Hi, I did what your mom did. My son was almost killing me.
But I was very clever, I did not only wash it, no I dryed it as well in the maschine. That was quite good, because it took us only 7 days and the iPod is working like the first day. The people at the help line of Apple did tell me, that I ruined the iPod and I have to buy a new one to my son. They would better recommend to dry it in the machine an wait for several days. Thats at least what I can recommend.
"""Dear mothers if you wash it, so please dry it as well!"""