Eagle
12 Tháng 1, 2024
Rogue items that get into the drum can cause both strange sounds and a number of problems.
Research and feedback from Which? members has shown the most common culprits are coins and bra wire.
We experimented putting £1 coins into a variety of washing machines and we found you typically have about 15 minutes to hear them rattling around and pinging off the door before the sound of the wash drowns them out.
Bra wire makes more of a scratching sound.
It’s a good idea to check all around and clean the seal regularly anyway, because as well as a potential place for small items to get trapped, this is where mould and bacteria can fester.
A regular scrub can help prevent build-up. If left too long, mould sinks into the porous rubber seal and is impossible to remove, meaning you may need to replace it.
Some items loose in the machine can work their way down to the filter. You’ll usually find the filter at the front of the machine, on the right and close to the floor.
On some models, the filter will be on the side. Follow the instructions in your instruction manual to check and clean the filter.
Make sure you put down an oven tray or dish to capture water, as when you remove the cap on the hose, any water trapped in the machine will otherwise spill onto the floor.
Items that don’t get washed down into the filter will end up in the outer plastic tub that surrounds the metal washing drum.
Anything stuck here will be flung about violently by the drum’s rotation, especially during the spin cycle.
Our test £1 coins have been known to be flung with such force by the drum that it’s penetrated the outer plastic tub, which can potentially flood your kitchen and write off your machine.
If an item does get stuck in this area, it’s likely to make a very loud noise when the machine’s running, especially during the spin. If you suspect an item has got caught here, stop the machine and call someone in to repair it.
