First off, do no waste your time using something like rice. This is an Internet myth, and tend to cause more issues than resolve them.
The short answer is that yes, the case can still work normally after something like this, but there is still a real chance of hidden damage. Even if it’s charging fine now, moisture and detergent residue can stay inside the case and slowly cause corrosion on the charging contacts or internal circuitry. That kind of damage doesn’t always show up immediately, so the risk is more about problems developing days or weeks later rather than right away.
At this point, the best thing you can do is let the case air-dry completely for at least 48 hours in a warm, dry place — not in rice, but somewhere with good airflow. If you have silica gel packs, those are much better than rice. Avoid charging the case during this time if possible. If it continues to work normally after a few days and there’s no odd behavior (intermittent charging, overheating, or battery drain), you’re probably fine — but there’s no way to guarantee long-term reliability after a wash cycle.
If you start noticing inconsistent charging, heat, or battery issues, replacement of the case is honestly the safest long-term solution. The AirPods themselves are much more water-resistant than the case, so replacing only the case is usually enough.
