Comments for Wash and Dry iPod Shuffle

Wash and Dry iPod Shuffle

2007-09-23T18:33:20Z

I guess the title gives away the punchline of this story. But here goes anyway.

I have written before about using my tiny iPod Shuffle for audiobooks from Audible. I just finished the "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey, and took the iPod out of my car, and dropped it into my purse so I could reload it with another book (maybe "Good to Great" by Jim Collins?) A few days later, I am looking for the iPod, and it's not in my purse. I tell my hubby and kids: I'm looking for my iPod. I think it is lost. I put it in my purse, but it's not there.

Fast forward a few days and just a few minutes ago, I found my Shuffle in the dryer. I hadn't put it in my purse. I had put it in my pant pocket! My iPod had gone through a complete wash and dry cycle.

The Shuffle didn't seem to have much of a charge, so I charged it. I sync'ed it. And, holy cow! The darn thing works! How amazing is that?

Tell me about your Washing Machine vs iPod adventures by voting in the poll, and posting your story as a comment below.

One more thing, for all you Shuffle owners out there who haven't yet figured out the light codes, I found this page from Apple that explains them all: Understanding iPod Shuffle's Status Lights.

Comment from Shannon Parker on 2008-08-03

2008-08-03T19:52:31Z

I washed my iphone headphones, they still work fine! Some new company is making a product called golden shellback that waterproofs electronics, they had cellphones on underwater in a video I saw....

Comment from Amanda M. on 2008-07-13

2008-07-14T00:24:06Z

My little brother did a similar thing. He has a 2nd Gen. ipod nano, and he put it in his swim trunks, and then forgot about it. Well, about an hour later we went to the pool, and obviously, took his ipod for a little swim also. He didn't think about it until we were sitting outside, and he ran over to his swim trunks, where he had left them out to dry. There he found his ipod. We all assumed it was dead, but he put it in the fridge, to take the moisture out, and planned on buying a new one. Now, he just plugged it into the computer, and it turned on, but the computer didn't recognize it.... and I think the battery is dead. But, we'll see. I'm just surprised it survived to this point. :)

Comment from srav on 2008-07-08

2008-07-08T19:26:51Z

I did the same exact thing! Im not sure what to do. Will it always work if u let it dry the charge it?

Comment from nate on 2008-06-21

2008-06-22T02:14:40Z

my ipod was left out in the rain so i looked on youtube and the guy said to blowdry it for 10 mins and put it in rice for 1 to 2 days and it should work. so im still waiting

Comment from egp on 2008-06-11

2008-06-11T10:52:35Z

Well, lucky 4 alla u hoo got dere iPod 2 wrk agan. I own a crrnt gen. iPod shuffle. I had lost mine. I had 2 do sum laundry. 1 load- didnt notice anything in washer or drier. 2 load- same in washer. I went 2 get my clothes outta my dryer from the 1st load and lo and behold there was my silver iPod laying there with its METAL case on. METAL gets very hot! Found my headphones. Let my iPod sit 4 3 or so days. I new my
headphones were shot, so I hookd it up 2 my speaker.
I heard static. I let it sit there 4 a few more days. Last night, my mum suggested i put it in silica gel packets 2 absorb sum of
da moisture. Put it on my cpu a few min ago. nothin. HELP! I have my vacation on the 14th!

Comment from Danny Kemal on 2008-06-07

2008-06-07T17:59:40Z

I left my iPod Nano 1st generation in my jeans which went into a HOT cycle. When I got them out, I was like �Oh sh*t!�
After 4 days of drying, and I plugged it into USB, the apple logo appeared but then fuzzed out. This is because the battery is so dead that it doesn�t hold enough power to keep the iPod running when connected to USB. On AC power on the other hand, it works as if nothing happened to it. AC provides a lot more power than USB. All my songs are still there, and play but I just can�t sych anymore so I am going to get a new battery soon.

Comment from Omggg:| on 2008-05-18

2008-05-18T19:57:59Z

OMGGG:|.... II JUS REALISED DA II PUH MA IPOD IN THE WASH.. II DINT KNO IH WAZ IN DER:| BUH NOWW IH DNT EVEN WORK:| OMGG.... II TOOK IH OUH MA POCKET N IH WAZZZ FROZEEEEEEN SOO II HAIRDRYED IH 4 5 MINZZ N TRYED 2 PLUG IH IN MA CHARGER BUHH WHAD I GEH NOTHINHG:|.. SOO NOW II PUH IH ON MA RADIATOR .. SO HOPEFULLY BY THE TYM I GO SLEEP IHLL B WORKING.. OMGG IM SOO SCARED.. II CHNT TELL MAA RENTZZ DER GUNNA KILL MEEE:| I MEAN OMGG:| II HOPEE IH WORKKZZ.. WISH MEE LUCKKK.. X

Comment from wydok on 2008-05-18

2008-05-18T19:04:36Z

I have a Gen 1 Shuffle that when through two wash cycles and I caught it before it went through more than a minute or two of the dry cycle. So far, I tried checking the battery charge and I get no light at all (not even a red one). I plugged it in my computer and the light on the front turns greens but the computer doesn't recognize the iPod.

