What should I do if I accidentally washed my headphones in the washing machine or by hand?

Earphones accidentally forgotten in your pocket may well end up in the washing machine or in a basin of soapy water.

The situation is quite common and unpleasant. You don't need to panic and throw away your favorite gadget to listen to music.

Read about what to do if you washed headphones (from Apple's iPhone, wireless and others) in the washing machine and how to dry them properly, read the article.

First aid

The less time the headphones are in contact with water, the better. Removing them from your pocket is easy for hand wash. This must be done immediately after detection. If the negligent owner remembered the headset only after starting the washing machine, you will have to wait for the cycle to complete.

First aid rules:

1. Remove the device from the wet pocket as soon as possible.
2. Disassemble the headset, remove all elements from it. If this succeeds, all internal parts are wiped with a clean dry cloth, toilet paper, or any material that absorbs moisture well.
3. Blow out the device with a hairdryer. This will remove moisture droplets, which will take a long time to dry. The air should be warm, but not hot, to prevent the internal parts of the headphones from melting.

   You do not need to purge the headset for longer than 1-2 minutes. Otherwise, there is a risk of overdrying the sensitive membrane.

4. Spread paper napkins on the battery and lay the disassembled device on them.
5. Leave the headset to dry completely for 3-5 days.

Do not turn on the device until it is completely dry. This can provoke a short circuit, after which it cannot be restored.

After drying, the disassembled headphones are taken out into the light and examined. If there are stains from water and powder on the membrane, it must be gently wiped with a bandage soaked in alcohol... The use of cotton wool or napkins is not recommended, as they leave fluff behind.

5 ways to dry

If the incident with the headphones happens during the summer and the heating is turned off, you cannot use the battery for quick drying.

In this case, you can resort to the following methods:

1. Dry the headset naturally. The room should be dry and warm.Leaving headphones in the bathroom is not recommended.
2. Expose the device to the sun. You must first disassemble it.
3. Use a fan. The headset is fixed in such a way that it is always under the air currents. The device should remain in this position for at least 3 hours.
4. Buried in rice. This cereal absorbs moisture well. To get her to pull it out of the device, it is completely immersed in a bag of rice and left for 12 hours. Before that, you need to shake the headset thoroughly and wipe it with a dry cloth.
5. Treat the disassembled headphones with VD-40 spray. This multi-purpose grease costs about 170 rubles and effectively displaces moisture. After applying the spray, leave the headphones to dry for 1-2 days.

The sound quality depends on how quickly the headphones dry. The longer the water stays inside, the higher the risk that the winding will start to rot. If after drying the device does not turn on and does not make any sounds, or only one side is working, it is possible that the wires were broken.

You can use some unusual advice:

• pour vodka or industrial alcohol into a suitable container;
• lower the device into it;
• turn on music;
• remove the headset after 10 minutes.

When the headphones are completely dry, they are tested for functionality. Surprisingly, sometimes it really helps. The alcohol dissolves the powder, thereby normalizing the sound. Try this method only if you have nothing to lose and you have to buy a new headset.

Wireless recovery features

If the wireless headphones have been washed, restore them like a regular wired headset... The device is disassembled, all removable elements must be dried separately.

The situation is aggravated by the fact that not only the speaker itself can suffer, but also the source of the signal: Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Therefore, it is necessary to remove water from them especially carefully.

At the same time, a wireless headset is a more modern device, therefore manufacturers often provide it with a waterproof membrane... It is able to protect the device from short-term contact with moisture.

The nuances of drying a headset from an iPhone

Unlike regular headphones, the iPhone headset is more resistant to moisture. Therefore, it is possible that after washing it will continue to work. The main thing is not to try to immediately connect it to your smartphone. Allow time for your headphones to dry.

Although iPhone headphones are better at resisting moisture than other headsets, they are not waterproof. Therefore, you need to use them with care, do not get into the washing machine.

Repairs

It makes sense to give headphones for repair if they are expensive. A cheap wired headset for 200-500 rubles is easier to replace with a new one... You need to take the device to a workshop if the headphones work, but with sound distortion.

Before agreeing to a diagnosis, you need to check with the master of its cost. In some service centers, only about 600 rubles are taken for the process of detecting a malfunction.

The master needs to be informed that the device has undergone a wash... Before signing an agreement on the repair work, you need to clarify how effective they will be and their approximate cost.

It is necessary to agree with a specialist that after opening the device and finding the cause of the malfunction, he called the owner and told the price for the services provided. After that, you can decide whether the headphones are worth the money spent on repairs or it's easier to buy new ones.

Depending on the city and the specific service center, the cost of repairs will differ. The average price range is as follows:

• replacement of 1 speaker - about 1000 rubles;
• cable restoration - about 500 rubles;
• replacement of a Bluetooth module - about 1,500 rubles;
• repair of an iPhone headset - from 2500 rubles.

The price may increase depending on the urgency of the work carried out.

Conclusion

If the headphones accidentally end up in the washing machine, you don't need to panic. They must be removed from the water as soon as possible, disassembled and dried in any suitable way..

If the device cannot be restored to its proper working capacity, it is recommended to contact the service center.