Apple has debunked the popular myth about their Airpods Pro being waterproof. The new Airpods Pro are only water resistant, which means they can withstand exposure to water to a certain degree.
If your Airpods Pro accidentally gets caught in a washing machine, there is a chance it would survive, depending on how long it spent in soapy water.
The first thing you do after fishing out your airpods from soapy water is to immediately shake them with the ports facing downwards to remove as much water as you can. Don’t shake vigorously to avoid sending water deep within the Airpods components. Once the excess water is gone, dry the Airpods immediately with a cloth, desiccant, or both.
What to Do If I Accidentally Wash My Airpods Pro?
Immediately dry them off the best you can. Do not postpone drying them off because the longer it stays wet, the less their chances of survival.
With the following steps, you know what exactly to do to prevent damage to your pricey airpods pro.
Step One- Dry Your Airpods Pro and Its Case Immediately
The first thing you should do is get cotton swabs. Then, if your airpods were in the case when it got wet, remove them from the case and begin to dry them off meticulously.
Avoid plugging the airpod case within at least 12 hours after it gets wet.
Leave the Airpods outside the case in a dry spot. Droplets of water might have wriggled their way into spots the cotton swabs could not reach.
It is where silica gel comes in. It is a substance that is excellent at absorbing moisture. The manufacturers are aware that accidents like this can occur.
Electronics and shoe packages contain small bags that say “Do Not Eat,” containing tiny solid substances.
Silica gel is a better option, against the popular belief that raw rice is the number one solution to problems like this.
You can get silica gel bags at a local store if you don’t have any at home. Buy a Ziploc bag as well. Place the Airpods inside the Ziploc bag with a couple of silica gel bags.
You do not have to open the silica bags as moisture can pass through the bag. Instead, fasten the Ziploc closed and leave it for a few days. When you take the Airpods Pro out of the Ziploc, they should be dehydrated.
Step Two- Take Down the Serial Number
It is necessary to take down the serial number of your airpods pro in case you have to get Apple to replace it.
Apple needs this important information to verify your airpods and your claims’ authenticity.
Unfortunately, since you can not immediately turn on your airpods when wet, there is no way to determine the degree of damage done, if at all.
Usually, you can find the Airpods serial number under the lid of the case. But if the serial number is blurry from the water, you can use your iPhone to source them.
To do this, go to settings and tap General. Then, select About. Scroll further until you reach Airpods. Select it, and the serial number will be on display.
The serial number of your airpods are also on the receipts and original packaging. So for good measure, don’t throw receipts away.
Also, take down the serial numbers of all your Apple devices if you lose the receipts.
Step Three- Go to the Local Apple Store
After carefully drying your airpods pro, which does not work, the final step is to go to where you bought it from and ask for a replacement.
You might get a replacement if the Airpods are under warranty and if one of the pods still works.
Sometimes, You can replace one of the damaged main airpod components for less money.
If you are eligible for none of these options, probably because the Airpods were far too damaged, then you should buy a new set of airpods pro.
To avoid such an outcome, these are three things you should not do out of panic and their reasons.
| What Not to Do | Why |
|---|---|
| Blow air rapidly from your mouth. | The moisture in your breath increases the accumulated moisture in the airpods. |
| Turn airpods on. | It breaks the repair process of the airpods. |
| Use heating devices to dry airpods. | The high temperatures and excess water in the airpod can permanently damage it. |
What to Do If I Wash My Airpods Case?
Ensure you dry your airpods case with equal care as your airpods. It can ensure that the case’s charging components are safe.
The Airpods case is resistant to sweat and water splashes, but that resistivity wanes over time, just like airpods.
Step 1 – Use a Lint-free Cloth
With this cloth, dry all the areas of the airpods case slowly. Add isopropyl alcohol to your cloth to clean up possible soap residue.
Make sure you use a lint-free cloth and not a rough cloth type not to scratch your case. After, turn the case over and let it dry off.
Step 2 – Stay Calm
You might want to immediately take the Airpods case apart to get rid of all the water, but that can lead to the water spreading deeper into areas it had not reached before.
In addition, you might not be able to reassemble it afterward properly. Stay calm and patient. Let the case dry out for at least 24 hours. Do not mistake using heat from a hair dryer to speed up the process.
Step 3 – Use Gel Packs
Sometimes, drying out your airpods case with cloth might not be enough. You might also want to be sure it is scorched.
You can use silica gel packs to extract any of the moisture left. They are desiccants that are effective in absorbing moisture.
Step 4 – Warranty
After applying the tips listed above for a couple of days, and your airpods case is not responding, check your warranty.
Apple products are all under at least a one-year warranty, so you can get your airpods case replaced.
If your warranty is expired, or you could not get it replaced for some reason, replace the Airpods case.
Why Are My Airpods Pro Squeaking after Going Through the Washing Machine?
Microphone moisture can cause an unpleasant, watery, and high-pitched squeaking noise in your airpods.
However, it is usually temporary and should be gone as soon as the pods dry off a day later. If that is not the case, follow these steps to resolve it.
Step One- Eject Water
This procedure involves using sound vibrations to force the water in the airpods out slowly. It is similar to how an Apple watch gets rid of water.
- Go on YouTube and search for sounds for removing water from airpods.
- Remove the ear tips from the airpods.
- Enable Transparency mode. You can find it in the noise control tab of your Bluetooth settings.
- Turn the volume to the highest setting.
- Now, play one of the sounds you searched for. Then, with your fingers, cover the sensors at the top part of the airpods.
- Repeat until you don’t feel moisture coming out of the airpods.
Step Two- Get a Cotton Swab
With the tip of the cotton swab, carefully clean the black microphone parts on the white airpods. Do not apply pressure, slowly rub over them for some time to soak up moisture.
Step Three- Charge Your Airpods
By now, your airpods should be dry. Charge them once you have completed these steps and restart your iPhone. If the squeak sounds persist, replace your airpods.
How to Dry Airpods?
You can dry your airpods pro and regular airpods with three methods. Most of the time, combining these three methods proves to be the most effective.
#1. Using Microfiber Cloth
A clean, lint-free, or microfiber cloth is the best to dry your airpods to prevent foreign particles, dust, or dirt from getting into them.
It will remove excess water and absorb it simultaneously, not letting any water get back into the Airpods.
Dry all the nooks and crannies of the airpods with a light blotting motion to suck water out.
#2. Using Desiccants
It is not advisable to use desiccants like rice to dry your airpods.
Rice might work in absorbing water from phones, but unlike phones, airpods have holes in which tiny rice granules could enter and get stuck.
Your airpods could also suffer from starch damage. The best desiccant for your airpods is silica gel.
Note that you should not use desiccants when your airpods are soaking wet. They function best when dealing with hidden moisture droplets.
#3. Using Sound
Playing sounds of certain frequencies makes the Airpods microphones vibrate and eject leftover moisture.
Fortunately, this method gets the moisture from deep within the Airpods and out of reach from the cloth.
Conclusion
Although airpods can resist water damage, frequent exposure to water will surely erode this capability.
If your Airpods fall into the washing machine, getting them dry as quickly as possible is paramount to their survival.
Airpods left wet for a long time will permanently stop working. In addition, always check your pockets before doing the laundry.