How to Get Water Out of Your Phone Without Rice

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Expert tips to save your phone from water damage

Co-authored by Josef Storzi and Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: January 2, 2026 Fact Checked

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• What to Do First
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• Alternatives to Rice
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• Using a Drying Agent
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• Video
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• Expert Q&A
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• Tips

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If you've dropped your phone in liquid and need to dry it out, you've likely heard about submerging it in uncooked instant rice. But what if you don't have rice on hand? We spoke to phone repair specialists Josef Storzi and James Bell about what to do if your phone gets wet, and both experts agree that you shouldn't use rice. But before you try a safer alternative like crystal cat litter or desiccant packets, you'll need to power down your phone, remove any removable components, and remove as much liquid as you can with a clean cloth.

Best Way to Get Water Out of a Phone without Rice

Turn off your phone immediately if it gets wet. Then, instead of rice, place the phone in a container and pour crystal-based cat litter, silica gel packets, instant oatmeal, or instant couscous pearls over it. Allow the phone to dry in the container for 48 hours. If it's still wet, wait another day.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Before Using a Drying Agent

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1. 
   1
   Power off your phone immediately. "The first thing to do for any electronic device that has liquid damage is to remove its power source to stop the device from becoming damaged further," Storzi says. The longer you leave your phone in the water, the more water it will absorb, and the more potential for damage.

   • Be extremely careful not to get any water near the wall socket or any other electrical devices.
   • Many modern smartphones, including all iPhones beginning with iPhone 7, are water-resistant. However, some models can handle more water exposure than others. Even if your phone is water-resistant, you can still use these methods to dry your phone without harm. Each water-resistant phone has a special rating that describes how much water it can handle.
   • Phones with the IP68 rating, including all iPhones beginning with iPhone XS/XS Max, can be submerged for a longer time. All newer iPhones (beginning with iPhone 12) can be submerged up to 6 meters for up to 30 minutes. For specific details on your iPhone model, visit Apple's iPhone water resistance page.
   • Many Android models, including most Samsung Galaxy "S" models and newer tablets, are also rated IP68.
2. 
   2
   Remove the case and other components. Anything that remains connected to your phone can become damaged by water, as well as trap water inside. If there's a protective case on your phone, take it off right away. Storzi says to also make sure you've disconnected the charger and removed the battery (if it's removable). Additionally, remove your SIM card(s), as well as any SD cards.

   • Since not many phones have removable batteries anymore, Bell recommends taking your phone to a repair shop as soon as you can. "The first thing that shops do is remove the battery, because that'll stop rust and corrosion from starting," he says.
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3. 
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   Use a lint-free towel to dry off as much as you can. Wipe every part of the phone with a clean, dry, lint-free towel until you've removed all of the moisture that you can. If water is still dripping off, you could blow it away from the phone with your mouth or shake it back and forth. You should only rely on drying agents to remove residual moisture that’s worked its way into the components of your phone. Take your time—the more water you can remove with a cloth, the better off you'll be.

   • If you don't have a lint-free towel (such as a microfiber rag or eyeglass cleaning cloth), you could use standard paper towels or washcloths.
   • You could also shake the phone rapidly back and forth through the air.
   • Do not use a blow dryer or place the phone in an oven. Excessive heat can damage your phone beyond repair.
4. 
   4
   Suck additional water out with a vacuum. If you have access to a wet/dry vacuum like a Shop Vac, you can use it to suck additional water out of the phone. Other vacuums may work—just make sure the vacuum you use won't short out if it gets wet.

   • An air compressor set to a low psi could also be helpful in the absence of a vacuum. Just don't set the psi too high, as it could damage your phone.
   • If you have a can of compressed air, you can use it to blow water out of cracks and seams in the phone's exterior.
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Section 2 of 3:

Drying Agents That Work

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1. 
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   Crystal-based cat litter Storzi warns against using rice to dry out your phone. "Modern mobile devices are well sealed, which prevents the rice from making its way inside the device in order to absorb the water. In many cases, the rice may even cause more damage, as when the rice is exposed to liquid, it can leave a residue." Instead, try crystal cat litter, which is made of silica gel—the same stuff that comes in those packets labeled "Do Not Eat" (more on those soon). Silica gel is extremely absorptive and will do an excellent job of pulling residual moisture out of a water-damaged phone.

   • You can buy crystal cat litter at nearly any grocery store or pet-supply shop. Make sure to get a container that's at least 4 cups, or 1 to 2 quarts.
   • Do not use any other type of cat litter. Clay-based or powdery litters will stick to your phone and turn it into a wet, clay-covered mess.
   • Bell suggests skipping drying agents altogether and instead relying on a professional to dry out your phone. "Take the phone to the nearest qualified repair shop to have them start the treatment protocol immediately," he says.
2. 
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   Synthetic desiccant packets Synthetic desiccant packets are those ³⁄₄ in (1.9 cm) packets that come in various commercial items, including shoe boxes, dried foods (like beef jerky or spices), pill bottles, and electronics. Yes, the ones that say "Do not eat!" The packets are filled with highly absorptive silica beads (just like crystal cat litter), which will pull moisture out of your phone. You do not need to tear open the packets. Simply pile them up on top of your phone and let them pull the moisture out.

