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What to do if You Drop Your Phone in a Porta Potty
Uh oh. If you’re on this blog, that means you’ve very likely dropped your phone or other valuable possession into the holding tank of a porta potty. We’re not going to lie, this isn’t a pretty situation, but all is not lost quite yet. Time is of the essence, however.
First things first, you need to get the phone out of the toilet, and that can be tricky to say the least. The last thing you want is to be the person who ends up on nationwide news outlets for getting rescued, like this woman or this man.
Let’s be clear. Under no circumstances should you attempt to climb into the holding tank of a porta potty, even if you drop your phone, wedding ring, etc.
Don’t Waste Time
If you can reach the phone, do that. Porta potties aren’t that deep and the odds are, your phone is sitting right on top. Even if you can’t see it, it’s probably just below the surface.
We know, it’s disgusting. But the blue liquid in the bottom of the toilet is a sanitary disinfectant, so you’re at least somewhat protected from the bacteria.
Of course, it might not have had time to kill all of the bacteria, especially if you yourself just topped it off. So be quick to wash your hands thoroughly as soon as you’re done with your fishing expedition.
You don’t want to wait too long debating if it’s worth it. The quicker you can get your phone, the better the odds that you’ll be able to prevent any circuit damage.
Find a Tool
But of course, we’re talking about a phone currently. If you dropped something non-electronic, like your wallet or wedding ring, you’ll have more time to plan a strategy that maybe involves less poop beneath your fingernails.
At the very least, if you see the ring, you can take the time to find gloves or use a plastic bag to protect your arm from the sludge. Just make sure to have someone guard the toilet so nobody drops a fresh load on your precious jewelry.
It’s possible you could have a tool handy that would make it easier. Like, if the porta potty is at a public pool, maybe you could snag the pool cleaning net to reach down in there. Chances are, you won’t be in a situation that convenient.
The best chance for recovering your item is to simply go arm deep right away. But if all that rutting around doesn’t turn up your missing item, or you just can’t bring yourself to go hands on, then it certainly can’t hurt to fish around with a net of some kind.
After all, it’s not every day you get to pan for gold like a 49’er.
Restoring Your Item
If the item you dropped was electronic, like your phone, then you’ll want to remove all moisture from it as quickly as possible.
If you can, disassemble it by removing the battery pack or any other parts that are easily detachable. Then, use a paper towel or toilet paper to dry it off as best as possible. You can also wrap it in paper towels and set it on your car’s heater vent for a few minutes.
As soon as you can, get home and submerge your phone in uncooked white rice for at least 24 hours.
If your phone fails to fire up or has a flickering screen, take it to a phone repair shop and see if it’s salvageable.
Don’t forget to disinfect! Germs are no bueno, and there’s no shortage of bacteria that can grow on human waste. If you’ve successfully reclaimed your valuable possession from the wastelands of a porta potty holding tank, be sure to wipe it down with disinfecting wipes ASAP!
Need a Porta Potty?
Now that we’ve gotten all of the crap out of the way, if you need a portable toilet for your next construction project or outdoor event, give us a call! We’re on call to help you with all of your on-site services. Dial us up today at (918) 397-7787.
