[Carl M @ Jun 20th 2007 2:09AM]

What to do when your electronic gadget falls into dirty water:

1. Remove battery.
2. Rinse with clean water.
3. Dry dry dry. Put in a warm dry place for a long time.
4. Cross your fingers.
5. Insert battery and try it out.

Step 2 is important if your gadget fell into dirty or salty water.
Otherwise, you can get corrosion, which can quickly destroy surface-mount ICs.

[hobgoblin @ Jun 20th 2007 3:23AM]

about point 3, no the kitchen stove is not that kind of place.

[- @ Jun 20th 2007 4:45AM]

The best warm, dry place I've found to dry electronics (and damp, single articles of clothing) is by the rear exhaust of a desktop CPU. It beats standing there with a hair dryer and doesn't take up any more electricity than what you're already using.

[keese @ Jun 20th 2007 8:16AM]

Think about it, hobgoblin. SMDs are basically baked to the PCB.
The stove may be a good place if you keep temperature at say 80°C.

Taking out the battery will stop electrolysis and rinsing with purified water or isopropyl will remove particles that short circuit the electronics.

Oh and thanks for yet another reason to not buy an that iPhone.

[Richard Lai @ Jun 20th 2007 8:59AM]

I heard industrial spirit does the job too, and the water has to be nothing else but distilled.