People are only just discovering 'secret' latch to open locked washing machine door
Encountering a locked washing machine door that refuses to open is very annoying, particularly when damp and smelly clothes are stuck inside. There could be a number of reasons why this happens - from un-drained water to a power cut.
Before you reach for a crowbar in frustration, be aware of a far less damaging method courtesy of a 'secret' latch – a feature unknown to many. The father-son team behind the textile aftercare brand Jeeves NY, Zachary and Jerry Pozniak, took to TikTok to enlighten frustrated individuals.
They disclosed: "You should know that there is a secret latch on your washing machine that will allow you to open the door at any time. This will also immediately end the wash cycle if it is running."
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They added: "To access it, open the bottom left lid and look for a small ring at the top corner. Grab a small tool and slide it from right to left. This is quite literally a string that opens the door." This will immediately end the cycle, if it's ongoing, and open the door. Under this latch is also a circular filter, which the cleaning experts say you should be "cleaning out every few months".
However, they warn that this should "only be used in case of emergency or if your machine is malfunctioning and won’t release the door". They continued: "For example, you loose power and do not want your clothing to get mouldy. Your clothing will likely be very wet so I recommend running a drain and spin cycle to extract the water."
Currys recommends you let your machine cool down before attempting to open a locked washing machine door. If you've already waited a couple of minutes and it won't open, they recommend turning the machine off, leaving it for 10 minutes and then trying to open the door.
Other things you can try include running another spin/dry cycle, which might get rid of the extra water. Or you can try to "hit the door over the lock area" with your palm, which might release the mechanism.
However, if this doesn't work, they recommend using the "hidden release tab with a screwdriver" which is "usually inside a removable flap under the door".
