Washing machine: the door won’t open – what should I do?

If the washing machine door won’t open, there may be a number of different reasons for this. Check for possible causes before calling customer services. You can solve many problems yourself.

Find the cause: if the washing machine door won’t open

If you cannot open the door of your washing machine, there are several possible causes. Once you have found the reason, you can take targeted action against the problem.

• Remember that the manufacturer has built in a time delay. Many washing machines only unlock the door 90 seconds to 5 minutes after the program has ended. Wait a little while and try again. You can find out how long you have to wait after the program has ended in the operating instructions.

• There may be water left in the drum. The door will not open if there is standing water. Restart the program or select the “Pump out” or “Spin” option. Once the machine has drained the remaining water, the door should open again.

• Most modern washing machines are equipped with a child lock. Check whether the child lock is activated and deactivate it if necessary.

• There may also be an electronic malfunction. In this case, disconnect the machine from the power supply for about 15 to 20 minutes and then try again.

• Also carry out these checks: Check whether the door handle is stuck or damaged. Check that the door lock is working properly. Make sure that the drain filter and the drain pump are not clogged. A defective pressure switch may erroneously indicate that there is water in the drum. This also blocks the door from opening.

What you can do with the washing machine door locked

Depending on the cause, try the following solutions. If the measures described do not help, contact customer service (especially if you still have a warranty claim) or call a specialist company for help.

• Check the power supply: Check whether the washing machine is receiving a power supply. Check the power connection and the fuse box.

• Pump out: Set the “pump out” program if you can see through the glass door (if available) that there is still residual water in the machine. Alternatively, select the spin program. It serves the same purpose.

• Emergency release: Switch the device off and unplug the mains plug. Open the filter flap. Press the trigger for the emergency release down and open the device door at the same time. You can find detailed descriptions and often also illustrations in the operating instructions.

• Mechanical opening: Try to insert a piece of string between the door and the frame. If necessary, remove the device cover to gain direct access to the lock.

• Pressure relief: Relieve the pressure in the device, especially if you suspect that the door seal is leaking.