Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPod Shuffle went in pool, Any chance it can be revived.

L

lordmac

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 15, 2004
241
0
Santa Cruz, CA
Alright, so my little cousin who is about 12 just got an 512MB iPod shuffle, he has been really excited about it and taking it with him just about everywhere. Unfortunately one of the places he accidentally took it with him today was the pool. So I told him there is a slight chance it may come back if he lets it sit for a day or 2 and completely dry out. Now do you guys think there is any chance that this thing will come back and if there is anything I should try other then letting it dry out. :(

Thanks in advanced. :)
 
stridey

stridey

macrumors 65816
Jan 21, 2005
1,136
0
Massachusetts, Connecticut
lordmac said:
Alright, so my little cousin who is about 12 just got an 512MB iPod shuffle, he has been really excited about it and taking it with him just about everywhere. Unfortunately one of the places he accidentally took it with him today was the pool. So I told him there is a slight chance it may come back if he lets it sit for a day or 2 and completely dry out. Now do you guys think there is any chance that this thing will come back and if there is anything I should try other then letting it dry out. :(

Thanks in advanced. :)
Click to expand...

Drying shuffles has brought them back to life in the , so there's a chance it'll work. Can't think of any other suggestions, though.
 
Le Big Mac

Le Big Mac

macrumors 68030
Jan 7, 2003
2,809
378
Washington, DC
lordmac said:
Alright, so my little cousin who is about 12 just got an 512MB iPod shuffle, he has been really excited about it and taking it with him just about everywhere. Unfortunately one of the places he accidentally took it with him today was the pool. So I told him there is a slight chance it may come back if he lets it sit for a day or 2 and completely dry out. Now do you guys think there is any chance that this thing will come back and if there is anything I should try other then letting it dry out. :(

Thanks in advanced. :)
Click to expand...

1) Make sure it's off
2) If the pool had lots of chlorine, you might go rinse it in distilled water, so that there's no chemical buildup. Of course, don't bother if it's already mostly dry or it didn't get very wet.
3) let it dry thoroughly, and then try it in a couple of days.

I have had electronics come back before, a walkman a discman and a cellphone, after thorough soakings, so it may work. you might have to reformat or something. Since there aren't many moving parts, it probably has a better chance at life.
 
mrgreen4242

mrgreen4242

macrumors 601
Feb 10, 2004
4,377
9
You should pull the innards out so it doesn't trap any moisture inside. I'd link directions at disassembling it, but I feel lazy, so you will have to search yourself.

Most importantly, don't turn it on while drying. The rinse in distilled water isn't a bad idea if the thing got really wet with highly chlorinated water, but I'd agree with Le Big Mac that if it is already mostly dry or not completely soaked to begin with you shouldn't try it.

Good luck!
 
P

PlaceofDis

macrumors Core
Jan 6, 2004
19,241
6
i had a regular flash stick go through the was, and dryer.... works fine still, so the shuffle can certainly recover, but there always is that chance of it not as well
 
t300

t300

macrumors 6502a
Apr 10, 2004
976
1
Yeah, my first suggestion would have been to take it apart and let it dry. Maybe use a hairdryer on the low, cool setting. Good luck and get a sport case!
 
T

tangerineyum

macrumors 6502
Feb 16, 2005
423
0
Ontario, CA
had a d link blue tooth adapter go through the washing machine. 2 days with a blow dryer and things are back to normal. Take the shuffle apart and dry to your hearts content.
 
iDM

iDM

macrumors 6502a
Jul 6, 2005
852
0
The Commonwealth of PA/The First State-DE
mrgreen4242 said:
You should pull the innards out so it doesn't trap any moisture inside. I'd link directions at disassembling it, but I feel lazy, so you will have to search yourself.

Most importantly, don't turn it on while drying. The rinse in distilled water isn't a bad idea if the thing got really wet with highly chlorinated water, but I'd agree with Le Big Mac that if it is already mostly dry or not completely soaked to begin with you shouldn't try it.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

If you were going to post the link of the Shuffle being taken apart, that was on here from before they actually had to break the stereo jack or pop off the controls, maybe I'm wrong in which case disregard!
 
Xeem

Xeem

macrumors 6502a
Feb 2, 2005
908
15
Minnesota
My sister's shuffle went through the wash and seemed dead. Two days (in an unsealed ziploc bag with some dry rice) later, it was once again operating perfectly and has been for months now.
 
L

lordmac

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 15, 2004
241
0
Santa Cruz, CA
Wow, you all have given me much more confidence that it may come back. Although sense the owner of this iPod Shuffle is 12 the first thing he did before he came and ask me (I am pretty much my entire family's tech support so they all come to me with these sorts of problems) was to turn it on to see if it still worked. I of coursed turned it off as soon as i got my hands on it, so i hope it still has a chance to come back. I don't think I'll take it apart as im not at home and don't have the proper tools. So it sounds like I should tell him to let it dry for a good long while, and that idea of putting it in a bag of dry rice is smart ill tell him that too thank Xeem. :)
 
.Andy

.Andy

macrumors 68030
Jul 18, 2004
2,965
1,306
The Mergui Archipelago
Xeem said:
My sister's shuffle went through the wash and seemed dead. Two days (in an unsealed ziploc bag with some dry rice) later, it was once again operating perfectly and has been for months now.
Click to expand...
The rice as a dessicant is a fantastic idea Xeem :). But wouldn't it work better if the bag was sealed so as to avoid the rice attracting water from the atmosphere? If you dried the rice in the oven beforehand that would probably help as well. Rock salt would also make a great alternative to rice :).

Anyway good luck lordmac!
 
mrgreen4242

mrgreen4242

macrumors 601
Feb 10, 2004
4,377
9
Yeah, you have to pop the controls off to open the shuffle, if I recall, but it is non destructive.

Also, don't lie it directly in the sun to try it off. The intense sunlight and heat will almost certainly break it. The idea of using a hairdryer on the cool low setting is a good one though!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom