When your washing is over and done with, you expect the next step to be simple – open the door and take it out. But when you suddenly realise that your washing machine door won't open, that can quickly turn to panic. Don’t worry, the eSpares team is here to help!
In this article, we demonstrate the different methods you can try when the door won’t unlock on a washing machine. From simply waiting to accessing the appliance from the inside, we will explain exactly what you can do!
First things first: always make sure your washing machine is switched off and unplugged from the mains before beginning any work.
❗ Note: Please be aware that not all of the methods below will work on all machines due to differences in designs and parts.
Can you manually open a washing machine door? The answer is yes.
To learn how to do that, simply watch the video or follow the step-by-step guide below.
Most washing machines use a thermal lock (or a timed lock) that releases the door a few minutes after a cycle is complete. If your door handle is feeling stiff and won't move, that could be the issue. First, turn off the machine for about five minutes, then try opening the door again when you turn it back on. Sometimes, unplugging the appliance, waiting for a bit, and then plugging it back in could also help reset any glitches in the door lock computer.
If this doesn't fix the issue, you can gently strike the door over the area where the lock is with the palm of your hand. This can sometimes activate and release the lock. However, if the problem continues, you will eventually have to replace the lock itself.
🎥 Watch how to replace the lock on your washing machine in this video:
If your door is stuck and you have a washing machine with a door handle that's positioned inside the door rim, it means the hook is pushed towards the door. In this case, you can release the hook with a nylon line or cord (such as a trimmer line or a fishing line).
First, feed the line inside and around the door (starting at the top), keeping it taut as you do so.
Then, tie a knot in the line on the opposite side from the lock so that you can firmly pull on it without it slipping out of your hands.
Give it a firm pull, which should activate the door lock and open the door.
Another trick is to use a firm card on the door of a washing machine. This can be a credit card or any other kind of card you don't mind potentially getting bent or damaged. It will only work on washer doors with inwards facing handles.
First, slide the card between the door and the frame, where the lock and hook are positioned. You might want to first slide the card in at a lower point and then work it up along the ridge to where the lock is actually located. Then, you can push the card in until the hook releases and the door opens.
❗ Note: Door locks on washing machines often have a ridge that can obstruct the card. It may take some manoeuvring to get the card beyond that ridge with the door closed, but when you do, you should be able to push the hook free.
❗ Note: Before carrying out any work inside you appliance, make sure to acquire a pair of protective gloves.
If you have a handle that points outwards, or if you can't open the door on a washing machine after trying out all our other suggestions, we have one more method you can try out. This will involve accessing your washer from the inside.
To do this, remove the top of the washing machine. You might need to use either a Phillips or Torx screwdriver to do this, depending on the types of screws in your appliance. However, the top could also be held in place via clips. Move to the back of the washing machine to check.
Remember to put on your safety gloves before carrying out any work inside of the machine.
You should now be able to see the lock inside, as well as the tip of the door hook. For reference, the photo above shows the black tip of the door hook with metal on the top. If you touch or press the door handle, you should see the door hook moving and releasing.
Here, you can use a flat blade screwdriver to move the tip and manually open the door from the inside. This might take a couple of times to get right – keep trying to unlock the door as you are pushing the hook aside.
While these methods are useful for when you can't open the door on a washing machine, they are not permanent solutions.
If you find that your door lock or handle are consistently failing or getting stuck, you will need to replace them. Check your handle and, if it needs replacing, be sure to acquire a new washing machine door handle on our website.
🎥 See how you can do this repair in our video below:
eSpares International
