Weird Washing Machine Issue.

[joko]

(NB: I can't get anyone in to fix it, so I need to try whatever I can first before I have to do that, or just get rid of it.)

My washing machine has been faulty for a while now - all that happens is the spin cycle, then the green light just flashes.
It won't go through the wash cycle or let water into it.

I read that this happens with the light flashing when something is blocked.

I've checked tubes & drainage etc & can't see anything obvious.

However, I've just realised what 'might' be the cause.

A while ago I had a skin problem & to treat it I was slathering my whole body with aqueous cream - really thick stuff, so a lot would get soaked into my bedsheets, night after night.

When I started to wash all the sheets, they came out of the machine, covered in loads of little while blobs of cream - the cream had lifted out the fabric, but I assume the water wasn't hot enough to dissolve the cream & wash it all away, so it balled up.

I put some back in on a higher heat & that got rid of some of it, but still some stayed.
I tried to wipe as many as I could off, but some of it just smushed back into the fabric.

There were quite a lot of sheets to wash.
I just kept washing them individually until it'd all gone. I assume the cream had totally dissolved & washed away.

Now I think what may have happened is all those little bits of cream that did wash off, didn't just dissolve but may have solidified inside the machine & pipes & drainage etc

I can't remember if it was winter & icy in that room - there's no heating in there, so if it solidifies at 30-40 degrees it will at room temp.


I took the back pipes off, but I can't really tell if the inside is partially clogged, by sight, so I'm going to remove all the pipes & soak them in a hot bath for a bit & then flush through.

If that doesn't work, I thought maybe pour a few large buckets of hottest tap water into the drum
- perhaps with some sort of detergent that cuts grease etc? Washing up liquid? -
then switch it on & hope it swishes it around, drains it, & that will rinse it through.
Maybe do this a few times, one after another.

What do you think?

Anyone got any other ideas?

I know the washing up liquid will cause loads of foam, but I figure that inside the machine & inner pipes will sit in them, obviously longer than the water, which might help loosen the cream.

Also, maybe if I put some heating in the room for a few hours, that'd stop this icy weather cooling the pipes again so fast

Or am I best waiting until summer to do this?
I'm doing laundry at my mums, so it's no biggie to wait.

(I KNOW I WAS DUMB FOR NOT REALISING SOONER, & NOW IT'S IN THE DRAINS, SO NO NEED TO TELL ME - THANKS)

Any ideas?
Thanks
:)

[barry1010]

As you are still having problems after 20 months give up and buy a new machine.

[tiggerblue10]

What temperature do you wash at and have you tried a washing machine cleaner or soda crystals on a 60° wash?

[Tilly2]

Washing machine cleaner tablets on a very hot wash?

[Tilly2]

Sorry Tigger. I didn't scroll down.

[Tilly2]

Sorry Tigger. I didn't scroll down.

[tiggerblue10]

I use this along with soda crystals on a hot wash.

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/295098680

No worries, Tilly ;o)

[gingejbee]

If you're going to try anything, washing soda and very hot water ...not washing-up liquid because it's just not strong enough a degreaser and you'll never get rid of the foam.

[joko]

barry, yes, I've done nothing at all about it because I've been very ill this year & last, so just left it, forgot about it tbh.

I can't put it on a hot wash, I can't put it on any wash or any other cycle - it will only go onto the spin cycle - that's the problem
It won't intake any water through the pipes.

[Tilly2]

It sounds like you need a new washing machine from Santa.

[tiggerblue10]

Agree, Tilly. If it's no longer in warranty, I'd invest in a new machine.

[barry1010]

Sorry to hear that you've been so unwell, joko, hope you are fully better now

[1581960]

Are you sure it's the washing machine rather than a blockage somewhere in the drainage system. i.e does the water pump out if you manually fill the machine? Certainly need to check it out before dumping the machine.

[chelle7272]

https://www.whitegoodshelp.co.uk/washing-machine-wont-fill-with-water/

[tiggerblue10]

I've just realised that you said the machine doesn't fill up with water. This happened to me last week and I thought something was wrong with the machine. But then none of the cold taps were working in my annex so discovered that it was caused by frozen pipes. I put the heating on and eventually the water started flowing. Machine is now working and taking in water. Downside is my gas bill has shot up!

[joko]

Thanks all

Barry, thanks, better than i was, but have the lingering effects of covid at the moment, to add the other issues.

I haven't tried manually filling it yet, I've not been well & I'm aware It's going to take a good few hours to do, filling bath, soaking pipes, filling buckets, carrying them, pouring, waiting for the cycle to finish, doing it again, testing, going backward & forwards through the house and stairs to check on it, etc etc, - I'll be knackered! lol - so I wanted to wait until I'm sure I'm feeling up to it.
Thought I better have a plan, so I don't just waste my time with a half arsed effort.
It's been a great machine which is why I don't think it's properly broken.
I've tried all the resetting the electronics stuff so it's definitely a physical issue.

If this doesn't work, I will have to ask the Easter bunny for a new machine :D

[joko]

Tigger - i don't think it was that cold at the time I first tested it, but I will double check that before i do anything else.

[bhg481]

Have you tried cleaning the filter. The cream globules might just have got stuck in the fiolter, stopping the machine from emptying.

[Hopkirk]

Yes, first thing to check is the filter.

[joko]

at the bottom, under the metal flap theres a round thing i opened & some water drained out, but there was nothing in there that i could see.
maybe theres a filter deeper inside?
or is that the whole filter?

Its an indesit WIA 111.
Ive got a PDF of the manual but i think i checked it but maybe i misunderstood it?

[Hopkirk]

That round thing that you opened was access to the filter. You probably needed to pull it out. Get old towels ready before you do.