“Oh no, but what a fool!” This could be your reaction, after discovering your credit card in the washing machine, when hanging out the laundry. If you can for a few seconds be relieved not to have lost it, you say to yourself the next moment, with an air of annoyance: “Well, she’s screwed, that’s for sure.” However, there is a glimmer of hope. It is indeed not irrecoverable. The PVC or plastic used to manufacture the bank card is designed for intensive and repetitive use, making it resistant to scratches or demagnetization. It is also impervious to water, heat and chemicals. On the other hand, the magnetic strip containing the holder’s personal data must be protected from moisture. It may therefore no longer work after a passage in the washing machine. The chances of getting your credit card back, however, depend on the temperature of the wash. If the program was started at low temperature, your CB may be intact.

In order to dehumidify the bank card, try to clean it gently with a microfiber cloth, absorbent paper and an eraser, to remove any dirt encrusted on the surface of the card, notes the specialized site Techno finance.

Then test it in a vending machine to make sure it’s in working order. If it is unreadable, retry the operation. In case of unsuccessful operation, contact your bank. You will probably have to replace it, taking care to request the blocking of the damaged bank card.