I think I might be screwed. :(

Comment from Randy on 2008-05-15

2008-05-16T03:37:25Z

The main thing to remember is to let it dry completely before you try to turn it on. With any luck it will work fine.

Comment from Paul..the idiot who killed his beloved ipod.. on 2008-04-09

2008-04-10T06:17:44Z

well about 4 months ago i left my ipod (nano 2nd gen) in my pants, and someone( my mom...hmm....idk why she was doing my laundry in the first place) washed them. so i thought the worst and left it on my window sill..about a month later i saw it and thought.."what the heck..i might as well try" so i did it and it immediately started working..

theres my happy ending...

BUT HAPPINESS WAS SHORT LIVED...!!!!! X(

soooo today i was doing laundry..and i had misplaced my ipod a week ago...and i thought i checked all of my pockets..but 5 minutes after i had placed the load in the dryer...i heard a loud banging sound..and searched the entire load.. unitl i came across my little dead ipod..=(

so now all i have to do is pray..and try to let my ipod dry...while i go on vacatiopn without any music!!!!! (i'm gonna go insane on the plane ride)

so please refrain from putting yours..or your sons ipod..in the dryer, wahser, toilet, incinerator, disinigrator, smasher, basher, uhmmmm, masher?

yeh..so... BEWARE OF EVIL APPLIANCES...

and idiotic actions..(taken by you or by those you love)..or hold a grudge against because of past incidents involving ipods..or other precious things you hold most dear

so pray for my little tyke..and hopefully he'll pull through..

i'll live..and so will you...

Comment from Nicholas Rudolph on 2008-03-30

2008-03-30T19:56:18Z

Well, due to my stupidity, i left my ipod nano 3rd gen in my pants, and it went through the washer. Just the washer, not the drier, which may be have been better. It doesnt turn on, but the backlight comes on when its plugged into teh computer, and i cna play music off it through itunes. My hope is that after drying out for a few days ambye the screen will work. *prays* please

Comment from suemac on 2008-03-27

2008-03-27T23:36:54Z

I, too, discovered my shuffle in the washer after leaving it in my pants' pocket by mistake. I went online to see if there was any hope and several people wrote that theirs had survived so I dipped it in rubbing alcohol (You may not have to do this and I should have used the strongest type- not rubbing alcohol-which contains water)and left it on a warm spot on my heater (not too warm) for a day. I had turned it on when wet and saw that that was a no-no but after it was dried, charged and re-synced the light came on and sound returned! YAY!Even w/ mistakes, it worked.

Comment from Bee on 2008-03-11

2008-03-11T13:18:28Z

My ipod also got washed and dryed. I thought it was a gonner for sure ! I was thinking of buying a new one. A couple days later I was thinking maybe just maybe the ipod had no charge on it . The washer had to have taken out all charge. I put it on the charger and the light came on! I thought wow this may work!. I let it get a full charge and it was flashing I had no songs, I went into itunes and it came up did I want an update on my ipod, I clicked yes and all the songs are there and it works great!!! To all out there wait a couple days and then see if it will work!

Comment from Bee on 2008-03-11

2008-03-11T13:18:14Z

Comment from Ciara Wesley on 2008-03-04

2008-03-04T14:04:05Z

i washed my ipod nano3g 8gb. first i cried and then put it to the blow dryer, let it sit for 2 days, plugged it in...and it works! theres still water damage underneath the screen but ill put it under a light & hopefully it will dry.

Comment from nicole on 2008-01-28

2008-01-28T17:45:42Z

i washed my new ipod nano 8gb it was in the washer for 8 min and i have nothing it has been only 2 days i will try the lamp idea!! let you know.

Comment from nicole on 2008-01-28

2008-01-28T17:45:37Z

i washed my new ipod nano 8gb it was in the washer for 8 min and i have nothing it has been only 2 days i will try the lamp idea!! let you know.

