Originally Posted by Platypus
Leaving spills before treatment is the biggest problem. Corrosive and electrically conductive components of liquids like coffee or cola cause all sorts of problems if allowed to "sit & set". We regularly see video cameras at work that have had liquid entry, and while they can be dismantled and cleaned up, future reliability is uncertain. Deposits and electrolysis/corrosion can be invisible under surface mount components & other hidden locations.
The best hope for a unit that has received a spill, is to be immediately turned off and the battery removed. It should be quickly dismantled and thoroughly washed out with distilled water, then flushed with a pure alcohol and thoroughly dried.
And a technician will always find out what happened to a unit that is returned after suffering a spill... :)