HOW TO: TAKE CARE OF YOUR PHONE THIS MONSOON
Each day the clouds get darker and gloomier, almost threatening in a way. And though the heaviest downpour won’t deter our spirit to step out and go on with our day, when it comes to the safety of our phone, even a light shower can put the fear of God into us.
Unless your phone comes with a water-resistance feature, it will succumb to the rain, in some way or the other. We’re talking blurry display, less sensitive touch or even motherboard failure. So if you want to use up your savings on a nice holiday instead of a new phone right now, hear out what these tech experts have to say about it. We’ve summed up all their thoughts for your convenience.
Go handsfree with a Bluetooth Headset
If your phone is in a bag, a Bluetooth headset is an effective way to retain most of its functionality. The key in monsoon weather is making sure your wireless headset is waterproof. Sports headsets like the Plantronics BackBeat FIT give you voice and volume control, above-average protection from rainy conditions, long battery life, and a lightweight form that makes it conducive to wearing all day even if natural disaster hits.
Using wireless headphones with your phone while it is still in your bag is going to get better over time. Voice assistants (like Siri) will evolve and be able to handle more complex questions and provide better feedback. As of right now, the music listening experience is as good as regular headphones without the hassle of dealing with cables. The only downside is the need to charge another device.
Protection is better than care
Place your smartphone in a Ziploc bag. The bag will still allow you to use the touchscreen of the device while keeping it very water resistant.
Buy a waterproof case online as they are relatively inexpensive but work great-. If you’re in a pinch, use a plastic ziplock bag.
Crisis management
If you do manage to get your phone wet, the first thing you do is turn off the smartphone and don’t turn it back on for a couple of days. The ultimate goal is to dry out your smartphone, so it doesn’t short-circuit when you turn it back on.
If you get your phone wet, the following has worked for me before.
1) Switch it off immediately. 2) Try and drain as much water as possible from the device. 3) Put it in a bag, full of rice – the rice absorbs the water quickly. 4) Put the bag in a warm, dry place, such as the hot press. 5) Try turning it on, and if no joy, put back in the bag and leave for another couple of days. Leave it there for at least 2-3 days.
If your phone does get wet, immediately remove the battery, wipe it off, and wipe off the area of your phone that secures the battery. Some people I know recommend silica gels to absorb moisture.
Try using a vacuum cleaner to suck all the moisture inside your phone. Make sure there are no loose parts on your phone before vacuuming it.
Backup data just in case
In the case of rain or any disaster really, preventative measures are your best bet when it comes to protecting your phone in the scenario that it gets wet. One method that will guarantee your smartphone data such as your photos, videos, calls, texts, emails, and such won’t get lost is by using a data backup and recovery software. Backing up your data using software is highly effective and will keep your data from disappearing forever if your phone was to be damaged in a monsoon.”
However…
If the phone gets wet avoid blowing air on the phone as it’ll push the water to more parts of the device. The best way to dry the phone is to remove its battery and place the phone inside a bag of rice.
Or just opt for a waterproof smartphone
The latest phone models of major brands are waterproof like the Samsung S7, S7 Edge, S8 and S8 Plus, LG G6 and iPhone 7. I own the iPhone 7 and although it’s not meant to be used underwater for long periods, I feel comfortable going for a run in the rain, etc. It could withstand a monsoon rain as well. But the best waterproof phones are probably the newer Samsung flagship models.
