What happens if you accidentally wash your bank card in the washing machine?

foto12541-1Things thrown into the washing machine in a hurry can present an unpleasant surprise in the form of a bank card forgotten in your pocket. When you find her in clean jeans, there is no need to despair.

What will happen to a bank card if you wash it in a washing machine, will it work after that, how to fix an unpleasant situation, read the article.

What happens to the card after washing, will it work?

Bank cards are made of plastic (PVC). This material is resistant to moisture, heat and chemicals. but there are vulnerabilities on the product - they are represented by a chip and a magnetic tape.

With chip

foto12541-2If the plastic is equipped with a chip, then it is very likely to be damaged.

This metal element often fails even during normal use. Aggressive machine wash will almost certainly damage it.

Detergents aggravate the situation. The more aggressive the powder, the higher the risk that the chip will oxidize. The card will almost certainly become unusable after being washed with bleach.

With magnetic stripe

If the cardholder information is contained on a magnetic tape, then the chance for its normal functioning after washing remains... If, during the active rotation of the drum, the plastic did not fall out of the pocket, then this can save it.

The risk of deterioration increases if the wash was carried out in hot water. Coins, keys and other things in pockets can damage the integrity of the magnetic tape.

Therefore, immediately after detecting a card, you need to check its dark strip for scratches. If they are deep, then there is a high probability of damage to the product.

Is there a difference between manual and machine processing?

Hand wash is more gentle not only in relation to things, but also to plastic cards... Finding plastic in your pocket is easier if the product is washed by hand. There will be no excessive friction in the can on the chip and magnetic tape, so the likelihood of their damage is reduced.

However, when washing by hand, there are a number of factors that can negatively affect the condition of the plastic:

  1. Things are often soaked in the basin for a long time. All this time, the credit card will be in soapy water.
  2. Washing is often done in boiling water.
  3. Aggressive detergents such as chlorine bleach can be used to soak in the basin. They are not poured into the machine. Such compositions will lead to damage to the product with a probability close to 100%.

Therefore, both hand and machine wash have their own characteristics.

What factors increase the risk of injury?

The card will not function after washing if the following factors have affected it:

  1. foto12541-4Hot water... If its temperature exceeds 40 degrees, the risk of damage to the product increases.

    The plastic itself will not suffer, as it begins to melt only at a temperature of 170 degrees. It is magnetic tape that is sensitive to hot water.

  2. Long wash cycle... The longer a tape is in water, the more likely it will deteriorate.
  3. Friction against rigid elements: about buttons, locks or washing machine drum. This happens when the card falls out of the pocket.
  4. High spin speed.

If, after washing, no scratches are visible on the magnetic tape, then there is a chance for its successful restoration.

What if you washed it?

If the card has been washed, you should try to restore it yourself by drying the product.

When a magnetic tape or a chip is irretrievably damaged, a visit to the bank is indispensable.

First aid

It is necessary to try to reanimate the valuable plastic immediately after its discovery. Don't panic. As practice shows, in 70% of cases, credit cards continue to function normally.

Actions to restore the product:

  • foto12541-5wipe the card with a soft flannel cloth to remove any remaining moisture from it;
  • put it in a dry place for final drying;
  • do not use a hair dryer, iron or other heat sources, let the plastic dry on its own;
  • inspect the magnetic tape and chip for damage.

When the card is dry, you need to walk to the ATM and check its functionality. Several operations need to be performed. This will ensure that it is working properly. If the chip or tape is read every other time, the plastic must be replaced.

If the machine is still drawing water, you can stop the wash cycle and try to open it.

Replacing plastic

If the credit card does not work and the information is not read from it, you need to go to the nearest bank branch and replace it. Calling the hotline is useless.

Operators will not accept applications for plastic recovery. The only thing they can do is block the account, which is not necessary.

foto12541-6Therefore, you need to act as follows:

  • come to the bank office with your passport;
  • write an application for card re-issue indicating the reason for its replacement;
  • submit an application to a bank employee;
  • wait for a call from the operator.

When the new credit card is ready, you need to go to the bank and pick it up.

Conclusion

Things should be checked carefully before washing... It is advisable to turn all pockets to the wrong side. This is the only way to protect your card from the “painful” washing procedure for it, to save your time, money and nerves.

Rate the article

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 stars
Loading...
Discussions

Wash

Cleaning

Scratches