Daughter Lyse currently has a bandaged hand, and I ordered a bathtub caddy for
her so she could still wash peacefully. It came yesterday, and there I was, trying
every metallic point from the tools drawer, and mentally writing a SCATHING review
of the product, suggesting they include the wretched screwdriver to assemble it.
And it had been there all along, that mysterious L-shaped thing-y in the plastic bag.
Great product! Would buy gain...
* * *
Home safety; what happens if I am sitting in a hot bath with a bath caddy, and I drop my turned-on phone in the water??
If a modern smartphone (the kind that charges with a USB cable and has a sealed battery) slips from your bath caddy into the tub while it’s turned on, the situation is usually far less dramatic than people imagine — but there are real safety considerations worth understanding.
⚠️ The short, essential answer
If you drop a battery‑powered phone (not plugged in) into bathwater, you will not be electrocuted. The voltage is too low and the current cannot travel through water in a dangerous way.
The real danger comes from:
A phone that is plugged into a charger
A charger that is connected to a wall outlet
A damaged cable or device that lets mains electricity reach the water
That’s when electrocution becomes possible.
🛁 What actually happens if the phone is not plugged in
If the phone is running on its internal battery:
The battery voltage is around 3.7–5 volts, far too low to harm a person in water.
The phone will likely shut off immediately.
Water may damage the phone, especially if it’s not waterproof.
You might feel nothing at all, or at most a tiny tingle if the phone is severely damaged internally — but even that is rare.
So: You are safe. The phone is not.
⚡ What happens if the phone is plugged in
This is where the danger becomes real.
If the phone is connected to a charger that is plugged into the wall:
The charger is connected to 120V mains power (in Québec).
If the charger, cable, or phone is damaged or gets wet, mains electricity can enter the water.
Water in a bath contains minerals, soaps, and salts — it conducts electricity well.
This can create a serious electrocution hazard.
This is why safety agencies warn strongly against using plugged‑in electronics near a bathtub.
🧠 Why the difference matters
A phone battery alone = low voltage, low risk
A phone + wall outlet = high voltage, high risk
It’s the same reason a 9‑volt battery is harmless, but a wall socket is not.
🛡️ Practical safety rules for baths
Never use a phone that is plugged into a charger near the tub.
Keep chargers and extension cords far from water.
If a plugged‑in device falls into the bath:
Do not touch it
Turn off the breaker for that outlet before removing it
If the phone was not plugged in, simply remove it and dry it.
If you want, I can also explain:
Why water conducts electricity differently depending on minerals
What happens inside the phone when it gets wet
How to safely dry a wet phone
Why waterproof ratings (IP67/IP68) don’t guarantee bath safety
Would you like to explore any of those angles, Louise?
Tell me about waterproof ratings...
Here’s the clean, reality‑based breakdown of waterproof ratings — what IP67, IP68, and similar codes actually mean, and why they don’t guarantee safety in a bath.
Everything below is grounded in the standards and explanations from the International Electrotechnical Commission and recent device‑testing reports.
🧩 What “IP” really means
IP = Ingress Protection.
It’s a standardized test score that tells you how well a device resists:
Dust (first digit, 0–6)
Water (second digit, 0–9)
Example: IP68
6 → fully dust‑tight
8 → can survive immersion deeper than 1 m (depth/time defined by manufacturer)
These tests are done in controlled lab conditions using fresh water, not real‑world liquids like bathwater, saltwater, or chlorinated pools.
💧 The common ratings on phones today
IP67
Dust: 6 (completely dust‑tight)
Water: 7 (immersion up to 1 m for 30 minutes)
Real‑world meaning: survives accidental drops in water, rain, splashes.
Limitations: not rated for jets, steam, hot water, soap, or deeper immersion.
IP68
Dust: 6 (completely dust‑tight)
Water: 8 (immersion deeper than 1 m; often 1.5–6 m depending on manufacturer)
Real‑world meaning: better than IP67 for depth, but still not “waterproof.”
Limitations: same as above — not tested for salt, chlorine, soap, or heat.
IPX7 / IPX8
“X” means no dust rating provided.
Water rating is the same as 7 or 8.
🛁 Why IP ratings do not guarantee bath safety
This is the part most people misunderstand.
IP tests are done in cool, still, fresh water.
A bath contains:
Heat (weakens seals and adhesives)
Soap/shampoo (changes surface tension and helps water seep into seams)
Movement (slosh, turbulence)
Minerals (conductive)
Manufacturers explicitly warn that IP ratings do not cover hot water, soapy water, or steam.
Even an IP68 phone can be damaged in a bath because the seals are not designed for:
Prolonged heat
Surfactants (soap)
Pressure changes from moving water
Aging seals (water resistance decreases over time)
🧨 The biggest misconception: “waterproof”
No consumer smartphone is waterproof.
They are water‑resistant, and only under specific lab conditions.
Manufacturers routinely state:
Water resistance is not permanent
It degrades with age, drops, and repairs
Warranties do not cover water damage, even for IP68 phones
🧠 So what happens if your IP67/IP68 phone falls in the bath?
If it’s not plugged in, the danger is to the phone, not you.
