How to Fix a Washing Machine Door That's Jammed (2024)

FAQs

How to Fix a Washing Machine Door That's Jammed? ›

Unplug the machine and wait a few minutes. Most doors will open once the power is off and the temperature cools off. Try knocking gently on the handle or pressing the pause/start button. Loop fishing line around the locked door and pull away from the door to manually unlock the locking mechanism.

The most likely cause is an inoperative drain pump, or a clogged debris filter. If your washer has water inside the Drum, the door will not open to prevent a flood. If you are using to sanitize the cycle and the water is extremely hot, the door will not open to prevent injury. Straighten the drain hoses.

You can access it by removing the front panel of the washing machine. Once you have located the pump filter, you can clean it manually. Place a container under the filter to catch any water that may spill out. Unscrew the filter and remove any debris that may be blocking it.

If you have a stuck door lock, spray lubricant into the lock's keyhole. Doing so will loosen any debris or deposits sitting inside your stuck lock and prevent your key from turning. Insert the key and rotate it a few times to work in the lubricant, releasing the stuck part.

Check for a power outage or fault.

In this case, try unplugging the machine and waiting for a few minutes before plugging it back in. This can sometimes reset the machine and release the door lock. Before opening the door, ensure that there is no water inside the drum.

Press the “Control Lock” button on your Whirlpool washer for three seconds. After three seconds, you should be able to open the door. If the door still doesn't open, press the “End of Cycle” button (if your washing machine has one) for five seconds.

Spray the hinge pin with silicone lubricant. Also, spray it over all the moving parts of the door hinge plate, including its surrounding area. Wait for at least 15 minutes after spraying to let liquid penetrate through the hinge and its surrounding parts. You can close the door to lighten the weight on the hinge.

Turning off the machine at the mains should allow the door lock to cool down, and after a few minutes, you'll be able to open the washing machine door. The interlocks can take some time to release at the end of the cycle, so be patient. The most common cause is water left in the machine. Try running a spin/drain cycle.

How do you trick a washing machine door lock? ›

Use strong, thin cord: You could try feeding some trimmer or fishing line around your washing machine's door to release its locking hook. Unplug your machine first, then wrap the cord around the door from the handle area and pull the line to the other side. This will hopefully move the hook back and unlock the door.

Pressure Switch – Some models of washing machine doors will stay locked even after a cycle because the machine won't reset to empty. This means your lock will still be energised and won't release however it can be fixed by turning off power at the mains and leaving the machine to cool down for 5-10 minutes.

You can also tilt the machine back upright and use a torch to shine through the perforations. Then, if you see an object, you can push it through and access it via the sump opening. Finally, on some washing machines, it is also possible to remove a drum paddle to access beneath the drum.

Boil at least 1 gallon of water and have it ready to go. Between the hoses where the machine hooks up to the water supply, you'll find the washing machine drain hose. Remove it from the drainpipe, and you'll be able to see directly down the pipe. Slowly and carefully pour the hot water down the pipe.