I accidentally left my Insignia Bluetooth universal adapter in the pocket of my shorts. It went through the washing machine and then made it into the dryer before I remembered it was there. Now it won't power on. Is there anything I can do to recover it, or should I just replace it?
2 Answers
If you want to try saving it, don’t power it on again. Open the case if possible, remove any battery, and let it dry completely in a warm, well-ventilated place for a couple of days. Desiccant packets are better than rice. After it’s fully dry, you can inspect it for residue or corrosion and try it once more, but detergent and water may already have damaged the electronics.
You can rinse the opened device with clean distilled water to remove leftover detergent, then shake out the excess and let it dry thoroughly for several days. Don’t use tap water, heat, or rice, and don’t reconnect power until there’s absolutely no moisture left. Realistically, though, these adapters are inexpensive, so replacing it is probably easier and more reliable.
I already tried turning it on while it was probably still wet and had laundry detergent inside, so it may already be beyond repair. I’ll let it dry anyway, but I’m prepared to replace it.
Drying might help if the board escaped serious damage, but corrosion can continue even after the moisture is gone. Since it was washed, dried, and already tested, I wouldn’t count on it recovering.