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I have a clogged drain in my clothes washing machine. We live upstairs and the pipe is too long for a snake. Can I try to fix this myself?
By Margaret from Fullerton, CA
I recently had this very same problem. I found a product at the hardware store called "Liquid Lightning" which cleared up the blockage in about 15 minutes. Just follow the directions on the bottle. A word of caution: avoid any of this product splashing on you, it actually ate little holes in my T-shirt! So I knew it had to be working on lint in the drain!
I have a Maytag 2000 Performance series. First of all, avoid this machine at all costs. It is nothing but trouble. I will never ever buy a Maytag ever again. Again, this machine has become clogged. I'm tired of paying a repair man to remove the front panel and pull a sock out of the drain. I would like to do this myself, but I cannot readily access the screws in which to do this. Any ideas? This is a stacked unit, and the dryer is attached on top of the washer. The repair man has removed the front panel before, seemingly without difficulty.
While I'm at it, where on this good green earth can I find a repair/service manual for this? Surely someone has posted one online.
By Lori S.
My washer is clogged and I don't know how to get it unclogged. If someone could tell me how to get it unclogged so that I do not have to get a handy man to come and do it, that would be great.
Thanks,
Amanda from Jeff City, MO
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How do you clean out a drain from your washing machine?
By Cathy from Apple Valley, CA
It's possible that it's clogged with a combination of lint and suds. You may have to run a 'snake' to dislodge everything. One other way, is to go to a very good Paint Store (for professionals and contractors) and get a box of TSP (TriSodium Phosphate). Get a large Stain. Steel pot (4-6qts) and boil the water; then add 1 cup of TSP; stir well to dissolve. Remove drain hose from pipe, and (with a large funnel) pour the TSP down the pipe. You may have to do this 2 or 3 times depending on how bad the clog is but the pipe will be 'whistle clean' when finished. (02/18/2010)
By Cajun62234
My washing machine works, however, during the spin cycle water gushes out of the drain pipe and leaves a flood on the floor. What can I do to clear out the drain line? Thank you.
Ann
We had to get a snake to unclog ours. A snake is a coiled wire that will go down the drain and you turn it to loosen the clog. There are two kinds that you can get. One is like a spring and the other is flat. I would get the coiled one. We got one that was over 20 feet for about $20.00 at Lowes. (02/06/2009)
I have had the same problem. I used regular Drano or any other pipe unclogger as I would the kitchen or bathroom sink. Just remember to pour hot water down it. (02/06/2009)
By Jane32425
My husband put the garden hose down the washing machine drain, and turned it on high. This forced the clog out. (02/14/2009)
By Loretta B.
