Blog · · 6 min read
How to get water out of a JBL or other Bluetooth speaker
Short answer
Turn the speaker off and unplug it, shake it gently with the grille facing down, and wipe it dry. Let it air dry with the grille down and any port covers open, in a ventilated spot, for several hours. If it was salt or pool water, rinse it briefly with fresh water first (for rated waterproof models). Don't charge until the charging port is completely dry. A low tone played through it over Bluetooth — like our 165 Hz Water Ejector at a moderate volume — can help shake remaining droplets off the grille and passive radiators.
Many portable speakers — JBL Flip, Charge and Clip, Bose SoundLink Flex, UE Boom and Wonderboom, Sony's XB and ULT range — are rated IP67, meaning they're dust-tight and survive brief immersion in fresh water. The typical post-pool symptom isn't a dead speaker but a muffled, buzzy or rattling one: water is sitting in the fabric or metal grille and on the passive radiators (the rubber panels at the ends that bounce with the bass).
Step by step: drying a wet Bluetooth speaker
- Turn it off and unplug it. If it has a rubber port flap, open it.
- Shake it gently with the grille facing down, then with each passive radiator facing down. JBL's own support advice for distortion after immersion is to shake out excess water and let the speaker dry completely.
- Wipe the outside with a microfibre cloth, pressing lightly on the fabric grille to wick water out.
- Air dry grille-down in a ventilated place for several hours. A fan on cool speeds it up. Avoid direct heat and hot sunlight on the battery.
- Only charge once the port is dry. Wet charging ports corrode — the same reason phones block charging when they detect moisture.
Can a sound cycle help a Bluetooth speaker?
Yes, often more visibly than on a phone. Bluetooth speakers move a lot of air at low frequencies, and a steady low tone makes the passive radiators pump in and out, flicking water off them and out of the grille. How to do it:
- Wait until the outside is wiped and the port is dry, then power the speaker on and pair it with your phone.
- Place it with the grille facing down on a towel, or hold it that way.
- Open the speaker cleaner, choose Water Ejector, and start at around 60–70% volume — enough to move the radiators without pushing a wet driver hard.
- Repeat once or twice with a break, then play normal music to check.
Larger speakers don't trap water the way a phone's tiny mesh does, so the tone is a helper here — drying time does most of the work. Check your model's manual too: some manufacturers include their own care instructions for water exposure.
Salt water, chlorine and sugary drinks
Salt, chlorine and sugar leave residue when they dry, which can stiffen the grille, dull the sound and corrode contacts. For speakers rated waterproof (IP67), a brief rinse under gently running fresh tap water after exposure is commonly recommended by manufacturers — then drain and dry as above. Never rinse a speaker that isn't rated waterproof. More detail in salt water and pool water: what to do.
Water-resistance ratings at a glance
| Rating | What it means | Can it go in the pool? |
|---|---|---|
| IPX4 | Splash resistant | No |
| IPX5 / IPX6 | Water jets | No |
| IP67 | Dust-tight, immersion to 1 m for 30 minutes | A brief dunk, yes; not for swimming with |
| IP68 | Beyond 1 m (depth set by maker) | Brief immersion; check the spec |
Ratings are tested in still fresh water. See IP67 vs IP68 explained for what they don't cover.
If it still sounds bad after drying
If the speaker has dried for a full day and still crackles at every volume, or one side is silent, water has likely reached the driver or electronics. Try a reset (most brands use a button combination, listed in the manual) and a firmware update through the brand's app. If it still fails, contact the manufacturer — many have warranty terms for rated models.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a JBL speaker take to dry?
Usually a few hours for surface water in the grille after shaking it out, and up to a day after full immersion. Make sure the charging port is completely dry before charging.
Can I use a hair dryer on a wet Bluetooth speaker?
Only on a cool setting from a distance. Hot air can damage the battery, adhesives and seals. A fan is safer.
Is there a sound to get water out of a JBL speaker?
A low-frequency tone makes the passive radiators move and helps shake off water. You can play our free 165 Hz Water Ejector over Bluetooth at around 60–70% volume with the grille facing down.
My speaker sounds distorted after getting wet. Is it broken?
Usually not. Distortion right after water exposure is normally water on the grille or radiators. Drain it, dry it for several hours, and play a low tone to clear it. If it's still distorted after a full day, contact the manufacturer.