A small foreign object that can get into the washing machine along with dirty laundry poses a great danger to it. Some people underestimate this danger, saying, what can a paper clip, a pin or a bra wire do? In fact, everything is very serious and can result in expensive washing machine repairs. In this article we will look at a situation where a bra wire gets into the washing machine. What to do if this happens, let's figure it out!
Why is a piece of women's underwear dangerous to the machine?
Perhaps the most dangerous item for a washing machine is an ordinary metal bra wire. If it comes out of your bra during washing, it can easily slip through the holes in the drum and end up at the bottom of the tank. What does this mean?
During rapid rotation of the washing machine drum, a bra wire can stand across the tub and, catching on the drum, pierce its wall. It will all end with a leak and the need to disassemble the machine to repair the hole in the tank.
The bone can stand across between the heating element and the drum, which will lead to the drum rotating at high speed simply tearing off the heating element and it will have to be changed.
The bone can pierce the cuff of the hatch, and water will flow out of the machine during washing, so the cuff will have to be changed.
In the worst case, the bone can jam the drum, causing an error and stopping the wash.
How can you tell if a bone has gotten into the washing machine tub? First of all, you need to check your underwear and take care of the loss of a bone, because it couldn’t disappear without a trace.First of all, look into the drum of the washing machine with a flashlight and try to inspect the bottom of the tank through the holes. In the vast majority of cases, the bra wire can be seen.
Important! Don't forget to listen to the washing machine. Often, a small object that gets into the tank reveals itself with a clanging and grinding sound, especially if it jams the moving elements of the washing machine.
Removing the bone by disassembling the machine
If you managed to catch a foreign object in the form of a bra bone in the drum of the washing machine, consider yourself lucky. In this case, you need to check whether the edges of the hatch cuff (the large elastic band located around the hatch) are intact. If the cuff is not torn by the bone, then everything is fine. It is much worse if the bone fell into the tank, and you managed to verify that this is exactly what happened, what should you do in such a situation?
The first thing to do is turn off the washing machine. Do not wash if there is a foreign object in the tank. Next, you need to decide how to extract such a bone.. There are ways to remove items without disassembling the washing machine; they are more complex and require skill and methods that require disassembling the machine. Let's start with the last ones. The first method will allow you to remove the foreign object through the hole for the heating element.
Let us immediately make a reservation that this method is only suitable for those models of washing machines in which the heating element is located in the rear of the tank. A striking example is the automatic front-loading washing machines of the LG brand. For typewriters Bosh or Siemens, heating element is located in front, and the front wall of the washing machine is more difficult to remove than the back.So, what do you need to do to remove the pit from the tank through the hole for the heating element?
We turn the washing machine towards us so that there is free access to the rear wall of the machine.
If there is a service hatch at the back, then great, open it. If not, then unscrew the screws holding the back wall and remove it.
Removing the back wall, we will see a large wheel - this is the drum pulley, behind it there is a plastic or metal tank housing.
Immediately below the pulley, large contacts with wires should stick out from the tank - this is part of the heating element. The heating element itself is located in the tank, and it needs to be removed.
Disconnect the electrical wires from the contacts of the heating element.
Unscrew the nut that secures the heating element. It is located between the contacts.
Now we take hold of the heating element with both hands and begin to swing it from side to side, pulling it towards us.
Having pulled out the heating element, do not forget it descale. Scale must also be removed from the bottom of the tank.
The heating element has been removed, now through the resulting hole we can get to the bottom of the tank and pull out the bra bone.
In order to more deftly pick up the bra bone, use a long wire with a hook at the end or tweezers.
If the bone from the bra is not at the bottom of the tank, but, for example, is stuck in the drain pipe, then it will not be possible to get it out through the hole under the heating element. You will have to remove and clean the drain pipe. How to do it? In most washing machines, you can get to the drain pipe through the bottom, let's do it.
We take the washing machine out to the middle of the room, since we will need free space.
We take out the powder cuvette from the machine.
We place the machine on the side wall.
We unscrew and pull out the bottom of the washing machine (in some models of machines the bottom is attached with screws, and in some with special clamps).
A thick drain pipe runs from the tank to the pump; it needs to be removed.
We loosen the clamps, remove the pipe, clean it, then put it in place. Then we put the bottom back in place and put the machine back on its legs.
