My lovely, beautiful, wonderful phone is dead - accidental drowning since it went through the washing machine. I need a new one ASAP - I'll definitely be needing to use one, even by tomorrow evening. Anyone got any ideas of where I could just buy a really cheap rubbish one that works straight away and doesn't need anything doing to it when I get it? People I know are always talking about getting their new phones unlocked - I need mine straight away!

This is probably too late but apparently if you do put your phone through the washing machine, you should not switch it on but leave it to dry totally for several days in a warm place (ie the airing cupboard). If you switch it on you cause a short-circuit and ruin it but if you let it dry out completely first there is a good chance it will work again.

Um. Oops. I plugged it into the charger straight away because I've had it happen before and that's fixed it... I know it sounds mad but...
Anyway this one isn't fixed from that. It's just completely dead, sadly.

My uncle once had a rather fantastic phone. He ran it over with the tractor, and my aunty put it through the washing machine, and it was still fine! Sorry to hear about yours... I guess they don't make 'em like the used to!

I drowned a 'phone a couple of years ago. I didn't switch it on, but left it to dry for a few days. When I eventually switched it on, it seemed to work fine at first but, unfortunately, it gradually started becoming more and more unpredictable. Gremlins had invaded it, and seemed to be breeding. They eventually took over, and the 'phone died.

I put my beautiful pink slimline Motorola Rzr through the washing machine last year and it didn't recover despite many attempts at resuscitation . The sim card survived though so I didn't lose my number. I was heartbroken because it was an anniversary present from my OH when they were a brand new design.

I needed a new phone straight away so I bought a pay-as-you-go from this bunch http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/ and just put my sim card into it (I only ever use paygo). I bought a pink LG Chocolate because I can never find black or blue phones at the bottom of my bags - pink is so easy to see! It arrived within a couple of days too and wasn't expensive.

Now I'm thinking of a pink Blackberry Pearl

You could always try Tesco?

Lucky (if I can call you that)

So this is the second time you have put your phone through the washing machine ? If it survived once, there is some hope it will do so again. Try putting it over a warm radiator (not directly, either hang it or put something like a towel in between). Take the battery out and sim card and dry them separately. Give it at least 24 hours before you write it off

Mole

Most phone shops sell well cheap pay as you go jobs for about £30 these days.

Mine was a motorola slimline razr one too! And it was pink! Clearly they don't survive well.

Nah the last phone I did this too was a different one, much sturdier, a nokia brick type! That one survived, this one is too delicate I think... It now turns on though - but looks like the display is irreparable... It's all just cloudy and impossible to see.

Carphone Warehouse sounds good! I kind of need a phone by tomorrow though, if I call into the shop will I be able to walk away with one do you think? I think my SIM card might be alive, I'm not sure...

Ah well, I'll just have to go and wander around town, ask in Curry's and try to just find somewhere where I can get a cheap one. Tesco might be a good idea... Though I've never seen one in York!

I didn't reply to everyone individually since I have to leave for choir in about three seconds, but of course anyone can call me Lucky!

I once dropped on in the loo, but was quick enough to retrieve it before it did any damage !

There are two branches of Tesco in York, Lucky! One of them is just opposite the college, where I am now. It's the other side to the university though. You can get the number 4 bus from the university into town, and then the number 3 bus straight to Tesco. It is a gibongous Tesco and has many phones! Let me know if you require further direction!

Ah thank you! I'll check that out when I go into town in a while!

If you go to the massive Tesco by the college, be sure to check out the hand dryers in the toilets. They are amazing.

But presumably not much use for drying out drowned mobiles?

There's an idea.

not the new Dyson Airblades by any chance - at last a dryer that really dries your hands!


Lost my phone down a drain once getting out of my car, it was insured - but they asked if I was absolutely sure it couldn't be used by anyone before they'd shell out for a replacement

Yes I'll second carphone warehouse, had some good service from them over the years. You can always sell on ebay or keep as a spare if you don't like it later

It's about time there was a hand-dryer like the Dyson - they are very good!

These seem to be based on an old concept. Mitsubishi Electric made similar devices back in the heady days of 1996 as I recall...

Old it might be, but it's a very good concept!