People are just realising there’s a secret button on their washing machines – it’ll save you calling out an electrician
MANY people who do laundry have faced that frustrating moment when the washing machine locks mid-cycle.
After waiting and realising the door still won’t budge, the next step is often calling an electrician – an expensive solution.
But don’t panic, you might not need professional help at all.
The problem could be resolved quickly if you know about the ‘secret’ button hidden on many washing machines.
Max, an electrician from Lutterworth, Leicestershire, shared this clever hack in a helpful video on his TikTok page, @maxelectricalsimon.
Speaking to camera, he said: “We’ve had two customers come in this morning, both of whose washing machines have got stuck mid-cycle and it’s half full with water and they can’t get their washing out.”
He explained that he is going to show his followers who to get the washing machine unlocked.
First off, open up the drain cover and there will be a black tab.
He recommends getting a flathead screwdriver and pulling it down.
Max says: “This then will unlock the door, meaning now it can be opened.”
He continues: “So what you’ll find is on some brands of machines, they don’t actually have anything you can unlock.
“But there’s a couple of things you can still do.
“First of all, real simple, you can try unplugging it or turn it off, wait about 10 seconds and then turn it back on again.
“Also worth just checking, it’s not on child lock, disabling all the buttons.
“Normally there’s a little button with a key, pressing all that for normally two seconds and then it unlocks and it works again.
“Let’s say now the machine’s full of water.
“What we’re gonna do is drain it and normally draining it unlocks it because then the sensors realise that the water’s gone below the line, allowing the door to then hopefully unlock.
“This can be a bit of a messy job.
“So make sure you have a tray and plenty of towels ready at hand.
“The water will then drain out. You’ll probably have a lot more than this.
“Now that’s drained, that should hopefully be able to unlock.”
However, if it’s still not unlocking after all this, Max says it may be a “little more serious.”
Max adds: “It might be that you actually need to replace the lock, which then becomes like a service job, unless you’re really hands-on.”
More winter laundry tips
Tackling laundry in the winter can be a challenge, but these handy tips can help you stay on top of it:
- Use a Dehumidifier: Place a dehumidifier in your drying area to speed up the drying process and prevent dampness.
- Spin Cycle Boost: Run an extra spin cycle on your washing machine to remove excess water from clothes, reducing drying time.
- Indoor Drying Rack: Invest in a good-quality indoor drying rack and position it near a radiator or in a well-ventilated room.
- Tumble Dryer Balls: Add tumble dryer balls to your dryer to help clothes dry faster and reduce static cling.
- Space-Saving Hangers: Use space-saving hangers or a retractable washing line to maximise indoor drying space.
- Microfibre Towels: Lay microfibre towels over your drying rack to absorb extra moisture from hanging clothes.
- Partially Dry Outside: On dry days, hang clothes outside for a short period before bringing them in to finish drying.
These hacks can help you keep your laundry routine efficient and your clothes fresh, even during the colder months.