We all make mistakes, but some mistakes have harsher consequences than others. Forgetting to pick up the milk at the shops is small fry compared with a blunder that could potentially ruin your clothes or wreck a pricey laundry appliance.

Here’s our trouble shooting for common washing machine problems with solutions to get your washer back to work.

My washer won’t drain!

A washing machine not draining is one of the most common problems we encounter. It can be caused by one of the following:

– The drain hose or pump is clogged with a small item of clothing, residual gunk or other debris.

– The washer is malfunctioning and not engaging the drain/spin cycle properly. It may present with an error code – check with your product manual or give the manufacturer a call to clarify what this refers to.

– The drain pump is broken (the washer will generally make an unpleasant sound and/or start leaking if this is the case).

Solutions

Resetting your washing machine





First, you should perform a general reset of the machine. Turn the machine off at the PowerPoint, wait for one minute, and then turn it back on.



If you see no change, you can try a Master Reset. This will reset all of the onboard component and is often successfully used by appliance technicians. Open and close the door of the washing machine 6 times within 12 seconds. Then, run the rinse/spin cycle without clothing to see if your problems are resolved. If it drains, problem solved! If not, let’s move onto the unclogging!



Unclogging the drain hose





Turn the machine off at the PowerPoint. You should always do this before moving the machine or making any adjustments.

Check that the drain hose is not kinked or bent. This can affect the washer’s draining and may be causing the error.



Now, remove the drain hose from the back of the machine. This is usually attached with a couple of simple screws. You may need a hand to pull the washer from its spot to access the hose entry point.



Run some water through the hose to force the clog out. An outdoor hose connection works well. You can also use a plumbing snake, stick or long object to push the clog or item out.



If you aren’t able to easily remove the drain hose, run the hottest cycle on your machine without clothing, as this may loosen up the blockage and push it through.



Once water is steadily running through the washer drain hose, re-attach it to your machine. To ensure your machine drains efficiently, make sure that the end of the hose is not more than 12cm into the drain hole, and that it’s not kinked or bent.



The washer door won’t unlock!

This is a problem most commonly found in front loaders, as top loaders don’t need to lock their doors to keep water inside.

Front loaders need to stay tightly sealed during operation. It’s not until the end of the wash cycle that the machine will unlock automatically. However, sometimes a front loader will malfunction and remain locked, trapping clothes and water in the machine.

There are a few possible reasons for this:

– The locking mechanism could have jammed (maybe some clothes have gotten in the way).

– There could be a glitch in the washer’s computer.

– The washing machine may not be draining properly, leaving the washer door locked and the drum filled with water.

Solutions

Restart it: If you think it might be a digital problem, try the old reset trick. Turn the washing machine off at the PowerPoint for at least 60 seconds, and then turn it back on. With a little luck, the master reset should restart the wash programs.

If you think it might be a digital problem, try the old reset trick.

Run a short cycle: If you think the problem is your clothes physically jamming the lock, you can set the washer to run another short cycle. This should get the clothes moving and hopefully un-jam the lock. Sure, your clothes will get washed twice, but it saves calling out a technician for a simple solution!

If you think the problem is your clothes physically jamming the lock, you can set the washer to run another short cycle. This should get the clothes moving and hopefully un-jam the lock. Sure, your clothes will get washed twice, but it saves calling out a technician for a simple solution!

Check the drainage hose: If the machine isn’t draining, it may be time to inspect the drainage hose for clogs. A kinked drain hose can also affect wash cycles.

If the machine isn’t draining, it may be time to inspect the drainage hose for clogs. A kinked drain hose can also affect wash cycles.

Contact the manufacturer : If all else fails, contact the manufacturer – they can provide you with advice, and if your machine is under warranty, arrange for a professional repairer to drop by for a visit.

: If all else fails, contact the manufacturer – they can provide you with advice, and if your machine is under warranty, arrange for a professional repairer to drop by for a visit.

Pause Washing Machine Mid-Cycle

My phone is trapped inside the washer / I left my favourite shirt out of the wash!

It may seem blatantly obvious, but we’ve all done it – we’ve all forgotten to clean something important, or left something important (like a mobile phone) in our pocket when doing the laundry.

If you’ve got a top loader, this is an easy one to solve. Just open the lid and add/remove the item in question. No mess, no fuss.

In a front loader, things get a bit more complicated. Front load washers lock their doors during cycles to prevent water from spilling all over your laundry floor.

Solutions

Unless you’ve purchased a washing machine in the last couple of years, you won’t be able to open your front loader once the wash cycle has started.

Manufacturers now make front-loading models that can be paused before the main wash cycle so that clothes can be added.

The washing machine smells!

Washing machines get dirty and mouldy over time. That same tell-tale smell is then transferred onto our clothes, and we end up having to waste money washing them again.

A basic washing machine clean involves running a cycle while the machine is empty, allowing water and cleaning solution to run through the nooks and crannies. Many modern machines also feature a dedicated Drum Clean cycle, or you can use a Hot Cycle as an alternative.

Solutions