iPod Shuffle passes washing machine test
November 30th, 2005
A few weeks ago, in a momentary lack of my intelligence, Lois’ iPod shuffle (or iShuffle as we call it) went through our washing machine (I had left it in my pocket). I realised that it was there about five minutes after switching it on.
Now, as most of you are aware, you cannot open the door of most washing machines once they have started washing. So with much trepidation I patiently waited for the washing to end.
Once the washing was complete, I took the iPod out (it was now sparkling white), and dried it a bit with a warm hair-dryer. (Because it was an iPod I could not take out the battery). After leaving it overnight, it worked fine with no problems whatsoever. I was astounded.
Aside from the fact that it is washing-machine proof, it really is an amazing little mp3 player. It is small, light, has excellent sound quality, a good battery, and it holds about 250 songs. I love it!
How many MP3 players do you know of that have passed the washing-machine test? Three orchids to Apple.
Update: how to save your device if it is damaged by water
Related posts:
- Apple to remove DRM copy-protection from ITunes According to CNET, A
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December 26th, 2005 at 11:55 pm
This is good news; I just accidently washed my own Shuffle. ;;
January 31st, 2006 at 9:10 pm
I had the opposite result :(
My shuffle went through the wash and I can tell it something to the battery. It still works great as a USB drive, but once unplugged from a usb port, there is no life.
February 1st, 2006 at 7:46 pm
Saving water damaged electronic equipment
I have been amazed to find that about 1/3 of the queries that I get on the website are from people who have put their iPod shuffle’s through the washing machine. I was not the first person to do this,
February 28th, 2006 at 5:23 am
mine went through the wash aswell, great usb drive now… no life from it otherwise
April 13th, 2006 at 10:24 pm
Nothing, just a USB drive
April 20th, 2006 at 4:22 pm
Mine got a thorough wash and dry yesterday and still works fine. YES!@
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:16 am
Haha insane… i sent mine through the machine about 4 days ago… left it alone and it works again SWEET
November 25th, 2006 at 6:35 am
i just had a nano go through and i dont know what will happen
December 25th, 2006 at 1:44 pm
MINE WENT THROUGH THE WASHING MACHINE TOO! EXCEPT IT WAS AN iPOD NANO NOT THE SHUFFLE, AND IT DIDN’T SURVIVE. OH THE HMANITY. HE PAIN, THE PAAAAAIN!
Go to a really good blog at http://www.ameliaandhannah-maesblog.blogger.com for tonnes of fun that will keep you occupied for HOURS on end
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:16 pm
my shuffle went through the waher and dryer while it was on(the button was on shuffle mode) i put it on the chargerrigt away.. do you think it will work again.:(
February 12th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
for those whp [ut the ipod in wash and dryer i may be able to help….when you plug it in doy uo still get it to light up ????
February 17th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
I just realized mine was in the wash and googled “ipod shuffle washing machine” and am happy that there is at least a chance for my ipod. I will let it dry for a few days and see what happens…
February 19th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
when i first put it on the charger that day it lit up green then flashed orange (meaning charging), left for work posted last messge , came home and there was no lights now when i put it on the charger it flases green then orange then stops…works as a ussb drive though still… i’m going to try to use the utility updater hope that works. any suggestions?
February 20th, 2007 at 9:24 am
Perhaps try to reinstall the firmware. You can download the latest from the apple website.
February 21st, 2007 at 9:49 pm
My ipod shuffle went through a vigorous wash cycle in the washing machine ( with ear plugs still plugged on). When I first took it out, I did press the ‘on’ button a couple of times, no luck, then stumbled upon this site ( and other sites ) – thought I ruined it by turning the shuffle on prematurely, but still did not lose hope. Blew dry it with a hair dryer twice, then left it in a zip lock back with a pack of silica gel. Checked on it a day later ( and again pressed the on button- no luck)
Another day passed – did the same – still not working.
Then thought – what the heck – I have nothing to lose, so plugged the shuffle into the docking station connected to laptop. VOILA! at first there was a flashing orange light, then it synced itself, and now working perfectly!
don’t lose hope!!!
March 1st, 2007 at 7:33 pm
It’s johnny from the 2/7/07 post. I left the shuffle out to try for 2 days, charged it, and, voila! Good as new! Just be patient and don’t keep turning it on and off. Leave it somewhere for a few days and don’t touch!
March 24th, 2007 at 5:00 am
i have the new shuffle. i dont kno if it works the same way but i am going to leave it for a while. before, i tried to play it, after a day or 2 of drying out. it playd fine for the first few seconds then started skipping. has this happend to anyone?
