Originally Posted by RR_NDB
ITHO if they washed and dried it before powering up very probably we saved the portable VHF.
Right on the mark. It is also a way to clean up very dirty electronics, except for all kinds of disk drives that contain moving elements.
Pop out the clock battery. Wash it down well. Ideally use deionized water. But tap water can work. Then bake it out for a while at a modest temperature (120F or so.) Once it is completely dry power it up and go. Completely dry may take quite awhile at elevated temperatures even in very dry climates.
My sell phone survived a dunking in the mud via that kind of treatment.