Cell Phone Care

It's amazing how many people come into my store with broken phones in need of desperate repair. I will take the time to address proper cell phone care and maybe suggest cell phone accessories to prolong the life of your cell phone. I find that there are three major damages that occur. The number one damage to phones is dropping it in water.

Thats a NO NO! I've had countless numbers of customers dropping their cell phones in the toilet, the sink and etc. Sometimes there is a slight chance that the cell phone could dry out and function properly for a while. Even if the cell phone dries out, there is a high chance that it will stop working after a few weeks. The reason for this is because on the inside, mold will form and cause corrosion to the main circuit board inside. If your phone falls into water, take it out as soon as possible, then take out the battery and sim card, and then you let it dry. If you so happen to have a can of uncooked rice, put your phone in there. The reason why is that rice will help dry your phone faster. Wait till your phone dries and resist the temptation of turning it back on after a couple of hours. Let it dry overnight just to be safe. If youre extra handy, dissassemble your phone and brush the inside with a little amount of rubbing alcohol. That will disinfect it and help from mold and bacteria from forming on your warm circuit board. Get insurance if you know youre horrible with keeping stuff in working condition.

So heres rule one: If possible, do not use the phone while going to the bathroom. Call them back after you use the bathroom. It's also etiquette.

Another high reason of cell phone damage is to the battery. This is called overcharging. Sometimes when you buy a cell phone, the charger that comes with it might not have an IC Chip inside of it. The IC Chip regulates the amount of power that a phone receives. When it notices that your cell phone is completely charged, it stops sending power to your phone. You're phone also has this feature but its always better to be safe than to be sorry. The symptoms of over charged batteries include the physical battery being distended or bulged, your phone saying its full but when you make a call it dies out almost instantly, and if your battery just doesnt work anymore. Batteries aren't made to last forever. You would usually have to buy a new battery in a year or two anyways. Its just how they are made. The new Lithium Ion batteries also need to be trained. The first time you charge your phone, they say to charge it 10+ hours. To get the maximum battery life, you must then use your phone until its really low and beeping at you. Plug in the charger and charge it till its fully charged. If you fail to train your battery, you would not be able to get the maximum battery life.

Rule two: Try not to keep your phone plugged in the wall overnight or for more than 5-6 hours. Keep it plugged in until it says on the phone that its fully charged. Stick it on the charger when you get to the absolute bottom and charge it till its completely full.

The last category of problems is very diverse. It's physical damage. Physical damage is horrible to your phone. Treat it with care. Think of your phone as an investment and not a throw toy. Decent cell phones are quite pricey as well. A cheap cell phone here and a cheap cell phone there really adds up. Might as well get a good one and take care of it. I've seen damages from LCD screens cracked, flip phones snapped in two, and phones that look like its on the last strings of its life. Take care of your phone properly. Buy a protective case or a carrying pouch to keep your phone safe. This will help a little bit but ultimately it depends on the user. Get insurance if you know youre horrible with keeping stuff in working condition.

Rule Three: Treat your cell phone with care if you want to use it for a long time. Buy protective cases for it or a carrying pouch to prolong its life.

Allrighty then?