CPS Homes

How to stop your washing machine mid-cycle

If you happen to make the mistake of leaving your phone in the pocket of a pair of jeans that has just began swirling around in the washing machine, accidentally adding a delicate wool item of clothing to a hot-water wash or if your washing machine is just playing up, you’re going to want to put a stop to the cycle fast!

If you don’t know how to stop a washing machine mid-cycle and need to figure it out on the spot, it can leave you quite confused - or frantically pressing every button and pulling every lever in a panic.

Thankfully this little guide will give you all the information and top tips you need to safely stop your washing machine in an emergency, allowing you to open the door and remove items from the cycle.

How you stop a washing machine can vary by model and manufacturer, and it may take several minutes before your washer unlocks the door once you decide to cancel the cycle. It's always worth locating the user manual for the appliance first. Do that by googling the make and model, but if that doesn't work, you may find it on this handy eSpares website.

Failing that, one of these three options below will stop the cycle for most washing machine models:

Option 1

Press the “Start/Pause” button on the front of your washing machine and wait a few minutes for the washer to safely drain away water in the drum before it unlocks the door. Once this is done, you’ll be able to open the door and add/remove items or make chances to the cycle. Close the door and press the “Start/Pause” button again to resume the cycle.

Option 2

Turn the dial cycle on the front of your washing machine to the “0” or “OFF” position that indicates the end of the washing cycle. The appliance will then drain away any water from the washing drum before unlocking the door, letting you make necessary adjustments or add/remove items from the machine. The cycle won’t automatically resume once you close the door, so you’ll have to re-enter your washing instruction if you need to continue washing your clothes.

Option 3

In an emergency, simply pull the washing machine’s plug to instantly disconnect the power supply. This will stop the washing machine immediately, although be aware that it may not drain the water away and this could spill out if you open the door. This option is best used only if the washing machine begins to malfunction.

If you’re stuck with what the best thing to do is or simply want a little more information about your specific washing machine model, it may be a good idea to contact your appliance’s manufacturer. They should be able to talk you through some useful information related to your washing machine or send someone out to repair it if your machine is under warranty.

10 July 2019

The information contained within this article was correct at the date of publishing and is not guaranteed to remain correct in the present day.

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