How To Waterproof Phone for Shower? [Procedure & Cost]
The idea of having a waterproof phone for use in the shower is exciting. You don’t miss any calls, you can enjoy music, messaging, and all other features. Hanging out with your phone in the shower has become less daunting with ‘water-resistant’ phones.
Yet it remains risky to take your pricey gadget without adding extra protection. And especially when liquid water isn’t the only issue. There is a chance of falling down or soap exposure. Moreover, the steam can be equally damaging as well, once it settles down.
The consequences are many. The water might get into the camera lens and ports, damaging them. The screen might get air bubbles. Touch sensitivity might get affected as well.
Therefore, no device is 100% waterproof. It needs a certain level of safety to become fit for places like showers, which have 100% moisture and humidity.
How To Waterproof Phone for Shower?
Waterproofing your phone requires good shielding from water and steam. At the same time, it should be made sure that you are not much compromising the access to phone functions. Below are 4 effective ways to waterproof your phone for shower use.
- Using a Pouch
- Waterproof Phone Cases
- Shower Phone Holder
- Pocketed shower curtain liners
Waterproof Phone for Shower Using a Pouch Or Ziplock Bags
A waterproof phone pouch or a soft case is usually made up of water-resistant or waterproof materials like nylon, vinyl, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, and others. These materials give incredible security against water.
They are touch-friendly and quite clear to see through. Waterproof phone pouches come with a conventional ziplock seal system, along with clips or a lock to close the pouch.
High-grade pouches are made for extreme water sports like kayaking, diving, surfing, boating, etc. They have a rating of IPX8. The 8 in which indicates the maximum grade for waterproofness.
Designed for underwater usage i.e. for being submerged more than 1 meter underwater, IPX8 phone pouches will be an excellent choice for the shower.
They are provided with a neck strap, so while in the shower they can be easily hung on some wall hook. Almost all of the phone features are accessible like camera, messages, face recognition, sound etc.,
The pouches come in a variety of sizes for catering to different phone sizes. Some good recommendations for phone pouches are given below:
Required Items
Step by Step Process
1. Test the pouch
- Open the lock of the pouch.
- Fold a piece of paper and place it inside the pouch.
- Submerge it into water.
- Keep it submerged for around 30 minutes.
- Take it out and wipe it thoroughly from outside before opening.
- Open and check whether the paper is dry. Only proceed if the paper stays dry and there is no water inside.
2. Seal the phone inside the pouch
- Unlock the pouch and open the ziplock seal.
- Keep the phone inside.
- Release as much air from the pouch as you can. This will avoid condensation from occurring inside.
- Lock the pouch and hang it on any accessible wall hook in the bathroom.
Precautions
- Any sharp object attached to a phone that can cut through the pouch, should be removed.
- Touch ID fingerprint will not work with most of the phone pouches.
- Make sure the neck strap is strong and rigid before you hang your phone.
Time
It would only take 30 minutes to test and hang the setup in the shower.
Cost
The average cost of a waterproof phone pouch is $15.
Waterproof Phone for Shower Using Waterproof Phone Cases
Waterproof phone cases are the harder and more durable versions of phone pouches. Not only in the shower but can keep your phone waterproof at all times.
They are highly watertight and are shock absorbent as well. Being made from strong materials like polycarbonate, they are resistant to extreme temperatures, and of course water spills.
All the phone ports, microphones, cameras, and speakers are perfectly shielded by these cases. However, due to the hardcover, the sound of the phone can get muffled to some extent.
Moreover, proper installation of these cases is important, else water can still find its way into your phone.
Required Items
- Waterproof phone case
- Clean cloth
Step by Step Process
1. Close the phone case
- Snap close the front and back parts of the case together.
- Close the plug of the charging port.
- Make sure there is no opening left.
2. Test the phone case for being waterproof
- Submerge the case underwater for around 30 minutes.
- Place some weight on it to keep it submerged.
- After half an hour, take the phone case out and wipe it thoroughly.
