How to monsoon-proof your phones, laptops and home appliances

The rains have started hitting many parts of the country and have officially brought the monsoon season to a start. For students and adults across most of the country, that means enjoying the rain with a bowl of hot pakodas. Unfortunately, the rain is also notorious for destroying electronics and home appliances, sometimes quickly and sometimes over time.

Rain can destroy circuit boards and corrode metal over time, making exposure to rain dangerous for most pieces of technology. However, there are steps you can take to make sure rain doesn’t cause you massive charges for repairs. Check out some of the best tips for rain-proofing your tech and appliances below.

Smartphones

Protecting your phone is going to be much more difficult compared to other pieces of tech, especially if you’re a frequent traveller. Since our smartphones are usually with us all the time, any time you’re exposed to the rain, your phone is exposed too. To keep it safe, invest in a waterproof pouch (you can find all shapes and sizes online).

ALSO READ: 10 things you didn’t know your smartphone could do

You can also invest in protective cases for protection against drops since hands can get slippery during wet monsoon days. For making sure your phone’s ports don’t let water in, you can choose cases that come with built-in flaps, or even protective plugs that you can use to cover your USB Type-C and 3.5mm ports. These plugs can also be used with tablets, which usually do not have a lot of options when it comes to protective cases.

There may be situations wherein all such measures, no matter how effective they may seem to be, aren’t enough to protect your smartphones though. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to check out accidental and liquid damage plans for your smartphone, which can help ensure any damage to your devices doesn’t burn a hole too large in your pocket. If you’re wondering which one to get, ZipCare’s got you covered. However, remember that any accidental and liquid damage plans can only be purchased when buying your smartphone itself, and not after.

Tablets

Tablets offer a lot of convenience for academic and entertainment purposes alike. They offer a viewing experience, and the capabilities laptops do, but at the same time, the easy portability of a smartphone. 

Tablets are also at times used as a substitute for smartphones, which makes protecting them all the more essential. To keep it safe, therefore, consider investing in a waterproof sleeve or flip cover. In case you decide to purchase a cover for your tablet, consider purchasing one which comes with plugs that cover its USB Type-C and 3.5mm ports, the same as smartphones. 

Just like smartphones, while one may take all the steps they possibly could to protect it, there also may be times when none of it suffices, and their tablet invariably ends up getting damaged in the rain. This is where Croma’s ZipCareProtect Damage Advanced plans for tablets comes in, with full coverage for both, accidental as well as liquid damage to one’s device. However, as in the case of smartphones, these plans can also be bought only when buying your tablet, and not after.

Laptops

Of all the tech you’ll carry around, your laptop is likely the most expensive. To protect it from water, invest in a waterproof bag, or at least a waterproof cover for your existing bag. Avoid using bags or backpacks with an open design which allows water to get inside.

If you suspect water could have gotten too close to your laptop, avoid turning it on until you can dry the laptop as much as possible. In case of water damage, take your laptop to an authorised service centre as soon as possible.

One can also always consider investing in an accidental/liquid damage plan for their laptop. These plans cover the repair costs for laptops damaged because of water, whether due to the rain, or even accidental spills, dents and dings. It is always a good idea to invest in such plans, to ensure one can protect their investment for a long time. If you’re wondering just which one to purchase, we highly recommend checking out Croma’s ZipCare Protect Damage Advanced plans for laptops. The same way as with smartphones and tablets, these plans can also be bought only when buying the laptop itself, and not after.

ALSO READ: 5 waterproof bags and accessories to help you travel in style for the monsoon season

Earphones

Sure, your laptop or smartphones may well be the most expensive gadget you carry to college or work, but they certainly aren’t the only ones. There are several smaller gadgets one depends on as well. One of them being earphones and headphones. 

Your earphones are more than likely to be the first devices exposed to water if you happen to get caught in the rain, as the rest are mostly either in your bag or pockets. What do you do to protect them then? Well, first off, is of course taking them off and storing them safely. How do you store them safely, though? Consider investing in a silicone cover for your TWS earbuds, which will help in protecting them to some extent, if not completely. For larger headphones, consider investing in a waterproof case for the same, or a waterproof bag with a rain cover. 

Smartwatches

Always on your wrist, your smartwatch is yet another gadget which is amongst the first to get exposed to the rain. 

These nifty little devices can do everything from tracking your SPO2 levels to your heart rate, your sleep, as well as set important reminders, answer and reject calls, act as a remote control for your music and your smartphone camera, and much more.  

It’s only fair that we do our bit and give them a little TLC too.  

Though most smartwatches and fitness trackers do come with a water-resistant rating, it’s always a good idea to invest in waterproof silicone bands to protect it from the rain, and bumper cases, which in addition to the rain, also helps protect them against the odd bumps, dents and dings on the train, while on the morning commute to work. 

ACs and air coolers

ACs can develop a lot of problems if used incorrectly during the rainy season. To prevent hefty service costs, make sure the outdoor unit (in case of a split AC) is kept clean at all times, clean your air filters regularly and do not operate the AC when the windows/doors of a room are left open. If your AC has a dry mode, use it if you live in a high-humidity area.

Coming to air coolers, one must know that due to the high humidity conditions during rain, air coolers will not be very effective. This is because the humidity prevents the cooler’s base working principle (cooling via evaporation) from kicking into action. Hence, it isn’t the best idea to use your air cooler during monsoon. That said, you can still keep it safe by keeping the cooler properly covered before storage.

Refrigerators

A refrigerator’s main enemy during the rains is excessive humidity and bacteria build-up. Excess moisture in the refrigerator can cause all kinds of problems from unwanted odours to mould on your food. To prevent this, make sure your refrigerator door seals have no gaps or cracks. Avoid leaving the door open and check for stains and moulds whenever you can.

You can also deep clean your refrigerator at regular intervals, by taking out all the shelves and thoroughly cleaning the insides with some warm water, mild soap and a little disinfectant.

Washing machines

To keep your washing machine in peak health during monsoon season, clean the tubs and components like the lint collector regularly. Make it a point to keep your washing machine as dry as possible. You can do this by keeping the lids open for a while after each wash, or planning your laundry in order to wash more clothes in one go instead of multiple smaller washes. Deep cleaning your washing machine once in a while will also help it stay free of mould.

ALSO READ: Deep cleaning your washing machine: What it is and how to do it

TVs

Just like refrigerators, TVs will not do too well when there is a lot of moisture and humidity around. To prevent this, you can use dehumidifiers in the living room or even plant moisture-absorbing plants around. Using an exhaust fan to expel high-humidity air when you cook in the kitchen or take a shower in the bathroom will also help keep the humidity inside the house minimal.

You can also keep the TV away from direct sunlight to avoid quick evaporation, and the rise in humidity caused due to it. Other measures include regularly wiping down your TV with a clean, dry cloth and using a waterproof case to cover TVs that you use outdoors.