Memory stick and spincycles......

[The_Fire]

So, it finally happened: I forgot a memory stick in my jeans pocket before putting it in the washing machine.....

While not the most important data in my life, I would really like to know what the chances are that I can still use it when its done as it is my 8 gigabyte stick.........

Anyone?

[icerat]

As long as you let it dry completely before you use it, it's probably fine. You might want to open it up and dry it yourself rather than let it sit though.

[Brian-M]

The chances are pretty good once it's dry. Unless you leave it damp for long enough to corrode the terminals, water isn't going to do it any permanent damage.

(The same applies for most electronic equipment. As long as you dry it out properly before you use it.)

[commandlinegamer]

Only if there isn't power still being supplied, i.e. via an internal battery.

[arthwollipot]

Put it in salt. I wouldn't suggest using a hair dryer, as many people do suggest. A hair dryer would likely blow the moisture about, making the corrosion problem worse. Cover it in rock salt (not fine ground salt) for about 24 hours and it should be fine.

[DrDave]

Mine's been washed 3 times with no ill effects.

[Ocelot]

Put it in salt. I wouldn't suggest using a hair dryer, as many people do suggest. A hair dryer would likely blow the moisture about, making the corrosion problem worse. Cover it in rock salt (not fine ground salt) for about 24 hours and it should be fine.
I was going to suggest sealing it in a bag or rice for similar reasons. Any desiccant would do. So if you can get hold of a whole bunch of silica gel that's just dandy.

[Darat]

I was going to suggest sealing it in a bag or rice for similar reasons. Any desiccant would do. So if you can get hold of a whole bunch of silica gel that's just dandy.

I've got dozens of the little bags that come with electronic equipment for use in such emergencies! (I think it's a breeding colony as I'm sure the buggers are multiplying.)

[The_Fire]

Didn't have any silica (will start hording the stuff in the future however) but put it in a closed container with rocksalt. Thanks for the advice to everyone.

[OnlyTellsTruths]

I believe with rice you are less likely to get harmful fine particles/powder in the electronics like with some salts.

[elgarak]

I have a memory stick that I have forgotten in my pants for laundry at least five times.

No problems at all. The thing still works, and it's the cleanest stick around :). I mean, they're nearly always unpowered when they're not plugged in, so the liquids won't really damage them. Just need to dry, is all. Now, putting them through a clothes dryer might be harmful... Never tried that...

Some other experience: I once spilled coffee over my wireless keyboard. Took out the batteries and dunked the whole thing in water. Took a long time to dry (over a week), but no harm done otherwise. Now there's a new keyboard out with solar cell power. I like that idea, to save on batteries, but I wonder if an accident like this may be more problematic, since it will get power from the solar cells.

[Brian-M]

I like that idea, to save on batteries, but I wonder if an accident like this may be more problematic, since it will get power from the solar cells.

The amount of current that indoor solar cells (and small batteries) can supply is too low to cause any damage. If you spill coffee on it, it might go a little haywire (eg, sending gibberish to the computer), but there would be little more chance of permanent damage than if it were unpowered. (Maybe a slightly higher chance of corrosion due to the electrolytic effect.)

[Dan O.]

With all of the suggestions of using a hair dryer, rock salt, rice, silica gel, etc. the goal is to remove the moisture from the device before corrosion takes place and without causing additional harm to the device. The rock salt, rice and silica gel can all absorbe moisture from the air and help maintain a lower relative humidity in a closed environment. But, if you have kept these in open containers, they will have reached an equilibrium and will not be able to lower the humidity below the ambient level so you are better off leaving the device in the open air.

You can drive moisture out of these absorbers by raising their temperature and when they cool they will again absorbe moisture from the air. I don't know the maximum temperatures that they can be dried at but it should be easy enough to look up. Store them in an airtight container in a cool place and they will be ready for the next time you need them.

If you already have a low relative humidity, simple moving air will do a good job of drying.

Reducing the atmospheric pressure will dramatically increase the rate at which water will evaporate. The increased evaporation causes cooling which can even result in freezing. This is the process known as freeze drying except generally the formation of ice crystals is bad so the process adds heat to compensate. If you don't happen to have a vacume chamber this probably won't help. A household vacume (Hoover) doesn't have enough suck to make much of a difference.

Slightly elevated temperatures and moving air both accelerate evaporation. If you happen to have a convection oven, it will probably have a dehydrate setting that will not be too hot for electronics.

[Salerio]

I've done it a few times, left the stick in pocket and just shoved it in the washer. They have always worked once retrieved - usually because you get a "what the heck is that rattling about in there" feeling

[fuelair]

Mine's been washed 3 times with no ill effects.One of mine (16GB SanDisk Cruzer) has been through wash and dry twice and still works fine (all of mine are doubled just in case though). Two others (2 and 8 Gig) have been through once each and still work.:)

[AgeGap]

Had a 1Gig stick go in the machine. That was back when 1Gig was a lot and they included a lanyard. Stick was OK and the lanyard was improved due to the fabric conditioner.

[Brian-M]

Since everyone's relating their experiences, I did have one go through the wash and it worked fine afterward, but then failed a few months later.

I'm not sure if the later failure had anything to do with going through the wash, or because it was a cheap piece of junk.

(Or possibly both.)

[Cuddles]

I believe with rice you are less likely to get harmful fine particles/powder in the electronics like with some salts.

This. Remember that salt water is rather more corrosive than fresh water, so you could actually end up causing more damage from some of the salt dissolving. I'd always go with silica gel or rice rather than salt.

[Verde]

Washing is probably not a problem. I've had a couple that I retrieved and they worked just fine.

Putting them in the dryer is a big no-no. The heat warps the contacts, or even in one case the entire body so it won't plug in.

I recommend not trying to dry them in the microwave oven.

V.

[The_Fire]

Well, its still working.....will use rice the next time.