When it comes to fixing your tablet, the most important rule to follow is that you shouldn't attempt it unless you fully understand what you're doing. It's far safer to send it in for service than to brick it by following poorly suggested repairs at home. While there are safe ways to fix minor issues yourself, any of the 3 terrible suggestions on this list should send you running for the door fast. After all, so much of your life is stored on your device--why risk losing it?

Microwave It to Improve Battery Life

Simply put, there is absolutely no truth to this rumor. Sadly--at least for the people who have tried it--the tip itself is little more than a cruel joke played by unscrupulous internet trolls. All that you'll achieve if you try to microwave your tablet is a burned, blackened, bricked device that has no hope of being repaired--not for all the love or money in the world.

Instead, you can attempt one or more of these safe techniques:

• Be sure that you discharge the battery completely before plugging it in
• Keep your tablet out of extreme temperatures
• Remember to manually shut down apps when not in use
• Turn your display brightness down to 50 percent or less
• Set your display to turn off after 15 seconds or less

None of these suggestions will correct a dying battery, but they will help to extend and preserve what battery life you have currently. The most sure-fire way to correct battery-related issues is to use a branded charger and replace the entire battery every two to three years.

Dry it Out With a Clothes Dryer/Blow Dryer When You Get It Wet

It happens to the best of us now and again--you're getting ready in the morning, and boom, suddenly your device is in the sink or your morning glass of java. If you're really unlucky, the toilet becomes its landing pad instead. When this happens, panic can send you into a frenzy.

It's tempting to look for a quick fix right away, but this can lead you down a bad path. If you've run into the suggestion that you should dry it out as quickly as possible using a clothes dryer or blow dryer, know that this suggestion is false.

At first glance, it seems logical. Heat makes moisture evaporate more quickly. The issue here is that heat also melts electrical components, destroying or breaking the precious connections that make your device work.

Instead, follow a few of these safe suggestions when you find it's raining down stress:

• Power the device down as quickly as possible
• If your model has a removable battery, battery door, or cover, remove those, too
• Place the device or the parts into a zippered baggie full of instant rice and don't disturb it for at least three full days

The takeaway here is that your goal should be to dry the device out slowly and as naturally as possible. The second you introduce heat or forced air, you potentially cause damage that may do more harm than good. 

Extra tip: If you've spilled sticky liquids on your device, skip the steps above and contact a repair specialist directly. This always requires full dismantling and highly detailed cleaning--something which just isn't possible at home.

Buff the Screen With Toothpaste

Scratches are the bane of existence for many tablet owners. They make everything from gaming to handling tasks more difficult. Much like an un-erased line on a freshly cleaned chalkboard, they are just annoying and distracting enough to make you search for an easy fix.

While many people suggest using plain white toothpaste, the science behind this fails and the tip ends up becoming counterintuitive. Those who believe in the method trust that the minimally abrasive texture of plain white toothpaste can buff out minor scratches. Unfortunately, toothpaste is far more abrasive than you might think.

If you try this, you will find that scrubbing your screen with toothpaste simply introduces newer, smaller scratches. You may get lucky and abrade out the larger scratch, but you'll make your screen look like a spiderweb in the process. Your teeth may benefit from toothpaste, but it's not quite as suitable for your device.

Unlike the other tips in this list, a scratched screen isn't quite so easy to repair at home. You can try:

• Cleaning it well using eyeglass cleaner and an eyeglass cleaning cloth
• Covering it with a fresh sheet of screen protecting plastic

Aside from this, deep scratches are invariably permanent. A screen repair, although expensive, is the only true way out.

If you're like most people who own a tablet, your device is a lifeline to the information, entertainment, and socialization you need on a daily basis. While accidents are truly just an unpleasant fact of life, it's important that you don't do more harm than good trying to reverse any damage. For assistance with recovering a damaged device, contact a repair service like Nation's First Office Repair.

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