How to Waterproof Your Phone — Or Fix It After It Takes a Dip

Accidental "pocket washes" and dreaded "toilet bowl slips" have long been the banes of a phone owner's existence. More and more sealants are hitting the market, which are supposed to help prevent liquid damage — but do their claims really hold water? Our experts at The Good Housekeeping Institute tested two promising options: Liquipel ($60, liquipel.com), a mail-in service, and Impervious ($30,invisiblewaterproofing.com), a DIY spray, to see how well they kept our cells safe.

What We Found

Both phones worked after tests that simulated light H2O exposure (soft rainfall, a spill mopped up quickly). But neither survived the equivalent of hard, continuous rain (the Liquipel phone lasted a bit longer before blacking out). Liquipel claims to help with spills, rain, and accidental immersion (say, in the toilet), but not to prevent damage if the phone is underwater for a while. Impervious claims to protect a phone submerged in up to one meter, but only if you've taken it apart and sprayed the internal circuitry first, which we opted not to do, since this can void a phone's warranty.

The Bottom Line

Both can offer protection against minor spills and light rain, but if your device stays submerged longer than a minute or so, it's likely sunk. Bona fide waterproof phones exist, but can be pricey, and waterproof cases are an option if you don't mind a bulky design. Otherwise, if phone meets pool, follow our instructions below.

How to Rescue a Waterlogged Phone

Whoops! If the worst happened, don't panic. If your phone blacks out, don't turn it on. And even if it's still "working," turn it off immediately.

The Pro Fix:

Try TekDry.com. For $50, they'll work magic (there's a 75% success rate if the phone arrives within two days and hasn't been plugged in); if they can't fix it, you don't pay.

DIY Steps:

1. Dry it ASAP. If it was briefly submerged or lightly soaked, dry the phone, battery, battery casing, and SIM card with an absorbent cloth.

2. Bag it. Place phone and removable parts (battery, SIM card) in a sealed bag of absorbent material (uncooked rice, cereal, silica packs) and set in a warm spot.

3. Wait. Have patience – give it 24 hours before you remove your phone from its safe haven and try to turn it on again.