How To Waterproof Your Phone (5 Options)

Summer is here, and for everyone who goes into a mild state of panic when presented with the image above, here are five legitimate ways to keep your smartphone dry this summer. (We promise these are legitimate waterproofing methods and not at all inspired by the fake iOS 7 ads that circulated the internet in September)

Waterproofing your phone

1. Ziploc bag

One of the cheapest and easiest ways to waterproof your phone is to simply put it in a Ziploc bag. This is especially good for the beach as it will also keep sand out of your phone, and you will still be able to use your phone through the bags. The best way to ensure that no water can reach your phone is to use two bags. For a more extreme version of this (to use if you’re going kayaking, for example), you can use a vacuum-sealing device such as a food saver to vacuum-seal your phone in a plastic bag.

2. Phone cases/skins

If you want a more aesthetically pleasing solution, waterproof phone cases and skins come in many different designs. It is generally easier to use the phone through these cases than through Ziploc bags because they are tighter on the phone than a plastic bag. Before trying underwater photography with your smartphone, however, make sure to test the effectiveness of the phone case.

3. Liquipel

For those in need of a permanent waterproofing solution, Liquipel is a company that offers just that. For $60, the company will treat your phone with a waterproofing solution and send it back to you. Your phone only needs to be treated with Liquipel once, but their website warns that it is best for accidental situations in which your phone gets wet: if you’re looking to take your phone swimming, Liquipel is not guaranteed to completely protect it.

4. NeverWet

If you do want to take your phone underwater with you, NeverWet is a similar product to Liquipel that will allow you to submerge your phone. You can buy NeverWet at Amazon.com, it comes in two spray cans, and, unlike Liquipel, needs to be reapplied because it wears off.

5. DIY Carrier

If you need to have your phone with you in a situation where it is likely to get wet but don’t need continuous access to it (for example, on a boat) it is easy to make a DIY watertight carrier out of old plastic jars. This tutorial show how to make one that not only keeps water out, it also floats!

If you do manage to get your phone wet this summer, keep calm and put your phone in rice or another absorbent material for at least 24 hours before attempting to turn it back on. This may not work, but it is definitely worth a try before you go out and purchase a new phone.

Author: MaryElizabeth Koepele