of rice to damage your iPhone," its site reads. Apple recently updated the support site, U.K. news site Metro reported this week.

The notice comes because of a new liquid detection feature, Metro reported. "If your iPhone gets wet, a new feature sends an alert warning you that your phone is wet and you should wait to charge it," the story said.

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Did your iPhone get wet? Here's what Apple says to do

Here's what Apple suggests to do if you get a liquid-detection alert on your iPhone:

  • Unplug the Lightning or USB-C cable from your iPhone and from the power adapter or accessory.
  • Don't plug the cable in again until your iPhone and the cable are completely dry.
  • To help remove excess liquid and dry your iPhone, tap it gently against your hand with the connector facing down. Leave your iPhone in a dry area with some airflow.
  • After at least 30 minutes, try charging your iPhone.
  • If you see the alert again, leave your iPhone in a dry area with some airflow because it may take a day to fully dry; during this time you can attempt to charge it again.

What to do if your smartphone gets wet. Hint: don't put it in rice

It's not just Apple that advises against the rice drying technique. Samsung notes that some Galaxy devices are waterproof, so that helps. Should your device get wet, Samsung recommends:

  • Turn the device off and remove the battery, if possible, the electronics giant says on its support site.
  • Wipe any moisture from the exterior, earphone jack and charging port, perhaps using a cotton ball or swab.
  • If your device got wet from seawater, chlorinated water or drinks, you may actually want to soak it in clean water. (See how on Samsung.com).
  • Then, air drying is recommended for waterlogged devices. Put your device to dry in a well-ventilated area or in the shade with cool air (from a fan). Don't try to rapidly dry it with a hair dryer or hot air. After air drying, Samsung recommends bringing the device to a service center.

Tech insurer and repair company Asurion has tips, too:

  • Once you get your device out of the liquid, turn it off and leave it off.
  • Remove the protective case, if there is one and remove the battery, SIM card, and microSD card (if you have one).
  • Dab your phone dry with a cloth or paper towel.
  • If your device was submerged, you could try vacuuming gently around its creases and openings.
  • Don't put your phone in a hot place, such as in the sun. Keep it in a cool, dry place.
  • And don't put your device in rice. If you happen to have silica gel packets that come packed with new products, put them and your device in a sealed plastic bag for 24–48 hours. 
  • After your device has dried, try powering it on. If it doesn’t turn on right away, charge it fully and try again. 
  • If your device still won't power on, contact a uBreakiFix® by Asurion store for possible repair.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

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