Rest assured, it happens to all of us at one time or another time – You know, when you drop your car key or fob in a deep puddle, a bowl of water or even leave it in your pocket and it ends up in the washing machine, spinning at 1200 rpm shortly before you can retrieve it.
However your car key or fob ends up getting wet, don’t despair, it may still be salvageable if you follow the simple steps below. If you do, you may be able to avoid and hassle of needing to get a replacement. Firstly, it goes without saying that having a spare key (or two) handy if the above happens will make your life a whole lot easier regardless of whether or not you’re successful at drying out the damaged one. Even if it works, you’ll still need a spare whilst you wait for the drying process to take place.
The drying process
Water and other fluids (e.g. wine, beer, cola, hot coffee etc.) are a bad mix when they come into contact with electronics so if your key or fob gets wet, it’s important to act as quickly as you can to try and minimise the damage. For the sake of this post, we’ll stick with the basic assumption that your key fob has been dropped in water as this is perhaps the most common scenario.
1. Find something absorbent to dry the outer casing and buttons – Something like a paper towl or tissue would be ideal if you have either handy. Before you begin drying, try and make sure that you remove as much excess water that may be inside by turning the key fob so the buttons are facing downwards. Gently shake it so that any water can escape via the buttons and then thoroughly dry the casing and around the buttons as much as you can.
2. Next, if you feel confident enough, it’s a good idea to remove the battery if you’re able to. This can usually be done by prising open the casing with a small screwdriver or something similar. Car key fob batteries are usually flat, silver disks that look like a button and are the same type found in most quartz watches and they’re usually fairly easy to remove. If you don’t feel confident doing this, you can still continue and it may still work. If you do remove it though, don’t replace it with a new one until the fob is totally dry.
3. Now we need to thoroughly dry the key fob. There are various ways to do this and any one will work. If you have silica gel packets handy, you can place these in a plastic bag along with the key and they’ll suck a lot of the moisture out. If you use this method, it’s still worth continuing the drying process as the silica gel packs might not be large enough to extract all the moisture.
Dry, uncooked rice is sometimes suggested as an alternative but we don’t recommend this as the starch molecules in the rice can contaminate the delicate electronics. Basically, the safest and most effective way to dry the key fob is to leave it for a couple of days in a warm and dry room.
DON’T be tempted to leave the key fob on top of a radiator or attack with a hairdryer though, as this can damage it… patience is a virtue! You can speed up the process slightly by placing the key fob on a high shelf of the room – warm air rises and the higher up the key fob is, the warmer and drier the air will be. After a couple of days (or until you’re sure the fob is bone dry), try putting in a replacement battery using the key as normal to see if it works.
If it does, well done! If it doesn’t, getting a replacement from Keys 4 Cars is a convenient and cost-effective option. We’re both faster and cheaper than most dealerships and we’re mobile too, meaning that we can come to you if you don’t want the inconvenience of travelling to get a replacement.
20 comments
Tonya
My 2023 Yukon Denali fob fell out of my pocket and sat outside on a swing for 2 days. It rained AND snowed before I found it. PLEASE HELP!!! In the middle of an ugly divorce so I can’t afford replacement. Thank you
Erin
Me: laying on couch with migrane… Husband: going to do laundry want me to do yours?
Me: Yes, but check my pockets for keys…
Husband: No keys. (Throws laundry in)
Me: Gets up to pee before trying to nap off headache. Hears clinking in washer. Thinking did I wear any clothes with snaps or buckels?….. Shoot it’s the key fob. Open the washer clothes are soaked. Turn it a few times and hear the clank. Yeah all the way in back, where all the water is settled. Grabs keyfob….
Husband: Walks in and asks. What are you doing?
Me: Throws key fob to his feet….
Husband: we can throw it in a bag of rice…. (we only ever use the precooked uncle Ben’s)
Me: we have no rice… so I then scoured the house took all the silica packs out of every medication/vitamin bottle. Put it in a baggy sucked all the air out and put it in the window that faces the sun. Hopefully it works.
Keys 4 Cars
Hi Erin, thanks for sharing your story! Wishing you the best of luck, and I hope everything works out. Just a quick tip in case it doesn’t: it might help to take the key out of the bag to let the moisture escape, as it can’t evaporate from a sealed bag.
Debra
I went to water aerobics, my me I never wear anybswim wear with Pockets
Well I did this time. My instructor says get your weights, I hit my thigh and said oh no went on rhe Pockets pulled out my keys. I immediately took the fob out of the protection case shook the water out. Afterwards, I went ro touch the door it would not work. So I took the battery out drying all parts
When I got home I laid it in rice…Hopefully it will work soon my car is still at tje pool and purse in the trunk
David Cotter
Silca is a desiccent and absorbs moisture from the air around it. It is advised to seal the item from ambient air that may have more humidity
So keep the sealed bag
Rachel Johnson
Go Fob went through washer AND dryer . Quite hot . Any hope ??
Rodney L COOKS
My key fob went through washer and do i do to make it work again.
Heather
My key fob fell in a bucket of water what’s the easiest way to fix it and it won’t cost me so much money
Keys 4 Cars
If you’ve tried all of the tips in this post and your key still doesn’t work, you may need to get a new car key I’m afraid.
Keys 4 Cars
It’s possible Rachel. The only way to find out is to leave it long enough to ensure it’s fully dried out, then give it a go!
Nic
Washed my mini keys by mistake in my jeans. The key is sealed and had to get it replaced by mobile smith.
Cost £220. Be warned
Gillian Quinlan
Coffee spilled over my key fob when I was driving it was in about 2 inches of coffee for 5 minutes
Greg Porter
I dropped my car keys in a bowl of water. I retrieved them and left them in the garden shed to dry out in the hot August weather we have had in England recently. It worked like a charm and the key now works again. Thank you for the advice.
beatrice
i have a 2011 nissan altima my alarm didnt want open the car doors then i dropped it when putting back together i put it in key socket and no start and it said no key. i cant afford it. what should i dol?
Kesang Wangdi
My Creta keyless got accidentally wet in a washing machine but it’s working. Any advice
Rebecca
You have to push in your break get the remote key turn it sideways push in yhe start button with it and your car will start
Alrocca12
Your suggestion was a life saver! My friend called in a Panic she dropped her key in water and couldn’t start the car. She tried all the steps to no avail, but your suggestion Worked. Thank You Very Much
Kim ian Morgan
Got a ford focus 2015 keyless fob. Forgot to take it out of my work clothes accident can happen washing machine oopsss. Need ideas.
Keys 4 Cars
Hi Beatrice
Sorry to hear you’re having problems with your car key; it sounds like it may have been damaged. I’m not sure where you are in the world but unfortunately, based on what you’ve described, I think your best option is to contact a reputable local auto locksmith who will be able to inspect/test the key. Make sure they specialize in vehicles as they will have more experience than a general locksmith and they may be able to repair the car key rather than replace it. If they can repair it, it will work out much cheaper. Do this before contacting a Nissan dealership because the locksmith will probably be far less expensive too.
Bridgette
I don’t know what made my daughter give my 2 year old granddaughter her keys to take her mind off of getting out the pool knowing she is in throwing mode and in the pool went the keys so she would have to go back in the pool to get the keys smart kids at two years old and I do appreciate all the drying out tips because we just can’t spend another 250$ On the key but we have to drive every day for survival reasons
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