Ring ring ring ring ring, toilet phone

March 4, 2010 2:49 PM

I dropped my cell phone in the toilet. I saved it from death, but now it smells. What's the best/safest way to clean it now?

(Posting anonymously because this is idiotic)

I had my cell phone in my shirt pocket last night, and after filling my toilet with solid and liquid waste, I leaned over to flush it and my cell phone dropped out, right into the toilet.

I grabbed it as quickly as I could, but I already felt the vibrating motor buzz a death rattle and saw the screen shut off. I quickly ripped out the battery and memory card, dried off the phone as thoroughly as I could, packed it in dried rice, and left it next to the furnace overnight.

Good news - I replaced the battery and memory card this morning, and the phone turns on and appears to work properly! Bad news - it smells foul. Not STRONGLY, but noticeably, and I AM going to be holding this thing like an inch and a half away from my nose, so that could be a problem. Also, it probably still smells bad because it's still contaminated with, uh, biohazard.

So here's my question: What's the best way to clean the phone safely at this point? Obviously I can't soak it in water or anything, but also I have my doubts that something drier (like say a Magic Eraser) will actually eliminate the residue.

Thoughts/suggestions?

posted by anonymous to Grab Bag (16 answers total)

Leave it in rice for longer--but this time, in something other than your standard white plain long-grain blah rice. Try something like popcorn rice, jasmine rice, or basmati rice, for something that may impart a more pleasant scent to your phone.
posted by Night_owl at 2:51 PM on March 4, 2010

Soak the parts that aren't electronic in vinegar, bleach, SOMETHING antiseptic before you give yourself nasty infections.

Maybe your cell phone company will be understanding and ship you a new one?
posted by oinopaponton at 3:05 PM on March 4, 2010

Try cat litter of the odour-absorbing variety.
posted by urbanlenny at 3:07 PM on March 4, 2010

Soak the parts that aren't electronic

If this isn't clear, I mean that you should take the phone apart, and thoroughly disinfect anything that's made entirely of plastic. Lower GI bacteria aren't something you want to breathe into your lungs.
posted by oinopaponton at 3:12 PM on March 4, 2010

Get a new phone. You are never going to be able to clean it well enough to remove all traces of nastiness. (Especially if it got so much in it that it still stinks after drying it out. )
posted by catatethebird at 3:17 PM on March 4, 2010

Clean it with a Q-tip and ethanol (rubbing alcohol) - as long as the SIM card and battery are removed, it shouldn't damage anything. That might not remove the smell unless it is on the surface, but at least it will clean it. You could also try sticking it in a Ziplock bag with baking soda for a while.

On the other hand, as someone who often touches poles in buses, doorhandles, and elevator buttons that are accessible to the public, I beg you to get a new phone. I'm not concerned about infections, but please, have some dignity.
posted by halogen at 3:19 PM on March 4, 2010 [4 favorites]

I'd definitely try storing it in kitty litter for a day or so. Probably the unscented stuff, with carbon or other odour-absorbing properties. Make sure the phone is bone dry before submerging it in clumping litter, though.
posted by cgg at 3:19 PM on March 4, 2010

2nding q-tip and ethanol, as halogen says.
posted by desuetude at 4:01 PM on March 4, 2010

No, ethanol is not a good idea. You could rinse it in a liquid specifically designed for electronics, e.g. Fluorinert. However it's expensive stuff, like $1/ml.

Unless you've got a smartphone that costs hundreds of dollars, I'd just get a new one.
posted by randomstriker at 4:39 PM on March 4, 2010

Dude, gross. Any method of safely disinfecting your phone is going to ruin it. Get a new phone.
posted by pintapicasso at 4:49 PM on March 4, 2010

You have nothing to lose by trying to clean the phone. Worst case, you have to buy a new one either from the stink or from your cleaning efforts. I would take out the battery and SIM card and then rinse it well in distilled water, then do the rice thing again for a long while before putting the battery back.
posted by procrastination at 6:30 PM on March 4, 2010

Either distilled water or an alcohol. An alcohol would work better, but the problem is they often melt glues used inside the phone. But if the option is this or new phone, might as well try it. Run some rubbing alcohol through it, with the battery removed and let it dry thoroughly (the alcohol should dry very well), and give it a try.

Use this advice at your own risk, I take no responsibility if it makes the phone worse
posted by Diplodocus at 7:09 PM on March 4, 2010

I succeeded in de-stinking a rubber halloween mask by sealing it in a large tupperware surrounded by piles of baking soda for around 24 hours. You might try that with your phone.
posted by alight at 8:13 PM on March 4, 2010

You dropped your phone in a pool of shit and piss, get rid of it.
posted by BobbyDigital at 8:44 AM on March 5, 2010 [1 favorite]

Maybe just start using the speaker phone ;-)

Seriously, though, ethanol. You should actually be able to drop the entire thing in an ethanol bath (turn off and remove battery first) and then just let dry for a day or two. BTW - this is what you should have done after it was soaked in water to prevent any oxidation from the water in the phone.
posted by kryptonik at 9:02 AM on March 5, 2010

Is it really, really expensive? Back up any data, like address books. Take it apart as much as possible. Clean with paper towels and that antiseptic alcohol-based hand gel, used generously. Leave in the sun, spraying occasionally w/ Lysol, for a couple of days.
posted by theora55 at 9:54 AM on March 5, 2010