- Using a coin, pull and separate both the parts.
- Check to see if the inside of the case is dry.
3. Install the case on your phone
- Remove any screen protector from the phone.
- Clean the phone screen using a soft cloth.
- Keep the phone face down in the case front.
- Put the back part on top of it.
- Snap close the two parts together, sealing the phone inside.
- Push in the plug of the charging port.
Precautions
- After exposure to soap, chemicals, etc., rinse the phone case with fresh water.
- Retest the phone case after every three months.
Time
It requires 30 minutes to test and install the phone case.
Cost
The average estimated cost of a waterproof phone case is $50 – $70.
How To Waterproof Phone for Shower Using Shower Phone Holder?
Shower phone holders are wall-mounted waterproof cases for phones. They are quite convenient to use while in the shower. Once mounted, all you have to do is place your phone inside, close the case, and enjoy.
They protect the phone against shower splashes, drizzles, and light moisture. Some are even lined with silicone to ensure perfect sealing.
If not mounted on the wall, they can be used as a phone stand in the shower. The screen is anti-fog, which means visibility is not compromised, even under steamy conditions.
They can be mounted on different surfaces like wood, marble, and various kind of tiles. Since they are specially designed for showers, they offer a variety of perks like strong adhesive hooks, 360° or 480° rotation, high touch sensitivity, quality sound, and more.
Required Items
Step by Step Process
1. Check for leaks
- Close the phone holder tight.
- Bring it under running tap water, and wet it thoroughly.
- Wipe the surface and see if the inside is dry.
2. Mount the phone holder on the wall
- Clean the surface where the phone holder is to be mounted.
- Remove the film from the hook and attach it to the wall. (The hooks can be separate or built-in).
- Wait for an hour for the hook to adhere completely to the surface.
- Attach the holder to the hook as per the mechanism of the product.
3. Put the phone in the holder
- Remove the phone case from the phone, else it might affect the touch sensitivity of the screen of the holder.
- Open the holder and keep the phone inside.
- Snap close the front case.
Precautions
Phone holders are not meant for underwater usage.
Time
It will take an hour for the phone holder to install completely.
Cost
The average estimated cost for the shower phone holder is $20.
Pocketed Shower Curtain Liner to Waterproof Phone for Shower
Pocketed shower curtain liners are generally made from vinyl, PEVA, PVC, polyester, and other materials or their blend. The material is water-resistant and touch-friendly. These curtain liners repel water and dry quickly.
Curtain liners are a fun way to use the phone in the shower. Because of their multiple pockets, you can use more than one device at a time.
You can use your phone at your eye level. Thus pocketed curtain liners allow your phone to be quite close to you. However, they have low durability and should be replaced every six months.
Required Items
- Shower curtain liner
- Hooks
Step by Step Process
1. Attach the hooks on the curtain rod
- Make sure that the curtain rod is rigid and fixed in place.
- Place all of the hooks on the rod. (You might want to keep the less appealing side facing the shower)
2. Hang the curtain
- Make sure the pockets are on the opposite side from the showering area, otherwise the water will easily get into the pockets.
- Insert your attached hooks through the grommet or the holes in your curtain liner, one at a time.
Precautions
Clean the liner on a regular basis to avoid odor and mildew.
Time
It would take around 15-20 minutes to finish installing the curtain liner.
Cost
The average cost of a shower curtain liner (with hooks) would be around $25.
Final Words:
By now you’d have known that it isn’t hard to make your phone low-key waterproof for shower use. Phone cases are a good option. They waterproof phones not only while showering, but practically all the time.
Waterproof pouches are great as well, because of their IPX8 rating. Phone holders can give you an amazing showering experience owing to their flexibility of usage. You can use your phone at whatever angle you prefer.
Shower curtain liners are less durable, yet they are still handy and allow you to keep multiple devices near you. And finally, you can always rely on Ziploc bags, if everything else seems like too much of an effort!
