AirPods are small wireless buds made by Apple itself, it conveys excellent sound quality. If you ever discovered that you have washed your AirPods by mistake and you don’t know what to do, here are few tips to help.
1. Dry with a cloth
Immediately you pull the AirPods out from the water, use a dry cloth, paper towel or dry cotton to clean off the water as much as you can. Take out the buds from the case and ensure you remove water and dirt thoroughly. Leave it to dry for at least 24hours before using it again. Take it back into the case and try charging before you use it.
2. Use rice method
You must have heard that putting your device in a bag of rice when it comes in contact with water can help. This is true because rice will absorb the water on your AirPods when you put it there and leave for a few days.
If you are not sold on the rice method, you use silica gel. Silica gel is excellent at absorbing moisture, manufacturer’s usually ship small bags of silica gel alongside the device. You can also get it from a store.
Buy a Ziploc bag and put your AirPods inside there with a few packets of silica gel. Leave it there for a couple of days and then try using it again.
3. Contact Apple support
If you have tried the other methods and it didn’t work, you can contact Apple support for assistance.
AppleCare+ let’s you insure your Apple devices, you are covered for up to two incidence. You can get a replacement of your AirPods either the case or the earbuds for about $30. You have to sign up with 60 days purchase.
You will need the serial number of your Apple device to get your assistance from Apple support. You need to be sure you have your serial number with you so that when these things occur, you can send to Apple care so they can help you.
On your iPhone, Go to Settings > General > About > Scroll until you see AirPods, then select it and you will see the serial number. You can also find the serial number on your receipt and the original package so keep them safe. AirPods Pro and AirPods 2nd Gen have the serial number painted on their body.
Airpods are not waterproof, they are only resistant to a little splash or sweat. So you have to handle them with extra care.
Prevention methods
- Check your clothes pockets before you wash them: Before tossing you clothes into the washer or before soaking them into water, check your pockets thoroughly to avoid washing sensitive materials like your AirPods. This might sound obvious, but many people do actually forget.
- Close AirPods case tightly: Make sure that earbuds are always in the AirPod case. Close case tightly that even if it falls into water, the earbud is not affected. Always place your AirPods in a safe place after use.
- There are few waterproof AirPods cases that can help you protect your AirPods from water damages. Waterproof cases made of silicone, plastic and with a tight seal that keeps water out is suitable for use.
Final thoughts
As a precautionary measure, if you mistakenly wash your AirPods dry them off immediately. Don’t postpone it to avoid further damages. Handle your AirPods with extra care to avoid touching stories.
This article was first published on August 13, 2022 11:09 a.m. WAT