Review (4/5): Great brush for short money. Perfect for travel.
This sonicare operates like all the others, it just doesn't include the expensive rechargable battery and charger like the more expensive models do. Because it operates on AA batteries, the unit is susceptible to some water entry if one is careless.
It shouldn't be necessary to tell people not to get electric appliances wet, but apparantly it is. The handle should never be exposed to water. It is not submersible. The only portion of the entire device that should get wet is the brush-head. Remove the brush-head after every use, wash it thoroughly, and dry it. Wipe the handle dry. That is it. Take care of it like an electric hand mixer. You remove and clean the mixing pieces, you don't dunk the motor assembly in the sink. You wipe it clean. No water means no corrosion.
The directions clearly state that the motor assembly/handle is not water-proof. Others have found that a #33 o-ring seals the battery compartment very well. It is an excellent, inexpensive preventative solution to water entering the battery compartment.
Phillips does not include the following warning and disclaimer, but perhaps they should:
Item is not idiot proof.