For Subscribers

Spilled Your Beer on Your Laptop or Phone? These Tips Can Help. Don't worry! There's a way to fix that.

This story appears in the July 2016 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »

farluk | Getty Images

Spills happen -- and usually when we least expect them. If you find yourself mopping merlot off your client's sleeve, fear not. A little know-how can fix both the spill and that client meeting.

Laptop

"It's the dissolved solids that remain that do the damage, and beer and wine have lots of them," says Joseph Kouyoumjian, president of MicroReplay, which restores liquid-damaged electronics. When that IPA spills, turn your laptop off and upside down, and remove the battery.

If you can't get to a repair shop, wait 24 hours (rice might speed up drying, but it won't mitigate damage). If it restarts, even once, quickly back up your data first. "It could run for two years or two minutes," he says. "So be ready."

Mobile device

Phones and tablets are more tolerant of spills, and your data is likely backed up in the cloud or on your SIM card. Power down the device, pop the SIM tray and dry the card and inside the slot, Kouyoumjian says.

Pants

According to the American Chemical Society, red wine gets its color from anthocyanins, which are great for heart health -- but not for cashmere. If you're the victim of a red wine spill, order a very dry vodka martini. Higher-proof alcohol will dissolve the wine stain and dry faster than water alone.

Check out more on The Savvy Entrepreneur's Guide to Doing Business in a Bar.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Buying / Investing in Business

Former Zillow Execs Target $1.3T Market

Co-ownership is creating big opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Growing a Business

If 80 Percent of Success Is Showing Up Then 20 Percent Is Following up

The excuses are many, but the solution is surprisingly simple.

Living

5 Language Apps That Can Change How You Do Business

Learn more about Babbel, Rosetta Stone, Qlango, and more.

Business News

College Professors Are Turning to ChatGPT to Generate Course Materials. One Student Noticed — and Asked for a Refund.

AI use in higher education is becoming more popular for students and professors.

Starting a Business

A Cambodian Refugee Paralyzed By Polio Says 'Not Much' Was Expected of Him. He and His Wife Built a Multimillion-Dollar Business That Beat All Odds.

Steve and Brittany Yeng were discouraged from pursuing their unique idea, but they didn't listen to the naysayers.