USB drive went through the laundry

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the experiences and opinions of participants regarding USB drives and other electronic devices that have accidentally gone through the laundry. Participants share anecdotes, methods for preventing such incidents, and the resilience of electronic devices after exposure to water and washing machines.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses amazement that their USB drive survived a wash and dry cycle, noting that all files remain accessible.
  • Another participant mentions using "Disk Cleanup" as a method for managing files, though the effectiveness is questioned.
  • Several participants share personal experiences with memory cards and other devices surviving similar washing incidents.
  • There is a discussion about the importance of emptying pockets before doing laundry, with some participants acknowledging the difficulty of finding small items like USB drives in pockets.
  • One participant humorously suggests wearing the USB drive around the neck to prevent it from being washed, while others share their own experiences with this method.
  • A participant recounts a friend's iPod that did not survive the wash, contrasting with other devices that did.
  • There are humorous exchanges about the potential consequences of forgetting to detach items from clothing, referencing drive-in movie experiences.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants share a mix of personal anecdotes and opinions, with no clear consensus on the best practices for preventing devices from going through the laundry. Some express confidence in the resilience of electronic devices, while others highlight the risks involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants' claims about device resilience depend on individual experiences and may not apply universally. There are no definitive conclusions regarding the effectiveness of preventative measures discussed.

Rach3
All my files......are still accessible! I'm amazed that this thing works. It went through both the washer and the dryer.

Here's a picture in case you've never seen one of these:

http://www.usbflashdrive.org/art/product/hi_SamsungUSBflashdrive.jpg
 
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Personally, I use "Disk Cleanup" but whatever works I guess.
 
You use Windows? Well, whatever works I guess. Or doesn't work. Hmm.
 
My memory cards have been through the wash numerous of times.

I just hope my iPod or PocketPC never gets in there.
 
Washing cloths.

Step 1. Empty all pockets. In fact, one can empty one's pockets when one removes the article of clothing and before one deposits the article into a laundry hamper.

The other steps are hopefully pretty obvious.
 
It's easy enough to say, "empty all those pockets". These things are so tiny they get lost in the folds of a pocket. It's like trying to find a digitzed needle in a haystack of cotton and polyester.
 
Back up your files ><
 
I usually empty pockets from my shirt and pants, and put contents in one spot. Then I take the clothes off and put one something more comfortable.

Well, I probably think somewhat procedurally, like engineers tend to do, but then I change procedures probably too often. :rolleyes: :biggrin:


Thrice said:
Back up your files ><
That too!
 
I've washed an OCZ rally, dropped a cell phone in the toilet and left an exposed router with a Yagi in the rain before, all work now. As long as the PCB is dry it should work.
 
  • #10
My wife reveled that mine had been through the wash, she waited to tell me about it, till after I had been using it for a few days. :rolleyes:

I am not real sure how it got in the laundry since I don't carry mine in my pocket :confused:
 
  • #11
Hang the drive round your neck. Not the height of fashion, but at least this sort of thing wouldn't happen.
 
  • #12
Curious3141 said:
Hang the drive round your neck. Not the height of fashion, but at least this sort of thing wouldn't happen.
:rolleyes: I do that at work, but then have nearly dangled it into the pan of glassware soaking in the sink a few too many times for comfort. :frown:
 
  • #13
My friend's new iPod went through the wash...and...no, it didn't make it
 
  • #14
Moonbear said:
:rolleyes: I do that at work, but then have nearly dangled it into the pan of glassware soaking in the sink a few too many times for comfort. :frown:

Well, that's what shirt pockets are for. Hang the strap round your neck and place the drive into your pocket. Double protection ! Won't get into the wash when you bend over at work and won't get into the wash when you fling your clothes into the laundry at home.

Tough with a female dress, but I'm sure your lab coat has a top pocket ?
 
  • #15
Rach3 said:
Here's a picture in case you've never seen one of these:

http://www.usbflashdrive.org/art/product/hi_SamsungUSBflashdrive.jpg
All of our members living under rocks thank you for the picture.
 
  • #16
Curious3141 said:
Hang the drive round your neck. Not the height of fashion, but at least this sort of thing wouldn't happen.
This also prevents you from inadvertantly leaving your drive in a computer at work or school and losing it forever.

Of course, the drawback is getting home and wondering why there's a computer dangling from the window of your car door.

(All you folks old enough to remember drive-in movies with the speakers you hung in your window probably understood that. For the rest of you, I just feel sorry you missed out on a great piece of Americana.)
 
  • #17
BobG said:
(All you folks old enough to remember drive-in movies with the speakers you hung in your window probably understood that. For the rest of you, I just feel sorry you missed out on a great piece of Americana.)
That's not what happens! It shows clearly in the pre-movie trailer that if you attempt to drive away without detaching the window-speaker, your car will break in half! They went to all that trouble to make a cartoon, so it must be true!
 
  • #18
DaveC426913 said:
That's not what happens! It shows clearly in the pre-movie trailer that if you attempt to drive away without detaching the window-speaker, your car will break in half! They went to all that trouble to make a cartoon, so it must be true!
At least a good enough possibility of being true that I always avoided the snack bar. The idea of food dancing around the room half clothed always terrified me.
 
  • #19
BobG said:
(All you folks old enough to remember drive-in movies with the speakers you hung in your window probably understood that. For the rest of you, I just feel sorry you missed out on a great piece of Americana.)
We've still got a drive-in theater just a few miles away. They got sick of re-attaching the cheesy speakers, so they invested in a low-power radio transmitter. Now when the kids go to the drive-in, they don't choose the flashiest car (the norm all through the 60s), but the one with the most killer stereo, subwoofers, etc.
 

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