How to Clean a Washing Machine Drain That's Clogged With Clothing Material

Cleaning your washing machine is routine maintenance.

The most common materials to clog the drain hose of a washing machine are dirt sediments and lime deposits. However, you may also find that smaller clothes items have clogged up the washing machine drain. This may occur when you have unusually tiny items near the drain, such as a baby's socks or a lens cleaning cloth. When this happens, there are a few different ways to unclog the clothing material.

Things You'll Need

• Drain auger

Instructions

1. Lift up the drain plug of the washing machine drain. If you can see the small clothing material, pull it out.

2. Place the cable of a drain auger into the washing machine drain if you cannot see the clothing. Force the cable through the drain. At the same time, turn the handle clockwise. Continue to push the cable into the drain until you feel it hit the clothing material. At this point, pull back on the cable and hopefully, the clothing material will come with it.

3. Turn on your washing machine and run through an empty hot water cycle if you could not get the clothing material with the drain auger. This can help flush through the small clothing material.

4. Run through one more empty hot water cycle if the drain is still clogged.

References

• Mrs. Clean: How to Clean Your Washing Machine
• HomeTips.com: How to Snake a Drain Clog