Correct. Deionised water is a perfect insulator, IIRC (20Mohms/10mm).

It's safe to say the washing machine was hooked up to a tap water supply.
Even leaving out the detergent, this isn't a good insulator and as mentioned is full of minerals etc. which will leave residue.

If you were to try to remove water from a device with alcohol what would be the best way to go about it? I am imagining stripping it all down and using Q tips.

Stripping it all down and soaking it in plenty of alcohol is the best method, alcohol both keeps the residues dissolved and binds with the remaining water, wich will prevent it from getting caught under components and in other narrow places.

And most components on the circuitboard is alcoholresistant, since it is standard to wash circuitboards in alcohol directly after machinesoldering.
The most common alcohol used for cleaning is isopropanol or "technical alcohol" as it also is called, but denaturated ethanol would be okay too if that is the only thing that is close by.

Q-tip or toothbrushes is more something i would use when it already has dried once, but i dont really believe a cellphone is possible to save after the water has dried once, since it is so small components and circuittraces on it.

Thanks.
Iso-propyl Alcohol (for those that aren't sure were to buy it) is available in electronics stores.
It's also known as IPA (not Indian Pale Ale).
In the UK places like Maplin sell it.

yes bathe it in alcohol, then let it air dry, and blow dry it with medium heat for 20 minutes. if that doesn't work, you've done all you could