March 24th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
I have a 1st gen shuffle, washed it once and let it sit without turning it on for 3 days. plugged it in on the third day and it worked…I use for running and during my last 1/2 marathon… I kept pouring water over my head (felt good but dumb move)…shuffle worked until the race was over and I unplugged the earphones.. I since have let it sit for 3 days..no luck still works as a usb drive…. anyone have any ideas??
March 28th, 2007 at 2:49 am
My 2nd gen ipod nano was left sitting in the wash for about a minute before i realized it was there. After letting it sit and blow drying it, it was recognized by itunes and charged. But when u took it out, it remained on for a while, then the backlight would go off. Then i would turn the ipod off only to have come on with the apple logo then go to the menu with no backlight. No its un responsive, What should i do?
April 1st, 2007 at 9:57 pm
I have the same problem. I went on a trip and the next day i washed my clothes in a washingmachine only to find it soaked! It is a 1st generation 512 MB ipod shuffle. I frantically switched it on and off, but it wouldn’t respond. I had my ipod coat-cover from 5 below on and my earphones in. I dryed it with a towel and blow dryed it with a hair dryer. Now im waiting a few days. Hope it works, im scared
April 2nd, 2007 at 6:12 pm
OMG I am so lucky my shuffle is ok! I waited a day for it to dry then i plugged it into my computer and it was charging! That meant the batteries were ok. When i tried it, it played music! Ipod shuffle is a USB device, MP3 player, and machine-washable(i recommend not to try). Thanks for the support! Don’t give up if this happens!
May 21st, 2007 at 8:58 pm
arghh i left my ipod shuffle 2nd gen in the washing machine and i turned it on right after like at least four times shouldve read this before. I put it in the oven super low temp tho so it wasnt that hot and still doesn’t work now leaving it in a plastic box with silica gel ontop of my computer omg hopefully it will work.
May 28th, 2007 at 1:06 am
My little brothers 1st gen shuffle went though the wash, works fine, but no battery life. My understanding of a lith-ion battery is that the internal circuitry needs to see a voltage from the battery before it starts charging it. so what i have done is open is up, and have connected a 3.7volt supply directly to the battery terminals (very bad/dangerious way of charging a lith-ion battery) (have done it in an emerency with a 6volt lantern battery and a cell phone). i will leave this on for 1 h, take it off, reassemble it and hopefully it will charge. will keep you posted.
July 16th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!OK ABOUT 6 months ago i washed my nano. 2 weeks later the light came on shortly, but only stays on for like a milisecond, it’s jsut a flash. Is there anyway to get it working fully? Or at least as a USB Drive?
September 8th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
I just washed my iPod nano, and am looking for ways to make it work. I stupidly hit the button, but nothing came on but the apple logo, and the logo was all messed up. I am setting it out in 90+ degree weather, and I hope this will help.
September 13th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Without thinking I had left my shuffle in my pants pocket and unfortunatly the shuffle hit the washing machine. Upset with my mistake I just left the shuffle sitting on the washing machine for a few days. Then I thought, I wonder if it would still work. It looked okay, and was really clean. I searched the internet to see if anyone had made the same mistake, it gave me hope that my shuffle may have life left in it. I plugged it in and holy crap it lit up. A few hours later I tested it and it worked. I have to say I am quite impressed, apple makes a mean shuffle.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
my ipod wen tthrough the wash..i blow dry it and it ..works perfectly except doesnt plug into the computer..its 2nd gen
November 15th, 2007 at 1:32 am
another shuffle through the washing machine and presto…. it still works!!!!
February 26th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
I put my new ipod nano in the wash, stupid me! And i was told to put it in rice, yeh i know RICE!, so that the moisture will be sucked up, blow dryed it too for about 10 mins, fingers crossed!
May 21st, 2008 at 6:54 pm
ok, I have an ipod shuffle as well, my secondary boss used it when he went to the gym, and then he discovered it was still on his clothes when it went through the wash cycle in the washing machine, although he didn’t dry it out if my memory serves me well. I still it and now I use it as a flash drive. do you think it still has hope? I tried synching it in itunes and it does recognize the ipod.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
1st gen. shuffle got sweaty and it quit working used hair dryer and after a few hours it would worked when plugged into car fm transmitter then quit working. Now it will sync and I have “restored” it several times but still no lights when it is turned on and no battery light indicator when it is unplugged from computer. Could the slide switch be bad or is it something else?
July 17th, 2008 at 1:24 am
i just by mistake dropped my shuffle in washing machine,but it is not working now ,wht should i do?please help?
December 13th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
THANK YOU SO MUCH, I LOVE YOU <3
i needed to hear this, after an upsetting incident :’(
i just hope the 1st gen does the same, too
mine is a RED and it came out RED xD
i just hope there will have to be no funeral planning *sniff*
February 17th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Plug it in and let it recharge first.