   • This option will only work if you’ve been saving up silica gel packets in advance for several months or have purchased bulk packets. One or two packets won't cut it—you'll need enough to cover your phone completely.
3. 
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   Instant oatmealInstant oatmeal is more absorptive than regular rolled oats and more absorptive than steel-cut oats. If you already have instant oatmeal in your home cabinet, it may be the most effective substance you can use to dry your phone. Just be aware that if you use oatmeal to dry your phone components, you may end up with a phone covered in small, gooey bits of oatmeal dust. Purchase a container of unflavored instant oatmeal at your local grocery store.

   • If you don't have instant oatmeal, regular rolled oats could be a decent (yet less effective) substitution. You may need to leave the phone in rolled oats for a day longer than instant oatmeal. Just don't try steel cut, as they take forever to absorb liquid.
4. 
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   Instant couscous pearls It's important that if you try using couscous, you're using the instant variety—instant couscous (like instant rice) is pre-steamed, which makes it more porous and able to absorb moisture. The small, dry grains will work similarly to instant rice, silica beads, and instant oatmeal to pull residual moisture out of your phone. You can buy instant couscous at any grocery store or supermarket.

   • The larger-sized couscous pearls (often called "Israeli couscous") won't get dust on your phone's components, and are large enough not to get stuck in any ports or openings. If you use standard couscous (the extremely small grains), you risk getting couscous stuck inside your phone.
   • Be sure to get an unflavored and unseasoned variety of couscous.
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Section 3 of 3:

Using a Drying Agent

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1. 
   1
   Place your phone and components in a 1–2  qt (0.95–1.89 L) sized container. If you’re going to cover your phone with a drying agent, you’ll need quite a bit of the substance you chose. So, look in your cabinets and pull out a large empty pitcher, a big mixing bowl, or a large saucepan. A clean, dry bucket will also work. Set all of the disassembled components of your phone into the bottom.

   • You can leave out the phone's plastic back cover, as it will air-dry easily.
2. 
   2
   Pour at least 4 cups (340 grams) of drying agent over your phone. Don’t be stingy with whatever drying agent you choose. You’ll need a substantial amount of it to pull the last remnants of water out of your phone’s electrical components.

   • Put a lid over the container if you’re using an inedible drying agent like silica gel.
3. 
   3
   Leave the phone in the container to dry for 2–3 days. It takes time for your phone to dry out to the point that it’s usable again. Let it sit in the drying agent for at least 48 hours. If you pull the phone out prematurely, you’ll end up reassembling it with water still lodged inside.

   • If you need to use your phone during this time, you could ask a friend if you can briefly borrow their phone—it's really important to wait this process out.
4. 
   4
   Remove your phone from the drying agent after 48-72 hours. Depending on the drying agent you chose, your phone may be dusty or dirty now. Clean it off with a dry, lint-free cloth, and make sure there's no remaining moisture.

   • If the phone is not dry, wait another 24 hours. Do not continue if the phone is still wet!
5. 
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   Reassemble your phone and try turning it on. Once the phone is dry, reconnect the battery (if removable) and turn your phone back on. Try it first without the SIM and/or SD cards inserted. If it starts up okay, you can reinsert the SIM and/or SD cards.

   • If the phone won’t turn on after you’ve dried it—or if it turns on but barely works or the screen has been damaged—you’ll need to take it to a professional phone-repair company.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  Does putting a wet phone in rice work?

  

  Linh Le
  Certified Mobile Repair Specialist

  Linh Le is a Certified Mobile Repair Specialist and the Owner of SC Mobile Repairs in San Clemente, California. With more than 12 years of experience, he specializes in smartphone, tablet, and smartwatch hardware repair. Linh has an iTech Mobile Device Repair Certification and an iOS Certification. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from The Franciscan University of Steubenville.

  

  Linh Le

  Certified Mobile Repair Specialist

  Expert Answer

  Not especially! Rice only absorbs moisture it comes in direct contact with, and the moisture you want to absorb is inside of your phone.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
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  Not Helpful 8 Helpful 25
• Question

  What do I do if my phone doesnt power on after drying it?

  

  Community Answer

  You'll have to take it to a phone shop for diagnosis and repair.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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• Question

  I placed my phone on a wet slab with the charging point facing down, but removed it immediately after realising that there was water. My phone is working fine, but is not getting charged regularly. What do I do?

  

  Butterfly

  Community Answer

  Probably the water has entered the charging port. Do not try to charge your phone while there's water in it, or it could damage the phone's electronics further, or even cause a spark. I'd suggest you try using a drying agent to dry the water – choose one by following the steps in this article, and leave your phone in it for 48-72 hours. Then, when the water would have likely dried, try and see if it charges. Take it to a professional if it doesn't.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 2 Helpful 7

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Tips

• If you do not have a drying agent, leave your phone in a cool room with a fan blowing on it.
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• If you're using an Android, you may be able to open up the phone to expose its insides. In some cases, all you'll need to use is a fingernail—other models may require a small Phillips screwdriver, like you’d use for a pair of eyeglasses.
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