Note! The pump may interfere with removing the pipe. You will need to unhook the sensor from it, unscrew the two screws holding the unit and remove the pump, and only then take hold of the pipe.
Removing the bone without disassembling the machine
If you have extra time, as well as dexterous and nimble fingers, you can try to remove the bra wire without disassembling the washing machine. To do this we need a flashlight, a thin wire with a hook at the end and “angelic” patience. Open the hatch of the washing machine, turn on the flashlight and place it directly in the drum so that it illuminates the bottom of the tank through the holes. Next, we stick our head through the hatch of the washing machine and try to see through the holes where the bra wire lies.
When we succeed, we take a wire with a hook and insert it through the holes into the tank and try to pick up the bone. Without proper skill, you will have to spend at least 30 minutes on this work. Having hooked the bone with a wire, we begin to slowly rock the drum so that the bone begins to stand vertically. Next, by “controlling the drum,” you need to ensure that the end of the bra bone falls into one of the holes in the drum. This is painstaking work, but if this is successful, all that remains is to pick up and remove the bone using pliers.
Note! It is very inconvenient to stick your head into the hatch and manipulate the wire with one hand and rotate the drum with the other. You may need the help of a second person.
How to avoid foreign objects getting into the machine?
Whether it's a bra wire or any other foreign object, it's best to keep it out of the washing machine, and then you won't have to struggle to get something out there. Naturally, as they say, “...even an old woman gets screwed.” Even if we know that we need to check our pockets before putting things in the washing machine, we still forget to do it. And it all ends in unnecessary trouble.
Regarding women's underwear, experts give clear advice - wash such items in a laundry bag. Strictly speaking, it is better not to wash your underwear in a machine at all, since it will break down faster, especially white ones. But if there is a need to wash it in automatic mode, use laundry bag, or even better, a special container for washing your bra. Since such a container allows you to maintain the shape of the foam cups.
Thanks to bags and containers for washing in an automatic washing machine, no foreign object will get into the bowels of the machine!
In conclusion, if a bra wire is stuck in your washing machine, do not rush to give a lot of money to a specialist. You can try to get it yourself; fortunately, we have several simple methods in our arsenal, which we described in the article. We hope everything works out for you!
Even with laundry bags, I always take these bones out of the drum. Neither the laundry bags nor the supposed containers and other devices passed my test. You have to wash your underwear the old fashioned way with pens.
Thanks a lot! I tried to crawl up from below and from all sides - the result was zero due to the growth of my arms beyond my shoulders. Now I suffered for about 40 minutes, hooked it as advised, seized the moment and oops - the tip appeared. Then it's a matter of technology. Luckily I'm a fisherman! Thank you very much – I saved $12.
Thank you very much for the article and reviews of its successful applications. I also pulled it out through the drum with wire! The main thing is patience :)
Please tell me what to do? Several coins got into the machine, they fell into the cleaning filter and got stuck there; the filter cover does not unscrew or screw in completely. How to get them out?
Thank you very much for the article. She herself pulled out a bone from a bra and a hook from a bag or belt from the machine. I don’t know why (8 cm). Without my husband's help. I was afraid that she would scold me.
I realized that the grinding sound in the washing machine was a bone falling out of my bra. I examined everything myself in the evening. In the morning I asked my husband, but he couldn’t do anything. I just wanted to call the master, I think, dyke again. She looked in and turned the drum back and forth. She began to stroke each hole with her finger. And then it happened! I found the tip of the bone! It was something!
I didn’t know how to get the bone, but I had to wash the laundry. I decided - come what may! And put it on rinse and low spin. The grinding sound was terrible, and then suddenly it stopped and I heard something scratching on the washing machine door. I stopped the washing, and then the bone itself came out of the drum! I don’t know by what miracle :)
Thank you very much for the detailed instructions. The description of the machine's structure is very accessible. I was ready to remove the heating element, but I felt a bone in the drain pipe. She pushed it to the drain hole on the front wall of the machine below.And I pulled it out from there. Words cannot express how glad I am!
Thanks a lot! I was looking for the workshop phone number. And I came across this video. Everything was clearly explained. I couldn't see anything through the holes in the drum. We removed the heating element with our son and, fortunately, found the “culprit.” I had to make a long hook from a knitting needle and after 20 minutes the washing machine was saved. Thank you!!!
