How to open a jammed washing machine door?

If your washing machine door is suddenly jammed, don't force it open. Otherwise, you could literally rip out the plastic handle, forcing you to buy new parts. It's best to breathe a sigh of relief and try to access the drum in a civilized manner. Let's figure out how to open the door without damaging your "home helper."

Preliminary actions

What should you do if your washing machine door won't open? First, disconnect the power by unplugging it. This is a safety precaution, as it prevents your "home helper" from shocking you. Second, the door lock will remain firmly engaged without power interruption, preventing the machine from opening.

For the door to open, the bimetallic plates of the lock must cool completely. Therefore, opening the hatch is possible not immediately after the completion of washing, but after 2-4 minutes. There are some malfunctions where the UBL is constantly supplied with voltage, and the only way to stop this is to disconnect the "home assistant" from the power supply.

After unplugging the machine, wait 10-15 minutes. This should allow the plates to cool completely and the door to unlock. If you can't open the door using the standard handle, you'll have to resort to unconventional methods.

The handle is broken, the mechanism doesn't work

How do you open an automatic washing machine if the door handle is clearly broken and won't respond to your touch? In this situation, the door lock releases, but the latch won't come out of the groove because the mechanism is malfunctioning. How do you fix the lock in this situation?

You can open the door of an automatic washing machine using a regular rope with a diameter of up to 5 mm.

The length of the rope should be 25-30 cm longer than the circumference of the hatch. Once the rope is prepared, follow these steps:

• thread the string through the gap between the hatch and the front panel of the machine;
• push the cord inside using a thin screwdriver or knife (it is important to act carefully so as not to scratch the body of the washing machine);
• stretch the rope perpendicular to the floor;
• pull the string from both sides.

These simple steps will cause the lock to engage and the hatch to open. When there is no suitable rope, you can use a thin spatula. The tool also fits between the door and the machine body where the "tab" is located. Once you find the hook, press it – the mechanism will activate, allowing access to the drum interior.

There are some models of washing machines where the door is flush with the front wall of the housing. Then, pushing a rope, or even a thin fishing line, through the gap can be problematic. What can be done in such a situation? There is a solution, but it may not be suitable for all machines due to the design features of the locking system. The algorithm is as follows:

• remove the top cover of the washing machine by unscrewing a couple of screws holding it in place;
• find the UBL – it is fixed on the front wall of the case;
• Using a thin screwdriver, find the entrance to the lock hole from the inside;
• Use the tip of a screwdriver to feel the metal “tongue” of the hatch door, which has entered the UBL and is fixed in the device;
• Move the hook to the side until it clicks.

You might not be able to get the job done on your first try, but after 5-10 tries, even a novice doing this for the first time will be able to move the latch. It's important not to dislodge the latch bolt, otherwise the latch will not move. If done correctly, you'll hear a distinctive click and the door will swing open.

It's best to replace a broken handle to avoid problems opening the washing machine in the future. This can also happen due to damage to the door lock itself. If the locking mechanism is the culprit, you'll need to remove it and install a new one.

   

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