You washed your phone. Here's what to do right now.
Move fast, then be patient, in that order. The next minute matters, and then the hardest part is
leaving it alone. Here's the honest playbook: what actually helps, why rice doesn't, and why "water resistant"
won't save you here.
Do this in the next 60 seconds
Turn it off, and don't turn it back on to test it. Power running through a wet board is what actually kills phones. If it's already off, leave it off.
Take it out of the case and pull the SIM tray. Pop the SIM/eSIM tray to open the phone up and let water escape. (Most modern batteries aren't removable, don't force anything.)
Dry the outside gently. A soft cloth. Don't shake it hard or blow into the ports. You'll just drive water deeper into the phone.
Do NOT charge it. Plugging in a wet phone can short the board for good. If it shows a "liquid detected" warning, that's your phone telling you to wait.
Put it somewhere dry with moving air. Room temperature. Not a hairdryer, not a radiator, not the oven. Heat warps seals and screens.
Now the honest part, starting with the rice
Rice is a myth. It's the first thing everyone reaches for and it's the one that doesn't help. It's slow, and the starch and dust can work into the ports and speaker mesh. Plain dry air does about the same job, and silica-gel packets do it better. Skip the pantry. Here's the full breakdown of why.
"Water resistant" doesn't mean wash-proof. IP67/IP68 ratings are tested in clean, still water for a few minutes. A wash cycle piles on hot water, detergent, pressure, and long tumbling that blow past those limits and break down the seals. Treat it as water damage even if the box said "water resistant". Here's exactly why a washer beats your phone's rating.
Time beats every trick. Give it 24–48 hours untouched, longer if you can. Testing it early. Powering on or charging to "just check". Is the most common way people finish off a phone that might have dried out fine.
Water damage usually isn't covered. Standard warranties exclude liquid. AppleCare+, carrier plans, or credit-card coverage might help. Check before you pay for a repair.
Your photos are probably fine. Even if the phone isn't. If you back up to iCloud or Google, your photos,
contacts, and messages live in the cloud, not just on the device. And even a phone that won't power on can often have its
data recovered by a professional, so don't wipe it or throw it away until you've confirmed what's backed up.
Save the steps before you need them again
Get the free one-page Wash Rescue Guide. The exact 60-second checklist for phones, plus what to do for AirPods, hearing aids, and watches. Keep it handy for next time (there's usually a next time).
No spam. We'll also let you know when WashDog launches.
Quick answers
What should I do if my phone was in the washing machine?
Don't turn it on or plug it in. Dry the outside, pull the case off, and leave it somewhere dry with moving air for at least 24–48 hours. If you see a "liquid detected" warning, wait for it to clear before charging.
Does rice actually work?
Not really. It's slow and can shed starch and dust into the ports. Dry, moving air does about the same; silica-gel packets do better; time does most of the work.
My phone is water resistant, am I okay?
Don't assume so. Those ratings are for brief dips in clean water. A hot detergent wash cycle exceeds them and degrades the seals. Treat it as water damage and dry it properly.
How long before I turn it on or charge it?
At least 24–48 hours, and don't charge until it's fully dry. If you see a "liquid detected" warning, wait for it to clear.
Will insurance cover it?
Standard warranties usually don't cover liquid damage, but AppleCare+, carrier, or credit-card protection might. Check what you have first.
What about my photos and data?
If you back up to iCloud or Google, they're safe no matter what happens to the phone. Even a dead phone can sometimes be recovered. Don't discard it until you've checked.
The phone is the thing you're most likely to leave in a pocket.
It rides in every pocket you own, and the one time you're rushing, or someone else starts the load. Is the time
it goes through. Checking pockets by hand works right up until the moment it doesn't.
WashDog is that check, made automatic. It's a small device that watches your washer and catches tagged
valuables, and many devices on their own, before the cycle starts.
Green: you're clear
Red ring + a bark: stop, something's still in there
It won't promise to save everything, nothing honestly can. But it catches the mistake before the water does.
We're launching on Kickstarter. Join the list and we'll send you $10 off at launch, plus the free Rescue Guide.