How to fix water-damaged headphones?

Did you accidentally wash the hoodie containing your headphones? Or dropped them while it was raining?  Irrespective of the cause, water can cause a lot of damage to them. 

However, do not worry. You can get your headphones fixed.

How? Let’s discover.

How to fix water-damaged headphones?

There are different takes on how to fix water-damaged headphones. Here is how you can do it in 4 simple steps:

1. Disassemble your headphones
2. Deionize your headphones
3. Remove excess water
4. Use a desiccant to dry water

Step 1: Remove the silicone or rubber tip and disassemble your headphones

In order to expose the internal parts of your headphones, disassembling is important. Doing so will help you to actually reach the part where the water is. 

Make sure that the wire of your headphones is detangled before you begin. Learn  how to untangle headphone wire, if you do not already know. 

For handsfree:

Before you start, remove all the detachable parts from your headphones. Put the silicon and rubber tip sleeved aside on a dry towel. 

Once it is done, you can now focus on the drivers, that is the main part.

For headphones:

Unlike the tips of handsfree, the pads of headphones are not that easy to remove. However, some of them might just pop off the others need a prying tool.

Here are some steps to follow:

1. Firstly, in the gap between the speaker and earpad, insert your prying tool.
2. Secondly, remove the earpad with care.
3. Repeat with the other pad. 

For Bluetooth earbuds:

Moreover, the Bluetooth earbuds do not have any complex parts. If you own those, you can simply open them using a screwdriver or knife. Some earbuds need just a pull to disassemble. It depends on the model of your earbuds. Remove the plastic externals that enclose the driver to expose the headphones’ internal. 

Now, place these parts on a dry towel.

Step 2: Deionize your headphones

To dilute the water that is inside your headphones, you will have to use distilled water. Distilled water is considered safe for electronic devices.

Why?

As the distilled water is passed through a purifying process, all the impurities that can conduct electricity are removed. When you pass the distilled water from it, the impurities from previously gone water will spread out. Doing so will weaken the conductivity of water. Hence, it will deionize your headphones. 

This step is super important to protect your headphones from water damage. 

Here are a few steps on how you can do it:

1. Take a large container with a lid.
2. Put the headphones inside the container
3. Add distilled water to the container
4. Close the lid and gently shake the container for 5-6 minutes
5. Take the headphones out of the container
6. Gently tap and clean all the parts of the headphones with a clean cloth
7. Use q-tips for hidden parts

Step 3: Remove excess water

Using a hairdryer is strictly prohibited on your headphones. Therefore, an ideal way to remove extra water is by gently shaking them. 

Take your headphones and start shaking them in a downwards motion. Do it for 2 to 3 minutes till you see no more water droplets on it. Make sure that you are not being too violent with your headphones. You do not want to damage the internal components. 

Step 4: Use a desiccant to dry water

A desiccant is a substance that helps to achieve dryness. Some good desiccants include silica gel and uncooked rice. 

Follow these steps to dry your headphones:

1. Take a large container or a ziplock bag.
2. Fill it with the silica gel.
3. Now, place all the parts and the headphones in the container or the ziplock.
4. Leave the container overnight and let your headphones dry.

Here are some frequently asked questions on how to fix water-damaged headphones.

Can I use uncooked rice to dry my earpods?

Yes, you can definitely use uncooked rice for the drying of your earpods. They also serve as a desiccant. 

To use uncooked rice:

1. Fill a container with rice 
2. Put your earpods in the container
3. Cover the lid and leave for 48 hours

What not to do when headphones get damaged by water?

Here are some don’ts while you treat your water-damaged headphones:

• Do not use the headphones

It might get quite tempting to recheck if your headphones are functioning or not. However, do not check them. Otherwise, your headphones might meet a short-circuit and you might lose them forever. 

• Do not place headphones in microwave or oven

Please do not put your headphones in a microwave to dry them. The plastic of your headphones might meltdown and burn. The plastic might also catch fire and cause a lot of damage. 

• Do not use a hairdryer on your headphones

Many people use a hairdryer to dry almost everything. But, for headphones, it is strictly prohibited. The high temperature of headphones can cause damage to the internal parts of your headphones. 

Conclusion – How to fix water-damaged headphones

First things first, if you want to save yourself from all the trouble, store your headphones properly. If you are storing them just right, you will never meet such an accident.

However, in case you do, follow our guide on how to fix water-damaged headphones. It will help you to rescue your headphones and will save you some bucks as well.