Why water stays stuck in the speaker
Speaker grilles have tiny holes, often smaller than a millimetre, with a water-repellent mesh behind them. Surface tension holds the drops across those holes, so shaking the phone is often not enough.
A low tone moves the membrane back and forth up to 200 times per second. The air pushed through the mesh breaks that tension and the drops come out. You will often see them appear on the grille.
Right after your phone gets wet
- If water got inside for more than a few seconds, turn the phone off first.
- Do not charge it while the port is wet. The moisture warning is there for a reason.
- Skip the hair dryer: heat damages the seals and the battery.
- Skip the rice too. Open air dries just as well, without dust.
- Run Water mode 2 or 3 times, then leave the phone somewhere dry for an hour.
Monsoon, beach, pool: when to switch to Deep clean
Rain water is fairly clean, so Water mode is enough. After the sea or a pool, salt and chlorine dry into a thin film on the mesh. Run Deep clean, then brush the grille with a dry, soft toothbrush.