iPad in the swimming pool? There is hope

You had no idea your smartphone was perched so perilously on the edge of your bathtub. And you definitely didn't think you might actually knock it over the edge and into gallons of bubble bath and water. Yet you did. Now your smartphone is ruined, right? Maybe not. Yes, water is certainly an enemy of your favorite gadgets. But if you act quickly, you might be able to salvage even the most waterlogged of devices. Here's how.


Saving drowned technology


After you fish your device out of the water, do 1 thing first: Make sure that its power is off. If a battery is fueling your gadget, quickly yank that battery out. If your device does not feature a removable battery, make sure it is switched off. You might think it is the water that causes gadgets to go haywire. It's not. The electrical shorts that the water causes is what scrambles your devices. Whatever you do, do not to switch the power back on to see what damage has occured. By doing this, you'll only make things worse.


Other steps


Your next step will be to open as many air holes as feasible in the device. This means removing SIM cards, back covers, SD cards and ear hole port coverings. The greater number of openings you create, the more air will rush through the gadget. Secondly, vacuum out as much moisture as you can from your cell phone, tablet or iPod. Your ideal tool for this job is a vacuum which has a small nozzle. The more thorough you are , the better. Finally, drop your phone in a bowl of something that will dry it out. Lots of people recommend dry white rice. And this works, but Gizmodo comes up with a little something it says is even better—a bowl of dry Rice Krispies breakfast cereal. After 48 hours of drying time, turn your device back on. If you're lucky, it's going to pop straight back into life.


Keeping it dry


Of course, the easiest method to protect your devices from the water is to keep them dry in the beginning. This can be done by purchasing waterproof covers. There are several of them out there. In a recent story, the New York Times reviewed three options, LifeProof, Joy Factory Rain Ballet and Liquipel. All have their pros and cons, but each ought to keep your device dry if disaster should strike. But our best advice? Resist the impulse to bring your electronic gadgets to the pool or the side of the tub. Why take the risk?