YOU WASHED THEM?

Can You Wash Apple Airpods in Your Washing Machine?

I did

Mistake # 1

I never should have tucked the AirPods Pro into my jeans pocket.

Mistakes #2

I should have checked the pockets of all the jeans I was preparing to wash. Washing paper money is fine, and coins come out so shiny, but hearing devices?

I use the AirPods when multitasking — chatting with my siblings while caring for my birds, doing housework or yard work. I can easily forget they are wedged into my ears, even after I disconnect from the call. Eventually, one will fall out, or I will catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror while washing my hands and remove them.

The AirPods should immediately be placed in their case, not shoved into my pocket to be forgotten.

Originally, the AirPod Pros were my husband’s. He didn’t use them so I took them over, and without reading any instructions, another mistake, I inserted them in my ears and tried to pair them with my phone.

It didn’t occur to me there was a left ear and a right ear device and they had to be placed with the black pod markings facing the back of my head.

The markings indicate left or right. I really should have read the online instructions or called my brother. I would have saved myself so much frustration.

My problem is I am left-handed, creating difficulties for me initially with anything that requires dexterity or precise positioning. We lefties do not intuitively understand a predominately right-handed world. Especially mechanical things. Once I grasp the concept or mechanics, I am fine. It’s the learning period that frustrates me.

Turned around, markings rearward, the AirPods announced themselves by pinging as they engaged with my phone.

Next problem. I wasn’t aware the little rubber things on the pod stems, the part pressed into your ear, came in different sizes. The damn things wouldn’t stay in my ears if I moved quickly or bent my head.

My wonderful, patient brother Anthony (Tony/Pcunix) Lawrence explained why. He advised buying a set of rubber tips, they come in sizes ranging from large to extra small — clueless me. The AirPods were set up for my large-headed husband and I’m a pinhead. No wonder they flew out of my ears.

Once I understood the mechanics of right and left, added smaller rubber tips, and charged the pods, I was able to talk and do chores. Bliss.

All was well until the afternoon I casually removed them from my ears and jammed them into my pocket to be returned to their case later.

They never made it to their little white case.

Horror was my reaction pulling my wet jeans out of the washing machine and watching the AirPods sliding out of the front pocket — complete horror.

Not only were they washed with detergent, I threw in a cup of unscented oxi clean powder and added an extra rinse — nothing like a thorough cleansing to test the power of Apple’s products to survive water immersion. I don’t think Apple had my Maytag washing machine and my AirPod Pros in mind when they mentioned some of their products were waterproof.

Hours later, after charging the AirPods, I plugged them into my ears, picked up my iPhone, and called my brother.

They worked and are still functioning two days later. Amazing.

Of course, their functionality may be temporary. As my brother warned me, rust and corrosion can take a while to occur. Then again, they are an Apple product, which means they may be serviceable for years to come.

If they fail, I will treat myself to the latest Apple AirPods Pro on the market.