Comment from nottelling on 2008-01-17

2008-01-17T21:51:15Z

well, i just washed my NEW Ipod nano 3rd generation last night, and it syncs and everything, but i dont think the screen works....so im taking someone elses advise and im putting it under a lamp to see if it will dry out.....Wish me luck!

Comment from Myself on 2007-12-26

2007-12-26T22:21:37Z

i just put my ipod nano 3G throught the wash and dryer on Christmas Eve, and after looking online i saw there was still hope as long as i didn't turn it on when it was wet.

After keeping it under a lamp to dry out the moisture under the screen for a day or two i plugged it in and it worked.

Comment from Tanya on 2007-12-02

2007-12-03T05:07:05Z

My step daughter washed my iPod shuffle and she was SO upset. Balling her eyes out, I felt so bad. It was both of our fault but thank you Apple, I plugged my shuffle it to sync it and it works!!!!!!!!!! There's hope for us all :)

Comment from Julius Biliran on 2007-11-03

2007-11-03T14:23:40Z

I went swimming at the beach today. I removed all the the things in my pocket, the belt, etc. Went swimming for an hour, and guess what i discovered?...my ipod shuffle clipped at my pants! Damn!... I cursed myself for an hour or so, calmed down, washed the ipod with soap and water, blow-dried it,and voila! ...... nahhhh, if u expect a happy ending, no, not yet! I havent turned the damn thing ON yet. I will let it sit for a day or two, then turn it on. Wish me luck!

Comment from Jenna on 2007-10-25

2007-10-26T04:05:37Z

lucky you, My ipod is dead after washing it.
I let it sit for a week, turned it back on last night, it blink endlessly for ten mins or so, all lights, couldn't play or turn it off...ten mins later, it died. It hasn't turned on since. =(
my hopes are gone.

Comment from Derek on 2007-10-11

2007-10-11T23:03:58Z

I just put my iPod shuffle through th wash, and it survived also. I was shocked. It didn't work right away, but I put it in it's cradle and it immediately came back to life. I'm blown away. I felt sick for two days though until I got home to give it a try.

Comment from mojavemike on 2007-10-10

2007-10-11T02:01:16Z

Last week I dropped my Nokia 6682 phone into the only open soft drink cup I've had in my vehicle in the last 5 years. It wouldn't do anything except light up the camera flash (not by design). I disassembled it and cleaned it and dried it and reassembled it and now everything is good except the microphone. I can only speak through my headset.....I'll take it apart again and try to fix the mic. I hate it when that happens!!

Comment from Pamela on 2007-10-09

2007-10-09T19:22:19Z

I ran my verizon phone through the washer and dryer. I could make calls. I could receive calls. The LCD? Dead. I had to go get a new one, and it cost fifty bucks for another cheapie, in which the battery was chronicly crap. I think it kept a charge for all of about twenty minutes at a time.

Comment from Jean Marcel Camargo on 2007-10-08

2007-10-09T05:40:10Z

You know... I live in brazil... and today i take a bath with mine :)
now reading your testimonial I'm more happy :p
Thanks he he he

Comment from Joe on 2007-10-03

2007-10-03T12:51:43Z

Cell phone pops out of belt clip while in the bathroom. You guessed it, falls directly in to toilet. One side of the brain says I'm not sticking my hand in there and the other side quickly calculates cost of new phone or cost of breaking contract to get free phone. Hand loses and grabs phone. A few quirky problems over the next two days but it fixes itself; probably dries out. This was about a year ago. I don't use a belt clip anymore, my pockets work just fine ... maybe. Two weeks ago, same phone, wife does laundry without checking pants pocket and the phone gets washed. The time is a little odd but it still works. I think service agreements on cell phones is a rip off. The phone is a Motorola Razr.

Comment from Jon Esterling on 2007-10-02

2007-10-02T15:22:15Z

lets see: 1) cellphone (nokea 1100) washer and drier 2) 3or 4 usb drives 1 of them a number of times (those usb drives are tough) 3)a wifi detector with a display and wireless G adapter (i had to take that apart and clean it with alcohol) 4)a cheap mp3 player
all worked after a good drying and in a couple of cases a wash in 90%+ rubbing alcohol it displaces the water and evaporates almost completely in miniuts

Comment from Pam Becker on 2007-09-28

2007-09-28T16:03:18Z

I am not so fortunate to own an ipod, however, I find your story an amazing tribute to the product, definitely would choose their product were I in the market!

Comment from denv on 2007-09-28

2007-09-28T14:04:13Z

a week ago, I did same thing. but my ipod was broken. I couldn't play it and sync it.

I think, you're so happy to get such a tough ipod. conglat!!