Washed the TV remote control in the washing machine

You can accidentally wash everything in the machine: from your passport and money to your smartphone and keys. Often clothes get into the drum and the TV remote control. A device soaked in soapy water, after the end of the cycle, can either continue to work in the same mode or become silent. In any case, the damaged remote control must be disassembled, eliminating all water consequences. Let's look at how to do this and what the chances of success are.

Initial actions

If you, along with your laundry, washed the TV remote control in the machine, then there is a chance of “reanimating” the device. As a rule, the likelihood of repair depends on the length of time the remote control is in soapy water. The less time the device spends in the drum, the more effective the repair will be. If you notice a TV remote control in your washing machine, you don’t have to wait until the wash is finished. Let's do it differently:

• we forcefully stop the cycle by pressing the “Start/Stop” button;
• launch the drain program;
• wait until the drum is empty;
• After the door automatically unlocks, open the hatch and take out the remote control.

More often, the problem is noticed only at the end of the cycle, when the washing machine has had time to wash, rinse and spin the items. In this case, we don’t hesitate either - immediately open the battery compartment on the remote control, take out the batteries and fill the “insides” with alcohol-containing liquid. Detailed instructions follow.

We are trying to restore functionality

The remote control is “reanimated” in any case, even if washing in the machine did not affect its performance.Contact with water will sooner or later appear: the terminals will oxidize, the board will “fly” and the remote control will break. It’s better not to take risks, but to try to correct the situation. The instructions on what to do to restore the remote control after “water procedures” are quite simple. The sequence is as follows:

• open the battery compartment;
• remove the batteries and throw them away (it is unsafe to use wet batteries);
• unscrew the bolts securing the housing;
• open the latches and disassemble the remote control (an old plastic card inserted into the seam will simplify the task);
• take out the keyboard;
• release the chip without removing the connected sensor from it.

Batteries that have been in water cannot be used - only disposed of!

More often the problem arises with disassembling the case. Some models can be easily “snapped off” using a bank card or tweezers, others will require a Phillips screwdriver. If the latter is not at hand, then you can get by with the tip of a knife or a woman’s hairpin. When the back cover of the remote control is slightly “recessed”, you need to pry it off at the joints. We use the blade carefully so as not to scratch the surface of the remote control.

We must not forget about safety precautions. When working with screwdrivers and knives, it is necessary to use thick work gloves, especially if you have problems with fine motor skills. To reduce the risk of cutting, it is recommended to choose blades that are blunt and curved at the end. The next stage after disassembly is treating the board with alcohol. It is important to maintain a balance here: thoroughly moisten the microcircuit without flooding it. We also generously spray the keyboard with cologne or vodka. The latter can be completely immersed in an alcohol solution for a few seconds.

The “alcohol-treated” board and keyboard dry naturally.Ideally, the elements are placed on a newspaper half a meter from the battery or left for 8 hours in a dry room. The main thing is not to try to speed up drying with a hairdryer - a direct hot air flow will damage the contacts and damage the electronics. If, despite all the manipulations, the remote control “died” after the washing machine, then do not despair. A new remote control is inexpensive, and some models are universal and will fit any TV.

Reader comments

• Share your opinion - leave a comment