But the bathwater environment is harsher than the IP test environment, so:
It may survive
It may take on moisture slowly
It may fail days later due to corrosion
Speakers and microphones may distort
Charging ports may stop working temporarily
IP ratings don’t guarantee survival in a hot bath.
If you want, I can also break down:
Why hot water and soap defeat waterproof seals
How IP tests are performed (the exact lab procedure)
How to interpret IP69 and why phones rarely use it
How to protect a phone if you want to use it near water
Which direction would you like to explore next, Louise?
What happens if I drop an iPad in my evening bath?
If your iPad slips into your evening bath, what happens depends on one key factor: whether it’s plugged in or not. The safety implications for you and the survival odds for the device are very different.
Below is the clear, practical breakdown so you know exactly what’s at stake.
🛑 First: Your personal safety
If the iPad is NOT plugged in
You are safe.
An unplugged iPad runs on a low‑voltage internal battery (around 3.7–4.3 volts). That’s far too weak to harm a person in bathwater.
If the iPad IS plugged in
This becomes dangerous.
A plugged‑in charger is connected to 120V mains power. If the charger, cable, or iPad contacts water, there is a real electrocution risk.
Rule of thumb:
Unplugged device in water → device risk
Plugged‑in device in water → human risk
💧 What happens to the iPad itself
Even though many iPads have some level of water resistance, no iPad is waterproof, and Apple does not give iPads an IP rating like IP67 or IP68.
So the likely outcomes:
1. Immediate shutdown
The iPad will usually turn off instantly to protect its circuits.
2. Water intrusion
Bathwater is especially harsh because it contains:
Heat
Soap
Shampoo
Skin oils
Minerals
These defeat seals much faster than clean, cool lab water.
3. Corrosion over hours or days
Even if it seems fine at first, internal corrosion can slowly destroy:
Logic board
Battery contacts
Display connectors
Speakers and microphones
This is why water‑damaged devices often die later, not instantly.
4. Charging port failure
Bathwater almost always causes temporary or permanent charging issues.
You may see “Liquid detected in Lightning/USB‑C port” warnings.
🛁 Why baths are worse than pools or sinks
Bathwater is a perfect storm for electronics:
Hot water expands seals and weakens adhesives
Soap reduces surface tension, helping water creep into seams
Movement (your body, waves) pushes water deeper
Minerals increase conductivity
Even a device that survives a pool dunk may fail in a bath.
🧯 What to do immediately if it happens
If the iPad was not plugged in:
Remove it from the water quickly.
Turn it off if it hasn’t shut down already.
Do not press buttons repeatedly.
Do not try to charge it.
Dry the exterior gently.
Let it sit in open air for at least 48 hours.
Avoid rice — it doesn’t help and can introduce dust.
If it was plugged in, do not reach into the water.
Turn off the breaker first, then remove the device.
🎯 The realistic outcome
If it was unplugged: You’re safe, but the iPad may or may not survive.
If it was plugged in: Serious hazard, and the iPad is almost certainly dead.
If you want, I can also walk you through:
How to maximize the chance of saving a water‑damaged iPad
Why Apple avoids giving iPads official waterproof ratings
Whether a waterproof case actually helps in a bath
How to safely use electronics around water without risk
Just tell me which angle you want to explore next, Louise.
Is there any danger if I drop an appliance that is not turned on?
If you drop an appliance that is not turned on into bathwater, the safety situation depends on one thing: whether it is plugged into the wall or not.
The on/off switch does not determine the danger — the power connection does.
Here’s the clear breakdown so you can feel confident about what’s actually risky.
⚠️ The real rule:
Unplugged = safe for you
Plugged in = dangerous, even if switched off
🛑 If the appliance is not plugged in
You are safe.
Even if the device has a battery inside, the voltage is too low to harm you in bathwater.
Examples of safe if dropped in the bath (for you, not the device):
A phone or tablet running on battery
A battery‑powered shaver
A battery‑powered toothbrush
A battery‑powered radio
A laptop not connected to its charger
These can be ruined by water, but they cannot electrocute you.
⚡ If the appliance is plugged in, even if it’s switched OFF
This is where danger exists.
The switch on the device only controls the appliance’s internal circuit.
The cord is still carrying 120V from the wall all the way to the device.
So if a plugged‑in appliance falls into the bath:
Water can bridge the live parts
Electricity can enter the water
You can be seriously injured
This applies to:
Hair dryers
Curling irons
Straighteners
Plug‑in radios
Plug‑in shavers
Anything with a wall cord
Even if the device is “off,” the cord is still energized.
🧠 Why the switch doesn’t matter
The danger comes from the mains voltage, not the appliance’s internal state.
If the cord is in the outlet, the electricity is present.
Think of it like a lamp:
Even if the lamp is off, the cord is still live.
🛁 Practical rule for bath safety
Anything plugged in must stay far from the tub
Anything battery‑powered is safe for you, but not for the device
If a plugged‑in device falls into the water:
Don’t touch it
Turn off the breaker
Then remove it
If you want, I can also explain:
Why bathwater conducts electricity more easily than pure water
Which appliances are designed to be safe near water
How GFCI outlets protect you (and their limits)
Why phones and tablets are safe only when unplugged
Just tell me which angle you want to explore next, Louise
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