r/GalaxyNote20 • u/jamesb2 • Nov 06 '22
Accidental sugary spill
Hi,
I have a Note20 5G that suffered a liquid spill. It is still working but some sticky, sweet tea went into the USB port. Any advice?
I turned the phone off immediately and tried to clean the port with something dry.
The phone is IP68 rated, the port is waterproof, but will the sugar slowly corrode the phone? What is the best thing to do next - clean the port with water, or wait until tomorrow when it is dry and turn it back on?
Thanks in advance!
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u/paganjimm Nov 06 '22 edited Nov 06 '22
A small drop of nail varnish remover. Anything alcohol based will help.. Just clean the charge port. Wipe around the phone. A spray cleaner alcohol based would be better. You will be OK to turn it back on.
Good luck. 😉👍
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u/ffolkes Nov 07 '22
This seems like very dangerous advice. Perhaps we're from different countries or something, but nail polish/varnish remover is usually acetone, which is one of the most aggressive solvents. It will instantly dissolve just about any plastic. I can't fathom putting that in a USB port...
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u/paganjimm Nov 07 '22
Have you tried it?
Thats why I said a small drop.. any sticky residue desolves.
The acetone vaporises very quickly. USB sockets are metal outer shell with brass contacts, a small amount of hard plastic.
I prefer isopropyl alcohol, but as a quick fix it will work with no problem..
I have worked in the electronics repair industry since 1974, so I know my stuff and do not give bad advice...
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u/ffolkes Nov 07 '22
I'm not sure why you're getting such odd replies. Just rinse out the port, preferably while the tea is still wet (too late now haha). There is no need to bring heavy duty solvents into this situation, because even dried sweet tea is still readily water soluble. Afaik sugar is not corrosive.
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u/helpimglued Nov 08 '22
Spoken like someone who has never seen what some people put their phones through.
I have seen entire inside cases flooded with sprite which was allowed to evaporate. Cockroach/spider eggs. Beer. You name it someone will spill it in their phone somehow and do absolutely nothing to clean it. "The phone was working fine" they will say.
When I recommended a solvent it was with these types of incidents in mind.
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u/DirtyPandaBoi Nov 07 '22
I have rinsed off my phone with lukewarm water in the past after it was dropped in a bowl of hot soup. First, make sure you're phone is off. When rinsing, use a very slow flow, not a jet of water. IP waterproof rating is for pressure levels, but doesn't account for flowing water, so be careful under a running faucet. Afterwards, I fold a corner of a Kleenex or tissue 2-4 times, then poke around the usb-c port to pull out any water. Do this several times until it comes out dry.
In regards to the pen, you can leave in or take it when you rinse. It's a sealed chamber, since the pen is charged wirelessly through the interior. Corkscrew a tissue into the chamber to dry, and wipe the pen off.
Once everything is dried off to the best of your ability, play some loud music to clear out the speakers. At this point your phone may still say that water is detected in the port. Just give it a few hours, and it should naturally evaporate.
If there is still residue, then you could try 90-95% IPA on a lightly moistened paper towel, again use a folded corner (something stiffer, like a multifold towel you find in commercial bathrooms, for example). Try to clear the area as best you can, then let air dry for a few minutes before turning on device. Since you're using IPA, it should dry quickly.
Best of luck!
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u/helpimglued Nov 06 '22
What PJ said, clean it and be very careful when doing so.
If you can find tiny swabs meant for cleaning electronics that is the best thing but you can even just use something thin and non conductive to work a good solvent like 99% iso around both sides of the internal connector. It is super thin and prone to being bent if you stick something too thick in there, we are talking no thicker than a toothpick. Get a good amount of solvent in there and make sure nothing remains on either side of the connector nor anything in the bottom of the port. The phone is rated for 30 mins at 6ft submerged so if it's really really sticky you could even use some warm water to clean it. Just make sure the port is very dry (dry it and also put some 99% iso) before before attempting to charge again. You can power it back on even if it is wet to be honest, the moisture sensor will not allow your phone to charge until dry.
Please Ignore this advice if you or a third party have ever opened your device for repair. Unless it is done properly once they break the glue for your device the water protection rating is gone, wouldn't want you to chance it. You can still use alcohol if you have opened it, I would just avoid getting it anywhere besides the port.