AirPods 4 went through the washing machine – left side crackling, will it recover?

Hi everyone,

I accidentally left my AirPods 4 (without the charging case) in my pocket and they went through the washing machine with laundry detergent. I stopped the cycle after about 5 minutes and took them out immediately.

At first, both AirPods worked, connected normally, and played audio. However, after a little while, the left AirPod started making a crackling/buzzing sound, while the right one still sounds normal.

Has anyone experienced this after a washing machine cycle?

Did the crackling go away after drying for a few days?

If it recovered, how long did it take?

Or did it eventually require replacement?

Any advice or similar experiences would be appreciated. Thanks!