Putting a Wet Phone in Rice Fixes Water Damage

Rice is a poor desiccant that removes moisture slowly while shedding starch dust that can lodge in ports, speakers, and connectors, potentially causing corrosion and short circuits when power is reapplied. Water damage occurs from two mechanisms: immediate electrical shorts from conductive paths, and corrosion of traces and components over hours or days. The correct immediate response is to power off the device, disassemble if possible, and air-dry in a warm, low-humidity environment (or use silica gel, a superior desiccant). Applying power to a wet phone before complete drying guarantees failure. Rice's popularity persists because phones sometimes survive water exposure naturally; survivors are misattributed to rice rather than the repair process and device design.