I washed my son's cell phone....

[wdwmom0f3]

I can't believe it but I washed my sons cell phone tonight in the washing machine. I am just sick and I feel so bad about it. I took the battery out and tried to dry it. I also have it sitting in a container of rice b/c my mom said that it would bring the moister out. I hope that she is right. I guess we will know tomorrow. Please keep your fingers crossed for me.

I have already done this once, a few years ago and the phone, a different phone, started to work two days later. I pray, and I do mean pray, that it works this time. It's a brand new phone, and no... it's not insured.

Why do I do stupid things like this?

 

[muscarello4]

In our house, the rule is you are responsible for emptying your OWN pockets. I can't be responsible to check every pocket, every time. We have had: crayons, lip gloss, money, and gum. Never a cell phone.

I was 20 loads a week. If the kids ruin a load because of something they left in a pocket, then they work to replaced the ruined items.

Don't blame yourself....accidents happen. Fact of life.

 

[TraceyDisney2008]

Do not do anything else to the phone leave it alone for about three days and it should dry out. I have done it to the same phone 3 times and it still works. My cell company says to just leave it for 24=36 hours and they normally work.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Immediately seperate the battery from the phone and place both in a seperate container with rice, yes I said rice....


works like a charm!

 

[pktbMouse]

I dropped mine down the toilet on Sunday...(no commments please)...just take it apart...open the back take the battery out and also the sim card. I just left mine out in the sun but then I live in Texas where its warm...it will dry in a few days and be fine...I cant tell you how many times I washed hubbys phone for him..he even jumped into the pool last year with it in his pocket...dont worry , it will be fine x

 

[LVSWL]

Well, I guess I have you beat. In one 24 hour period..I washed my son's cell phone and then in the next load his ipod. I swear when I hear that thump thump thump in that second load in the dryer I could have just died!

 

[KATHINOWA]

Well, I hope the rice works for you.

My DS (13) washed his phone (doing his first ever load of wash). We didn't find out about the rice until a few days later so maybe it was too late for us.

One week later I washed my phone in my son's pants (i lent him my phone). The rice didn't help us.

But I have heard that it works.

 

[Sillyminny40]

I did this too but it is my ds's responsibility but my pocketbook!
Yes, dry it out right away. It may work. After this, I got the endless warranty that covers even loss (Canadian).

 

[ncmomof2]

Did he leave it in his pocket? If so, don't feel bad! And make him buy the next one so he doesn't do it again!

 

[seashoreCM]

I would give the phone a week to dry out before re-inserting the battery.

Whoever puts the garment in the machine or washtub is responsible.

That said, I think I emptied all the pockets and all of a sudden the finished wash is filled with wet confetti from a shredded paper towel.

Must have been because I went around the pants pockets starting at the left in order and somehow reversed direction finishing up inspecting at the left pocket and omitting the right pocket!

I do that with keys too, starting with the first key on the ring and somehow reversing direction and going back the wrong way and declaring to the key ring owner that "it's not there".

 

[Lstar311]

I second the rice. My phone was dropped in the dogs water dish and I left it in a bowl of rice overnight. Make sure the battery is out of the phone and also in the rice and cover both the phone and the battery. I have had my phones get wet soo many times, another place is in the car under the cupholders! My cupholders stick out from the dash and dripped into the console where my phone was. It got drenched before I realized it. Always get the insurance!

 

[Trena]

I've heard of dipping it in alcohol, only as a last resort. The alcohol gets inside and can help dry out the water.

Rice seems safer.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Did yo uhear about the guy who lost his fish in the ocean and a fisherman caught the fish who had eaten it???

http://www.postchronicle.com/news/strange/article_212212299.shtml

His worked and that was in saltwater and in a fish!!! He used the rice trick too...

 

[seashoreCM]

I've never had to clean a fish (or fowl or other animal) but if I did I would cut away and hold at arms length and dispose of all those components as quickly as possible and not go investigate what is inside, yuck! Now if the phone rang at just the right moment ...

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

 

[Elmo888]

I can't believe it but I washed my sons cell phone tonight in the washing machine. I am just sick and I feel so bad about it. I took the battery out and tried to dry it. I also have it sitting in a container of rice b/c my mom said that it would bring the moister out. I hope that she is right. I guess we will know tomorrow. Please keep your fingers crossed for me.

I have already done this once, a few years ago and the phone, a different phone, started to work two days later. I pray, and I do mean pray, that it works this time. It's a brand new phone, and no... it's not insured.

Why do I do stupid things like this?

I did the same thing - with my phone in my jeans! I couldn't believe that I did it either. These things just happen. We do so much laundry, and it is difficult to catch everything.

I did try to dry it out (battery and sim card out to dry), but it didn't come back. A few months later, my new phone drowned in the lake, and it didn't come back either! The first new phone was inexpensive because my contract was up for renewel ($10 or $20), but the second one cost a fortune since it was just a few months later!

You aren't the only one - I hope that you feel better!

 

[Captain_Hook]

Not trying to be snarky...

I am new to the mom-thing and learning that I am a bit of a fuddy-duddy.

I am just wondering why an 8 year old (based on OP's siggie) needs a cell phone. Is that common? Just curious...

 

[muscarello4]

Not that I agree....but it is when all my daughter's friends were getting cell phones. We got her one in 6th, but ONLY because she stays home alone for 15 minutes each morning. Then she walks to the corner to wait for the school bus for around 10 minutes. I just felt better with her having one in case of an emergency. I know, I know. We all lived just fine without them, but it does make a Mommy feel better. And it was only $10/month to add her to our contract.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

My DD14 has one, but I think it is a waste. It was her b-day gift ($10 a month), and if she wants it renewed it will be her gift this year too. My DD9 has many and I mean many friends with them, some with really nice touch screen ones, but she knows the deal and would rather have b-day gifts.

 

[NJFabFour]

I washed mine twice in one summer . . . the second time I was in line at Verizon, I was behind a woman who dropped hers in the pool and in front of a woman who dropped hers in her daughter's fruit punch at Sesame Place!!
I sure wish I knew what brands all these pp's have used that kept right on working! I tried to dry mine out for a week with no luck! Didn't know about the rice, though! One tip I got from a kind Verizon employee though was to save old phones and they will reactivate them for free if your new one has been damaged! When I told that to the other absent-minded moms in line with me, there was a different employee at the desk who was not too happy with me as he was trying to sell one of the moms a whole new phone! I told him an honest colleague of his had given me the tip!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

The one that fell in the ocean was a Nokia. My old one (new one too) was an LG and I dropped it in the snow and ran it over and didn't find it till the next day and it still worked, but I think the snow actually helped, if not for the snow I don't think it would have survived the van going over it. I think the snow softened the blow???