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My Canon SX30IS got slightly wet in salt water. Need your advise.

Started Apr 22, 2014 | Questions thread
Dale Buhanan Veteran Member • Posts: 4,280
Re: Try Contact Cleaner

I2K4 wrote:

Never with a camera (I own SX10), but with a couple of drink spills on computer keyboards I had excellent experience with electrical contact cleaner spray, available at shops like Radio Shack. Pure isopropyl alcohol and propellant, be sure it is not the kind of spray that contains lubricants or leaves any residue. Only an example, there are others:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102649

It's an extremely volatile solvent that will spray on in liquid to wash out the parts and restore electrical contact, then evaporate quickly. It's safe for plastics.

I think I'd drench the battery and other compartments and any crevices or buttons affected, clean and help the solvent into the cracks with a cotton swab, and let it dry thoroughly before inserting fresh batteries (not the ones that were wetted). Good luck.

For drink spills and oils and oily gunk what you suggest is an excellent option.  That's what it is made for.  The problem is that it is not a good solvent for salt residue.  Lots of pure distilled water and then very good deep quick drying would actually be better than the solvent, because pure water is the best solvent for salt.  But damage done by the salt water cannot be undone.  That is the problem.

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kind regards
Dale

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