Warranty

• The Apple warranty is clear on the company's stance on water damage. If the liquid contact indicator, or LCI, denotes that your device has come in contact with water, Apple has no responsibility to repair or replace the device. Apple allows some leeway for customers who maintain that their device has never been in contact with water and that there are no other signs of corrosion on the device, but if you've put your iPod through the wash, your phone has been completely submerged and it will not be covered.
  
  

Liquid Contact Indicators

• On the iPod, the LCI is found in the headphone jack. While sending your iPod through a rinse cycle will almost certainly cause the LCI to be affected, it's worth it to check the LCI before your decide on your course of action. You'll need a flashlight and a magnifying glass to peer down into the headphone jack. The LCI should be silver or white. If it has any red or pink, it's been affected and your warranty is voided.
  
  

Problems

• The problem with washing your iPod is that it creates more extensive damage than dropping your iPod momentarily in water or accidentally spilling water on your device. That's because in the wash, not only is your iPod completely submerged for a long period of time, but the water is soapy. That soap can leave harmful residue on and in your iPod, causing corrosion and complete shut down or reduce functionality. Still, you can try and repair your iPod before you purchase a new one to ensure that all functionality is gone.
  
  

What to Do

• Remove your iPod from the wash as soon as possible. Ensure that it's powered down, which likely would have happened when the device came in contact with the water. Avoid the temptation to switch it on immediately to check its functionality. Instead, leave the iPod off and fill a zipper bag or plastic container with dry, uncooked rice. Place the iPod in the rice and cover. Leave the iPod in the rice for 48 to 72 hours, never turning it on. The rice will help to draw moisture from the device. You can then attempt to switch your iPod on. You may find that the device has some functionality after being washed, but it still may be missing functionality in certain components that make it difficult or even impossible to use.