Can AirPods Survive The Washing Machine?
AirPods are comfortable, lightweight, reliable, and easy to use devices that offer great sound per pound. These tiny buds are stunning and bring Siri to life in your ears. You can get the best pair with the Apple devices, but they are also good to go with the Bluetooth devices – from smart TVs to smartphones.
Water can cause potential damage to them, but usually, it is said that AirPods can survive up to 60 minutes in the washing machine, but you need to dry them at least for 12 hours once taken off the water. Moreover, there are various other steps that you should immediately perform to save your AirPods.
Can AirPods Survive The Washing Machine?
Due to frequent use and small size, AirPods get lost or slip in the water. Finding the lost AirPods is not that tough, but saving the soaked AirPods. Many users assume that their AirPods can be paired and tuned once taken out of the washing machine, but it is not always applicable, particularly if you don’t follow the right steps to dry them.
However, various people claim that they have used their earbuds in the washer and dry. Many users even shared that they have frequently used their AirPods Pro in the water.
But in reality, AirPods are not water safe as water can create massive damage and risk to AirPods and AirPods Pro’s life, particularly when they are directly and continuously placed under the water. Hence, you are not recommended to leave your costly earbuds in the machine.
Wireless headphones take your washer’s centrifugal forces without creating much damage. Actually, AirPods are manufactured to get through a fall up to 10 ft, so a tumble wash is probably safe in this context. Even when the AirPods fall out of the pocket, their hard outer shell easily tolerates punches.
However, AirPods are not fully waterproof, so it is crucial to dry out your AirPods appropriately, right after their accidental washing cycle.
Is AirPods Waterproof; If Yes, Then How Much?
There is a misconception that AirPods are waterproof, but original AirPods are not waterproof in reality. However, the new AirPods Pro is sweat, rain, and water-resistant to tolerate the water only to some extent, but they are also not completely water-resistant.
Their hard plastic outer shells stop most water from getting into them. Thus, these AirPods are not designed to be used in water or placed in a washer. Though they are IPX4-grade water-resistant, they cannot perform or survive when consistently placed in water.
Be Extra Careful And Cautious With The AirPods
AirPods are expensive technology that demands extra care to protect them from breakage, loss, and getting wet. Thus, you need to make sure that you carefully check the pocket of your pants and shirt to avoid soaking the AirPods inside the washing machine water.
Once this incident unluckily happens, you should try the silica gel solution, visit your local Apple store and find the options to fix them.
Related: How To Fix Muffled AirPods?
What To Do When Airpods Go Through Wash: Some Worthy Solutions
It would be best to be extra protective of these tiny and expensive devices, but you can follow the following hacks once it happens.
Dry The Case And AirPods Gently But Thoroughly
If you have washed your AirPods, dry your earbuds and case as soon as possible. The right way of washing is – you need to take a paper towel and dry a cotton swab. Then, take off the AirPods from the case and dry everything off as best as possible.
Don’t plug in the AirPods right after the water exposure – wait at least 12 hours, and do not attempt to put your earbuds back into the case until they are not appropriately day.
Leave your earbuds and their case in a dry place at room temperature.
Drying AirPods By The Use OF A Hair Dryer Or Heater
After taking the AirPods out of the washer, users start using a hairdryer or heater to dry them out. The dryer may speed up the drying process, but heat can create severe and long-lasting damage to AirPods.
When Are You Giving Up Drying Your AirPods Off?
If your AirPods do not sound off or connect to your device, it is probably time to quit them and invest in a new pair.
Do Not Use Any Rough Cloth To Dry Out AirPods
While taking out the AirPods, the first and paramount step is to get them dry as soon as possible. You can use a lint-free, soft, and dry cloth – a microfiber cloth is good to go. Later, you need to place your AirPods in a safer place.
Try Silica Gel
Have you ever heard that a bag of rice is best for electronic devices that are exposed to water? Well, whether this bag does its job well or not is a matter of debate; silica gel can work wonders as this gel can excellently absorb moisture.
Due to this great benefit, manufacturers deliver silica gel with these devices. If you don’t find silica gel at your home, you can choose any reliable one from the local Walmart or online store.
You also need to buy a Ziploc bag to put AirPods inside it and a few silica gel packets to leave them for a couple of days. Hopefully, this process will quickly remove all the water from AirPods.
Repeat the same steps to remove water from the AirPods case. Ensure that you have kept the lid open when the AirPods case is placed in the bag.
Jot Down The Serial Number
If you have mistakenly washed your AirPods, you cannot measure the damage you have made, particularly if it is not turning on. Charging the case is not the solution; here, you need the serial number of your AirPods to give Apple.
Commonly, the serial number is mentioned underside of the lid of the case. If the case is washed thoroughly, it is hard to find the case’s serial number.
