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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have only just realised how to drain a washing machine?

57 replies

PutTheBunnyBackInTheBox · 02/06/2019 19:18

I know about the little tube but I've only just realised the end comes off and the water drains from there Shock For 20+ years I've been putting the worlds thinnest baking tray under the front of the machine and laying down towels etc to catch the inevitable flood coming from the twisty handle thing Blush

Please tell me I'm not the only idiot out there Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
PutTheBunnyBackInTheBox · 02/06/2019 19:54

Grin Loving these responses Grin

I assumed all washing machines had a filter that needed cleaning out every so often but as I've probably demonstrated, I'm no expert!

Whisky2014 As far as I'm aware, the water shouldn't whoosh out, you take the end of the tube off and it pours out of there. It only seems to whoosh out if you remove the twisty handle before draining the water.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 02/06/2019 19:54

The twisty thing is a coin and fluff trap... if you live in a hard water area they get lime scaled up too and yep stops machine draining when they need clearing out.

If you have hose bit it empties out any water lurking.

Check your instruction booklet?

Oblomov19 · 02/06/2019 19:57

I dont get it. I still need to put down tea-towels and trays to empty the filter? The twisty turns thing. Plus the small pipe. Which contains loads of water.

I do it sporadically.
What's the alternative?

RandomMess · 02/06/2019 19:59

Yeah we still get some water with the twisty thing.

However if you don't use the hose bit first, it's far far far worse...

ILoveMaxiBondi · 02/06/2019 20:00

A washing machine engineer gave me a useful tip for draining the machine.

Pull the machine out of its space slightly, maybe a foot, tip it back until it it rests against the wall or counter top and then place a bucket under the twist cap before opening it. Saves a tonne of mess and towels etc.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 02/06/2019 20:01

^thats for machines that don’t have a hose BTW. Not all do.

fourandnomore · 02/06/2019 20:05

So I didn’t read it properly and have just flooded my kitchen but anyway, I have a tube and a twisty thing, so I am really glad I read this, you may have just saved me buying a new washing machine! Smile

jackolantern · 02/06/2019 20:06

Why do you need to drain a washing machine? Should I be doing this regularly or is this only if it's broken? The water drains out of the machine after a cycle and out through the plumbing, normally.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 02/06/2019 20:09

Why do you need to drain a washing machine?

Sometimes the filter gets clogged with coins or hair grips etc and so the water can’t drain. You have to removed the twisty cap to clear the blockage but it’s full of water so you have to drain that before you can clear the filter.

DontCallMeShitley · 02/06/2019 20:11

It is in the instructions.

Mine has a little flap, inside is a little rubber tube and a twisty thing. Had the machine just over a week and a plastic tag from clothing went in the wash so I found out quite quickly about the new machine.

It is a Bosch. Not this model but similar filter system:

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 02/06/2019 20:12

I too have no idea what the hell you are on about OP.

I am looking at my (15yo) machine now and there is no handle or panel or anything!

Oblomov19 · 02/06/2019 20:14

I check mine.... uhm maybe quarterly.

PookieDo · 02/06/2019 20:18

My tube doesn’t work so I still end up doing the baking tray thing Angry

SlinkyDinkyDoo · 02/06/2019 20:21

Had my machine for over 10 years, live in a hard water area, put at least 6 loads on a week and never had to do this. Machine always drains. I would be fucked off if I had to do this 😆

SlinkyDinkyDoo · 02/06/2019 20:23

I have put a calgon tablet in about once a year so maybe that's why I don't have the issue

icanhearapindrop · 02/06/2019 20:26

That’s great news fourandnomore! I found mine in desperation, thinking I would have to buy a new machine too. Mine’s been brilliant ever since!

bbcessex · 02/06/2019 20:27

Great shout from PP to pull out the machine & tip back, thank you.

Our current machine doesn't have the pull out draining pipe so we only have the filter.

If you empty the filter regularly (of hair clips, coins and massive branches from dog walks!!) it keeps the machine healthy for much longer.

NoParticularPattern · 02/06/2019 20:31

My twisty thing has a spout built into it that you drop down first. Still doesn’t help with the fact that it’s on the bloody floor (you know, the place they tell you to put it in the manual) and water conveniently doesn’t drain uphill so it still goes everywhere. And then because you have to have the spout out to unscrew the filter it’s also a right git to unscrew. Thankfully that trauma has already occurred in the last few weeks so I shouldn’t have to spend a morning swearing and emptying 20 litres of water out of the damned thing again for a while. Bloody hard water.

Whisky2014 · 02/06/2019 20:34

There's no tube bit on mum and dad's I don't think. Hmmm

Oldraver · 02/06/2019 20:36

I've had washing machines for over 35 years..the latest one just over 2 years old is the first with a filter, and twisty thing

IndieTara · 02/06/2019 20:36

Just checked and no tube on mine but I unscrewed the filter bit and water came gushing out. It had a foul eggy smell! Couldn't find anything clogging the filter though.
Now I've had to re clean my kitchen floor.

Oldraver · 02/06/2019 20:38

Just realised lack of twist thing is why the last machine got a hair bud then a rivet in the pump which fucked it up..all within the first few months bloody DB not emptying his pockets

dreamyspires · 02/06/2019 20:38

But do you have to hold something under the tube to catch the water. Excuse my dimness.

ivegotthisyeah · 02/06/2019 20:40

Couldn't see a tube on mine but just emptied my filter lots of eggy water nothing clogging it though. Noticed my utility smells a bit damp/ eggy occasionally could his be why?

Xyzzzzz · 02/06/2019 20:40

I only have the twisty thing, which I discovered my accident last year! Never thought to put a small backing tray underneath I just use a towel! 😳 so I’m an idiot