A small foreign object that can get into the washing machine along with dirty laundry poses a great danger to it. Some people underestimate this danger, saying, what can a paper clip, a pin or a bra wire do? In fact, everything is very serious and can result in expensive washing machine repairs. In this article we will look at a situation where a bra wire gets into the washing machine. What to do if this happens, let's figure it out!
How can you tell if a bone has gotten into the washing machine tub? First of all, you need to check your underwear and take care of the loss of a bone, because it couldn’t disappear without a trace.First of all, look into the drum of the washing machine with a flashlight and try to inspect the bottom of the tank through the holes. In the vast majority of cases, the bra wire can be seen.
In order to more deftly pick up the bra bone, use a long wire with a hook at the end or tweezers.
Even with laundry bags, I always take these bones out of the drum. Neither the laundry bags nor the supposed containers and other devices passed my test. You have to wash your underwear the old fashioned way with pens.
How do you get the bones out of the machine???
Patience... I got it in 40 minutes.
Also very interesting, share your experience, otherwise I’m in a panic. For the first time such a situation...
The bone is not at the bottom where the shadow is, but on the side, how to get it?
The bone is sticking out through the hole, is it dangerous to pull it out?
Thanks a lot! I tried to crawl up from below and from all sides - the result was zero due to the growth of my arms beyond my shoulders. Now I suffered for about 40 minutes, hooked it as advised, seized the moment and oops - the tip appeared. Then it's a matter of technology. Luckily I'm a fisherman! Thank you very much – I saved $12.
Thanks again for your advice! I didn’t believe it would work, but in 15 minutes I extracted it. I'm very glad that I saved money!
But there is no plus or minus on the heating element to place it correctly...
Thank you very much for the article and reviews of its successful applications. I also pulled it out through the drum with wire! The main thing is patience :)
Please tell me what to do? Several coins got into the machine, they fell into the cleaning filter and got stuck there; the filter cover does not unscrew or screw in completely. How to get them out?
Thank you very much for the article. She herself pulled out a bone from a bra and a hook from a bag or belt from the machine. I don’t know why (8 cm). Without my husband's help. I was afraid that she would scold me.
Thanks a lot! I got it myself. I made a hook from a hairpin, took an awl and pliers. Saved 400 hryvnia!
I realized that the grinding sound in the washing machine was a bone falling out of my bra. I examined everything myself in the evening. In the morning I asked my husband, but he couldn’t do anything. I just wanted to call the master, I think, dyke again. She looked in and turned the drum back and forth. She began to stroke each hole with her finger. And then it happened! I found the tip of the bone! It was something!
Thanks for the tip :) 3 minutes total. I am very happy!
Thanks a lot! I removed the heating element, took out the bone, loaded it - it erases silently! Explained in an accessible and understandable way.
I didn’t know how to get the bone, but I had to wash the laundry. I decided - come what may! And put it on rinse and low spin. The grinding sound was terrible, and then suddenly it stopped and I heard something scratching on the washing machine door. I stopped the washing, and then the bone itself came out of the drum! I don’t know by what miracle :)
Thank you very much for the detailed instructions. The description of the machine's structure is very accessible. I was ready to remove the heating element, but I felt a bone in the drain pipe. She pushed it to the drain hole on the front wall of the machine below.And I pulled it out from there. Words cannot express how glad I am!
And I got a bone, but it’s not visible. After that I washed it again, no extraneous sounds. What to do? Wait. It may still appear, or call a master?
The bone fell to the heating element, I tried to unscrew the back wall - it didn’t work, I couldn’t unscrew the screws. What should I do?
I took out the bone, but the lights were all blinking and I couldn’t start the machine. What to do, tell me?!
Thanks a lot! I was looking for the workshop phone number. And I came across this video. Everything was clearly explained. I couldn't see anything through the holes in the drum. We removed the heating element with our son and, fortunately, found the “culprit.” I had to make a long hook from a knitting needle and after 20 minutes the washing machine was saved. Thank you!!!
Thank you. Your article was very helpful. Joy knows no bounds!
How to remove the shade? I tried it and it didn't work. Are the contacts soldered? Or not?