Have you ever tried capturing videos underwater with your mobile? Or swimming with your smartwatch. If yes, then you must know the secret behind why your device is not affected by water. Are they waterproof? devices which are not affected by water or moisture are waterproof. Many people also raise a similar question, will headphones work after being washed?
Absolutely yes. Has it ever happened to you that something you don’t want to wash but accidentally washed in the washing machine shouldn’t be washed? Your answer must be yes, as we all have faced such situations while our clothes are being washed, and we forget something in our pockets.
It’s quite a common, unwanted, and unintentional mistake mostly made. These all are electronic devices, and every electronic device doesn’t work after being washed.
However, headphones work after being washed. There are also various factors, such as how you wash your headphone and how long it has been washed. Most importantly, the IPX rating of your headphones because of all the damages database on your IPX rating. Such questions highly matter when your headphones are being washed.
So, if you’ve forgotten your earbuds in your pocket or headphones in your bag while being washed, you don’t need to be worried about it. Hence, you’ll get the answer to your question of whether your headphones will work after being washed and the various tips you can implement as precautions and different factors to consider while buying headphones, especially water resistance.
Read also: Do Headphones Degrade Over Time?
What Should You Do When Your Headphones Or Earbuds Are Washed?
- If it has happened to you that your headphone has been washed. Now, taking some measures is crucial, so your headphones may work. What should be the steps? It is dependent on the type and the specifications of the headphones. Before drying, wash your headphones with fresh water (Second wash). Seems awkward! Still, you’ve to take this step to remove the detergent you had used while washing clothes and stuck with the headphone. Don’t use excess water while removing detergent. Now, let it dry.
- For the earbuds, you’ll do the same step and wash your earbuds again so that they may be clean and free from detergent. You can also use alcohol to remove the inside water by dipping it in alcohol. Now, let them dry in a warm place. All the steps depend on the quality and specifications of headphones or earbuds. If you’re using waterproof earbuds, then you don’t need to worry about it. If they’re not waterproof, it may create some damage.
- Never try to plug them in after washing. Wait for some time; drying time must be at least more than 48 to 72 hours (2-3 days). Please don’t rush to check whether it’s working or not. Do wait, and resist yourself to connect them with your mobile or laptop.
- In addition, this is one of the most common mistakes people make, they ignore the drying time, and turn them on, but It takes approximately 3 days. Because internal parts like the circuits of the headphones take some time to dry. People turn on their headphones, and the circuits short out and damage your headphones instantly. When it happens to you, do place your headphones at some place and forget them for 3 days.
- Let them air dry as it is a natural process. . Don’t use any tool or instrument to force them to dry rapidly, just like a hairdryer, microwave, radiator, clothes dryer, or any other forced hot air. Using such tools means creating opportunities to damage the devices. Because such electronic devices or tools use very high temperatures and can easily damage your headphones or earbuds. You might have thought that using such devices can help you a lot to get
- The best results in no time, but at the same time, you must know that it can cause more damage than water alone. So, have some patience and don’t try to speed the process up to get the results. The results will be surprising.
What Is IPX Rating, And Why It’s Important?
If you’re thinking about waterproof headphones, you’re thinking about IPX rating simultaneously. Being waterproof means that your headphones’ IPX rating is high. You might be thinking that what is IPX rating? So, let’s define the term.
IPX rating is all about the protection of your device against water submersion. Or you can define it as the ability to resist water at different levels. IPX ratings are from 0 ratings to 8 ratings. Such ratings define how much your device is waterproof. Today, most earbuds are IPX rated.
Let’s discuss all the ratings of IPX.
What Are The Different Ratings Of IPX?
- A 0 rating means there is no protection. And your headphone is not waterproof. You can’t guarantee whether they will work again or not after being washed. the
- At 1 rating, the device can stand drops of water.
- At 2 ratings, your device stands vertically and drips water. You can take a le of water.
- At 3 ratings, your device can be protected from sprays up to 60°.
- At 4 ratings, your device is protected against splashing water. Drips after what the direction is.
- At 5 ratings, It stands water jets in any direction.
- At 6 ratings, the device stands with strong water jets.
- At 7 ratings, you can immerse the device up to 3 feet for 30 minutes.
- At 8 ratings, this rating is ideal for any device. You can immerse the device in the water up to 13 feet. And this is fully waterproof.
So, it would help if you had to get an idea about the IPX rating and its importance.
Is It Safe To Use Headphones That Have Been Wet?
If your headphones get wet, it’s essential to dry them off as soon as possible. Water can damage the delicate components inside headphones, so it’s best to avoid using them until they are completely dry.
If you must use your headphones while they’re still wet, you can do a few things to minimize the risk of damage.
- Ensure the volume is turned down to avoid damaging your hearing.
- Avoid watering the speaker drivers, as this can shorten the electronics.
- Unplug your headphones from any power source before drying them off, as water and electricity don’t mix!
By following these simple tips, you can help to keep your headphones in good condition and extend their lifespan. So go ahead and enjoy your workout music without worry!
Can You Put Earphones In Rice After Being Washed?
Yes, you can put earphones in a small bag of rice granules after being washed. Rice is a natural absorbent that will help to absorb moisture from the earphones. Ensure the rice is completely dried before putting them back in your ears.
If your earphones are still not working after being put in rice, use another moisture absorber, or there may be a more serious issue with them, and you should take them to a professional to check them out.
FAQs
Will Earbuds Work After Being Washed?
Absolutely yes, if they’re waterproof. Mostly, we forget our earbuds in our pockets or bag and accidentally washed in the washing machine. In such a case, you need to check out the IPX rating of your earbuds so that you analyze whether they will work again or not. They will survive if your earbuds are waterproof or water-resistant and have IPX ratings from IPX6 to IPX8.
If they’re not water-resistant or waterproof might not survive. Such earbuds have a 0 IPX rating.
What To Do If Your Headphones Get Wet?
As I’ve already discussed, a hair dryer, clothes dryer, microwave, radiator, or any other high-temperature device may cause significant damage to your headphones. You can place your headphones in the releasable plastic bag. Interestingly, you can use uncooked rice to dry your headphones. Rice absorbs water from headphones or lets earphones air dry. It is better to dry naturally instead using other tools.
Can Rain Damage Headphones?
Yes, rain can damage headphones. Water-resistant headphones are less affected by the water of rain. However, you can’t keep your device open to rain because it can also damage the internal components of your headphones.
Can You Operate Wet Headphones?
Not at all. If you turn your headphones on while wet, they can be more damaged than the water because of a short circuit. A short circuit is done due to the reaction of impure particles with the metallic components in the water.
So, never turn your headphone on while they’re wet.
Concluding Note
Headphones or earbuds are an important when it comes to entertainment. So, it should be our responsibility to take care. They must be at their place as you finish using them. If it still happens that your headphones is accidentally washed, there is no need to be panic, Because it is a common mistake most people make.
Interestingly, sometimes headphones sound better after being washed than before. It happens, Because metals react with water, make some changes and perform better. Besides, sometimes it can also destroy the speakers and damage headphones.
So, I tried to answer the question, will headphones work after being washed? Hopefully, it will help you a lot when it happens to you. All you need to do is to have patience and take the right steps.
Moreover, take the measures I have discussed above. You will get better results.