Well, there are a few more ways to figure out the AirPods serial number, such as;
Ways To Find Serial Number
- If you want to replace your case and earbuds, it is necessary to find the serial number. The best solution is to note down the serial number on paper and keep it in a separate place for the safe side.
- Another way to find the serial number is using your iPhone – the steps are:
- Go to Setting
- Tap General
- Scroll down and find the AirPods option
- Select the AirPods option; here, you will find the serial number – you can save this valuable serial to use while fixing the AirPods.
- The serial number is also mentioned on the receipt and original packaging – don’t throw them away!
- For AirPods Pro and AirPods 2nd Generation, you will find the serial number printed on them.
Sign Up for AppleCare+
AppleCare+ is a program that helps you ensure that your Apple devices are safe. If you have accidentally washed your AirPods with the case and wish to replace them, your AppleCare+ subscription can save you.
You can take this service on your AirPods by paying $29 for each earbud, and you also need to pay $29 for the case.
Of course, this program is not inexpensive but supports you for up to two incidents of damage coverage. However, if you want to replace an earbud, it will cost $89.
So, do not forget to sign up for AppleCare+ within 60 days of purchase.
Go To The Local Apple Store
If you have dried your Airpods carefully and tried rice bags, silica gel, and other unstructured steps, don’t panic and don’t buy the new AirPods yet. Instead, visit the store you have bought your pods and ask them for a replacement.
Hopefully, they will still allow you for the replacement – if any of the three AirPods components work, it is better to replace the component that doesn’t function instead of replacing the AirPods completely.
If at least one of the three main AirPods components works, you may find it better to replace the parts that don’t work. If the AirPods are not under warranty and all parts are out of order, it is better to buy a brand-new set.
What To Do When AirPods Pro Soak In Water?
The AirPods Pros are sweat and water-resistant, showing that these AirPods can withstand a splash. The resistance wears down with time, so you cannot count on it for extended periods.
If your AirPods Pro falls in the water, don’t postpone drying them off. Do the exact thing that you used to perform for the original AirPods. Take the silica gel bags and a Ziploc bag, and put the AirPods and silica gel in the Ziploc bag for some time. Silica gel will help your AirPods to get dried soon.
Always transport your AirPods pro carefully; you must check your clothes carefully before putting them in the machine.
Related: Why Do My AirPods Keep Beeping? Fixes
Frequently Asked Questions
There are various confusions that AirPods users face, and one of those is Can AirPods Survive The Washing Machine? As discussed, it is very rare and fortunate to protect the AirPods if they have been through the washing machine cycle. However, to resolve further confusion, you can dive into these FAQs.
Is AirPods Pro Waterproof?
Users often assume that AirPods are waterproof, but they are actually not waterproof – they can only resist water and sweat to some extent. Remember – when it comes to electronics, the term waterproof doesn’t exist because water and electronics do not end well.
However, it is still very common for AirPods users to accidentally wash their AirPods in the washer, regardless of knowing that these little Bluetooth devices are not waterproof. Being a regular Apple AirPod user, you need to keep in mind that AirPods and their charging case are not waterproof; hence, you should avoid exposing them to liquids and moisture.
Will AirPods Survive The Washer And Dryer?
Both the wireless AirPods and the wired EarPods can survive for thirty minutes in the washing machine and dryer, even if AirPods’ charging case works properly before the said time.
Should I Put AirPods In Rice?
If you want to get your AirPods dry, the best spot is to keep them at a cool and dry place where you have sufficient airflow. Many people will recommend you keep your AirPods in a bag of rice, but instead of following them, you should prefer the open air, which is an effective strategy. Rice is risky as it can be stuck in the various holes and ports of the AirPods and their case.
Besides the open air, you can also prefer silica gel, which is good enough to dry out your AirPods.
What Happens If Your Airpods Go In The Washing Machine?
AirPods Pro is less but noteworthy IP water-resistance of IPX4 that shows that they can resist water splash and sweat. However, they cannot tolerate a continuous and longer water flow.
Does Apple Cover Water Damage Airpods?
Typically, AirPod water damage is not covered by the one-year warranty. If your AirPods are supported by AppleCare+, you’ll invest only for an AppleCare+ service fee per incident, and that fee is $29.
Our Summary
Due to its handy nature and endless benefits, the use of the AirPods is prevalent, but their tiny size sometimes becomes problematic as people leave them inside their pants pockets. Then eventually, these sensitive AirPods cover the journey of a washer that can create severe water damage and physical movement.
Taking these AirPods under running water is not safe; Apple strongly recommends protecting your AirPods and AirPods Pro from the showerhead or faucet. Although AirPods Pro is considered IPX4 water-resistant, the shower environment can damage them badly.
The above instructions and practical pieces of advice can help you protect your AirPods from long-term water damage – you can follow them to protect yourself from hitting a massive loss.
