3 Things To Try If Your Compact Camera Gets Soaked in Water

Let me show you 3 things you can do to rescue a wet camera yourself.

First, remove your battery.

Then, pull out your memory card. Don’t switch on your camera to see if it’s still working. Once you do that, you might have just short circuited your gadget and sent it to the camera nirvana.

Okay, let’s start the healing process.

1.Rice
Put your camera and the battery in a bowl of uncooked rice. Let them rest for 24 hours. While you wait, pray that it works.

No one knew who started this healing ritual. But we know that a Washington post reporter had rescued his toilet ruined Blackberry using this method (he claimed it was clean water though).

Popular Mechanic and Lifehacker — a site dedicated to technology and clever life tricks also points you to this same route. One of it’s post screams “Rice resurrects even the most soaked of gadget!”.

The theory behind this voodoo-like ritual is simple. Rice sucks moisture.

2.Cat litter
If the rice method is like being treated by your family doctor, using cat litter gels is like getting treated by a specialist.

You don’t need much — but make sure it’s labelled ‘crystal’ litter. Since 2kg of the moisture sucking silicon gel handles a month worth of cat’s pee and poo, a scoop should be more than enough.

Put your camera, battery and the crystal litter in a close container. Let them rest for 24 hours.

Yes, you could use small desiccant bags that you find in your shoe box too. But it’s nothing compared to the litter gel.

3.Vacuum Cleaner
If you don’t have any rice or cat litter, use your vacuum cleaner. But try dry the outside and inside of your camera as much as possible before you start.

It’s better than the traditional under-desk-lamp or paper-towel method, but definitely not as good as the above two rituals for two reasons. First, some vacuum cleaners die if they suck water. Secondly, drying the moisture inside your camera is very difficult because the gadget is very compact and has tiny holes.

Whatever method you choose, don’t wait. As you’re leaving it under your fan or door sill, the inside is morphing into a high-tech mold garden.

There’s one more thing. If you bought your camera using a credit card, check your contract. Most card companies offer purchase protection plan or accidental damage. If you’re lucky, they’ll replace your camera.

So, do you have a wet camera ritual you’d like to share?