Earlier we had an iPhone 5 come into the shop. This particular phone had been wet AND placed in rice. So why is it here? Because the rice did nothing but delay a proper cleaning and increase the odds of it not coming back to life. While we had it running in one of our ultrasonic cleaners (the same model mentioned in a previous post, and will be mentioned again at the end of this one), we decided to place with the iPhone 6's slo-mo camera. Below is what an ultrasonic cleaner looks and sounds like in "real life".
This is the same ultrasonic cleaner that was recorded in 120 FPS (frames per second) slo-mo. When you go to a movie theater to see a show, the projector's shutter opens and closes (basically resembling a fan blade that spins and whose blades obscure the light from the projector while the frame changes so it looks "normal" on screen) 24 times in 1 second, or more commonly referred to as 24 FPS. This video is slowed down to 120 FPS. Now you can actually see some agitation (tiny waves) in the water. Initially, the look and sound of the cleaner is "normal", then the slo-mo kicks in and it sounds more like a machine gun or helicopter rotor.
And this is the limit of the iPhone's slo-mo camera. Slowed down to 240 FPS, the waves in the water are clearer. These waves are caused by the high frequency sound generated by the machine. As the sound pulsates, it causes cavitation on a microscopic level. Millions of air bubbles rapidly form and explode or implode depending on the sound and tiny waves can be visibly seen in the water.
The cavitation created by the sound waves creates a "scrubbing" action on every surface surrounded by water inside the machine. You cannot clean every surface with a fiberglass scratch pen, or a brush, but you CAN with an ultrasonic cleaner. In the case of wet phones and other electronics, often, the reason the device no longer works is not burned out components, but rather corrosion built up on the tiny connections on the logic board. We have brought MANY wet phones back to 100% just by cleaning the corrosion off the logic board. That's not to say that components don't burn out when water enters the phone, because they can, and sometimes do. That is a post for another day though.
For just over $28.00, you can get the same ultrasonic machine seen in those videos on Amazon
For just over $28.00, you can get the same ultrasonic machine seen in those videos on Amazon
The ultrasonic cleaning solution mentioned above is sufficient for cleaning phone parts as well. If you're on a budget, this is the best combination of cleaning products available. There are better ultrasonic cleaners and solutions, but that will be mentioned on another day.
Remember to NOT use tap water in your ultrasonic cleaner. Doing so defeats the purpose of it because of the dissolved minerals in the water. Use distilled water only (and the appropriate amount of cleaning solution). The cleaning solution acts as a surfactant and improves the cleaning process.
Remember to NOT use tap water in your ultrasonic cleaner. Doing so defeats the purpose of it because of the dissolved minerals in the water. Use distilled water only (and the appropriate amount of cleaning solution). The cleaning solution acts as a surfactant and improves the cleaning process.
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