How do I fix a washing machine that will not drain?

The three things that stop a washing machine draining — filter, hose and pump — and how to check each in order.

Difficulty: beginner
Time: 1 hr
Read: 2 min
Safety: caution

Short answer

Almost always the filter. Switch off at the wall, put towels and a shallow tray down, and unscrew the filter at the bottom front slowly — several litres will come out. If the filter is clear, check the drain hose for kinks and blockages, then the pump.

A machine that stops mid-cycle full of water has a drainage restriction, and the filter accounts for the large majority. It is designed to be cleaned by the owner, which is why it is behind an accessible hatch, and it is the first thing to check.

Safety

Switch the machine off at the socket before opening anything. You will be releasing several litres of water, so have towels down first. If you have to tip the machine to reach the pump, get help — they are heavy and awkward. Sharp objects such as coins and hairgrips are commonly found in filters, so work by feel carefully.

What you'll need

Towels
Shallow tray
Bowl
Screwdriver (optional)
Gloves

Step by step

Switch off at the socket and turn off the water supply taps.Do not skip this. You are about to open the water circuit.
If the drum is full, drain it via the filter — put towels and a shallow tray down first.Several litres will come out, more slowly than you expect. Have a bowl to empty the tray into.
Open the hatch at the bottom front and unscrew the filter slowly.Slowly. Let it drain in stages rather than all at once.
Clean the filter and clear the housing behind it.Expect coins, hairgrips, buttons and lint. Check the impeller behind the filter turns freely.
Refit the filter firmly and run a short cycle to test.Hand tight and fully seated, or it leaks.
If it still will not drain, check the drain hose for kinks and blockages.Pull the machine out, disconnect the hose into a bucket, and check it flows.
Check the standpipe or sink trap the hose discharges into.A blocked standpipe stops the machine draining even though everything on the machine is clear.
If all of that is clear, the pump has likely failed.That is a repair or a service call, depending on the machine's age and value.

Tips

Clean the filter every three months as routine. A blocked filter usually announces itself at the worst possible moment.
Check pockets before washing. Coins are the single most common thing found in a filter.
If the machine drains but will not spin, the load may simply be unbalanced — redistribute it and try again.

Common mistakes

Opening the filter without towels down — Several litres of dirty water across the kitchen floor.
Unscrewing the filter quickly — It floods out faster than you can manage. Open it in stages.
Forgetting the standpipe — A blockage in the waste it drains into looks exactly like a machine fault.

Questions people ask

Why has my washing machine stopped mid-cycle full of water?

Almost always a blocked filter. Switch off, put towels down, and open the filter at the bottom front. Coins and hairgrips are the usual culprits.

How often should I clean the washing machine filter?

Every three months as routine. It takes five minutes and prevents the drainage failure that otherwise happens without warning.