Probably too late for this case, but as a general rule, "It depends"...
Everyone will probably post their own personal anecdotes, but as a genral rule:
1) In the worst case, you'll have an irreparable lens (etched elements) and possibly introduce fungus spores into your previously unaffected home
2) In the best case, you just need to put the lens on a sunny windowsill for a while, or do an elementary disassembly & clean, to get a perfect or near perfect lens very cheaply.
My own anecdotes cover the two extremes and several things in between.
Depends how willing you are to gamble.