Last updated on February 4th, 2017
The best way to pull a washing machine out, is to open the door and get hold of the door opening at the top of the door seal. Then lift the washing machine up and pull it forward. Before trying to do this, make sure the feet haven't stuck to the floor by tilting the washer back slightly.
(If looking for the best way to move a washing machine transporting to another house or location try this article – transporting a washing machine).
Don't attempt it if you have back trouble though.
If the washing machine is underneath a kitchen work top, make sure the back feet don't catch under the floor covering if it wasn’t fitted all the way underneath (which is extremely common). If the feet are going underneath the floor covering, try tilting the machine forward onto its front feet or it will rip the floor covering.
If the door wont open due to a fault, then you may be able to get some purchase by taking the soap drawer out or by lifting from the underneath the front of the machine and pulling it forward. But without access to the door opening it can be tricky – especially if the washer is also full of washing and water. In this scenario, if you can take out the drain hose, you should be able to siphon the water out using the procedure here The washing machine won’t pump water out
Also, make sure the mains cable, and fill and drain hoses are long enough to allow the washing machine to come out as sometimes they are very short. You may need to turn off the taps and disconnect hoses and cables to get it out.
Tip:
Avoid damage to the flooring by using on old towel under the feet. This also helps the machine slide around easier.
Tips for pushing a washing machine back in place
Most washing machines have feet instead of wheels these days. Pushing a washing machine back in place can be easy, or very tricky depending on the floor surface. Walking the washing machine back by pushing one side a little then the other is the best way. Also, push as low down the front of the washing machine as you can. Be careful, many washing machines have flimsy front panels that easily dent. Using knees to push a stubborn washing machine back can be effective, but it can also put dents in the washing machine front.
It might be tempting to put some lubricant under the feet if it’s hard to push back but this is likely to cause the washer to slide about a lot on spin afterwards.
Great idea – hadn’t thought of opening the door!! Many thanks
I have to get this off my chest. I really need to have this moan.
I bought my first washer 1979 had it until 1996 a whole 17years had to replace the door seal that was it. It had a boil wash and you knew your bed clothes, towels, tea towels, and whites were hygienically clean. I Had two house moves and my washer came too. Never did I have to think about trying to balance the clothes. Never did it jump or shake about the floor. And there was never anything such as having to insure the washer. It had a guarantee and that was it! You were able to move the washer because it had back wheels. These days buying a washer, you buy a host of problems. I beg to ask the question. ” Are we women so stupid we accept such an inferior product “?
As a repairman I preferred the back wheels. They made it a lot easier to pull a washing machine out and without ripping the flooring too. The 4 feet are a lot cheaper to put on than wheels (which need some sort of restrictor on them). The manufacturers say they make the washing machine more stable.
Put some washing up liquid under the wheels, lie on the floor and use your feet to push.
Thanks Andrew. That would definitely work, but I’m cautious about that. As I say in my last sentence on the article, “It might be tempting to put some lubricant under the feet if it’s hard to push back but this is likely to cause the washer to slide about a lot on spin afterwards”.
If using this method try to lift the washer up a little once in place and try to clear the lubricant off the front feet to discourage the washer moving around during spin.
My washer is literally stuck to my vinyl flooring.. I tried to move it and it started damaging my floor… please help cause I need to get it out asap…thanks
Willetta. The only way is to lift the machine up and try to pull the flooring away from the feet or try to slide something thin between it to separate it. If this can’t be done there’s nothing else I could suggest. If it’s stuck to the feet it’s stuck.
Mine seems stucked despite having moved fairly easily. Before pulling harder I was wondering whether the plug or pipes might actually be on the short side… I cannot see the back as it’s inserted in the kitchen cabinet.
I’d like to avoid flooding the kitchen… is there any risk of breaking pipes or so?
Thanks!
Hello Fred. Sorry for a late reply. Yes the main cause of a washing machine only pulling out so far then stopping is the pipes. The hoses and drain hose supplied are normally only just long enough to reach the taps and drain connection. There’s usually no way to pull a washing machine out without totally disconnecting all the hoses. If pulled hard the connection on the fill hoses could break and cause a flood. It can be very tricky to do and even trickier to get them back if the washing machine is under a worktop and you can’t get behind the washing machine.