I have suffered many moments where I have dropped my cell phone into water. I’ve dropped 2 in the toilet, 1 into a puddle and dropped another into a bathtub. People that get their phone wet shouldn’t be hopeless though about getting it working again. If you follow the right steps, you won’t have to start looking for a new phone just yet. Here are a few tips to use if your cell phone is drenched.

First and most important, make sure the phone is off. If it has shut itself off from being submerged in water, leave it off. If it is still on, shut it off.

Second, remove the battery and anything else that can be removed from the phone. Expansion cards, sim cards, anything that can detach from the phone, go ahead and remove.

Do not attempt to turn your phone on anytime soon. If there is water inside, it will most definitely short out the phone. Water itself is usually not enough to damage your phone. Damage usually occurs when the phone is wet and turned on.

Let your phone dry in a ventilated area. Set the phone on its side. Let the phone sit for 3 days. Let it sit longer if you think the phone is still saturated.

Finally, when you think the phone is completely dry, reattach the battery and try it out. If it works, good for you!  If not, you’ve at least given it your best shot.