My iPhone vs. Washing Machine

[SoulOfTheFlame]

VS.

Victor: iPHONE!!!



Story: So, I was distracted while loading the laundry and didn't check the pocket of my gym shorts (I ALWAYS take my phone out of the shorts after the gym and put it back in my jeans but that day I forgot for some reason).

About 10 mins into the wash cycle I went to make a phone call and couldn't find my phone. I decided to dial it using the house phone and locate it by ringtone. I got the usual message that occurs when the phone is turned off. "OH GOD NO!!", I thought...

I ran downstairs to the laundry room and to my HORROR saw my iPhone bouncing against the glass of the front load washer, almost as if it were crying for my help.

To make matters worse, I didn't know how to open the washer while in use. Thankfully Google was there, and 10 mins later I had my water-logged, unresponsive, and SUPER CLEAN phone in my hands. I returned to the internets for help and promptly burried my phone in a bucket of brown rice for a period of 3 days. On the 4th day, I could detect no moisture at all, so I plugged it in. The thing turned on, but would only display the Apple Logo.

I feared the worst, but upon plugging it into my PC, I was able to update it to the new version of iPhone firmware and..... IT WORKS!!!

It's a little worse for wear, but thankfully my idiocy has not deprived me of all the functionality of my beloved device:

[Rathji]

This sounds alot like my wife's adventure with our Logitech Universal Remote and the sink full of water. Although ours had a little less drama.

[Hack&Lube]

most electronics will be okay when they encounter water as long as they weren't on at the time and are not turned on again until completely dry

[Jimmy Stang]

I have heard that the rice trick can do wonders. Glad it turned out for you!

[SoulOfTheFlame]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

most electronics will be okay when they encounter water as long as they weren't on at the time and are not turned on again until completely dry

Yeah I figured as much: Though the iPhone WAS powered on at the time. So I think I'm very lucky indeed.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

most electronics will be okay when they encounter water as long as they weren't on at the time and are not turned on again until completely dry

Yeah. Unfortunately, barely any portable electronics truly turn off anymore. Even something simple like an iPod Nano, which appears to be "off" isn't - it's still slightly awake, and actually doesn't power off RAM, internal clock, etc, until its been unused for a couple of days.

I think the savior in this case was that it was a front load washer - the iPod likely never actually submerged like it would with a top load washer that uses much more water.

Still, it's always nice to hear of electronics faring better than one would expect.

[metallicat]

Holy crap I burst out laughing when I read that you had to go back to Google to get your washer door open while in use!! Awesome!

[ernie]

I washed my cell phone and iPod in the same load. I mean my wife washed them in the same load.

Cell phone survived. iPod died a horrible death.

[Russic]

Awesome story. Interesting issue though ... as there's no real way to rip the battery off, what is the best practice when this happens? Leave it be? Power it down by holding down the top button?

[JohnnyB]

I put my Nokia through a whole wash cycle as well while it was on, and after letting it dry out for a few days it was just fine. Still using it months later.

[SoulOfTheFlame]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

Holy crap I burst out laughing when I read that you had to go back to Google to get your washer door open while in use!! Awesome!

LOL - Sad huh?

It's actually my GF's parent's machine and I'd never used it. Never had a front loader so had no clue how to open it when in "use". The answer was leave it powered off for 10 mins. Then it opens. But Imagine my AGONY!!!! Knowing that I could not get the iphone out when I found it. LOL.

[DrPepper]

Man, if that ever happened to my HTC dream, I'd friggin commit suicide. Haha... my phone goes with me wherever I go, if I'm not with it, I feel naked without it. Seems kinda stupid, but it wouldn't be if the phone cost almost $600.

[Russic]

Oh I'd lose my head if my phone was to perish. It's really become a very important part of my life. When I leave anywhere I instinctively grab to make sure it's with me. Beyond the phone everything I carry with me is replaceable.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by Russic

Oh I'd lose my head if my phone was to perish. It's really become a very important part of my life. When I leave anywhere I instinctively grab to make sure it's with me. Beyond the phone everything I carry with me is replaceable.

Yeah, you could always have more kids.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

Yeah, you could always have more kids.

... or buy one.

Obviously I meant the things in my pockets.

[Qwerty]

I put my nano through and the wash and it died a horrible death.

I dropped my Iphone in the sink and it completely submerged. It was on at the time. I turned it off and left it for about 24 hours and then turned it back on and everything worked but for some reason it thought I had headphones plugged in so I couldn't hear people. I turned it off for another day and turned it back on and it works perfect.

I am amazed that nothing is broken in it, it also looks 100% new.

Point of the story - When you need to wash your phone just drop it in the sink.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by Russic

... or buy one.

Obviously I meant the things in my pockets.

I heard you can get African babies for iPods.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Qwerty

Point of the story - When you need to wash your phone just drop it in the sink.

Going off-topic, I had long heard that an excellent way of cleaning keyboards was to run them through the dishwasher, on an air dry (eg. no heater drying at the end) cycle, then let them dry out for a number of days.

I gave this a shot, and it works fantastically well.