I’ve been writing about and following cases of “exploding” door glass on washing machines since 2008. There’s been a steady trickle of reports from people with various brands. Some even claim their door glass shattered spontaneously when the washing machine was not even switched on. It’s potentially a genuine safety concern. Especially for children.
Customers who report these incidents are definitely claiming it is dangerous. I have seen reports of people being cut and injured, but nothing serious so far. As far as I can make out it’s been more to do with being cut picking up the glass.
Back in 2012 there was a brief flurry of international media interest in my article. It was widely quoted and linked to. However, presumably without any reports of serious injury it was soon forgotten.
Don’t confuse two separate “exploding” washing machine issues
This article is about the door glass exploding. Another issue, which has also had national press coverage is when the washing machine’s inner drum “explodes” during spin.
This is a known issue related to specific brands and is covered in my article here – washing machines exploding: What’s going on?
Shattering door glass
I’m not entirely happy using the word explode because it sounds sensational. But as most people experiencing this issue use that word it needs to be used. Some have even described it as being like “a bomb”.
The previous picture is of a Beko washing machine. Beko are one of the most common UK washing machines who so far have the highest reported cases. The consumer who sent it me wrote –
I dread to think the outcome if my son had been in front of the machine at the time!
Lots of people have expressed concerns over children and pets.
Seeing the following photo on my Facebook news-feed heightened my concerns. It’s of a friend’s small child innocently looking into their washing machine.
Reports of spontaneous exploding glass when washer not even running
No parent could be expected to foresee the thick door glass of their washing machine shattering, either when on – or especially when it’s just standing unused. This photo is worrying when you know about all of the incidents that have happened (rare or not). Clearly it’s best to not let children get this close up just in case.
Manufacturers are saying the problem is caused by foreign obstructions such as coins or metal buckles hitting and weakening the door glass. The weakened door can then shatter under constant heating up and cooling down.
Another theory is that it’s caused by people overloading the washing machine. However, it would be nice if the door glass was strong enough to cope with such inevitable stresses. I have written an article specifically covering that subject here – exploding door glass who’s fault is it?
Which washing machines are affected?
Many brands have been mentioned across the price range. Cheap, middle, and even some top-end brands have been affected. So it’s not necessarily only the cheapest brands. See the tally of reports on the right column (after the comments on mobile devices).
What’s the solution?
Until a definite cause is proved it’s difficult to know what needs to be done. The main expectation is that the door glass maybe needs to be made thicker. There’s no proof that the glass is too thin as yet. If manufacturers placed a plastic cover in front of the door glass it would definitely prevent any injuries. This would make it double-glazed.
It’s likely to be difficult to fit one retrospectively. So it would probably need to be designed like this from the off. This was actually done around 20 years back by Hoover on models like the Eco Logic, Soft Wave and New Wave. However it was done for thermal protection and insulation. To my knowledge, and in my experience, the shattering door glass was not an issue back then. I didn’t come across any shattered door glass until around 2008.
What can you do to limit any danger?
Enough reports of the glass shattering whilst the washer isn’t even on have been made to be taken seriously although this still appears to be rare.
Don’t let kids play around washing machines until this issue is hopefully resolved.
Some door glass appears to break into relatively safe rounded chunks, but some (see photos of broken glass ) have broken into more sharp and jagged pieces, which definitely look dangerous.
Remember, there are only (presumably) a few hundred cases out of millions of washing machines and only a small percentage of them claim the washer wasn’t running at the time.
So the odds of it happening at all – never mind someone being in front of it at the time – should be very low. If you are concerned enough to need to do something you could try hanging a thick towel over the door when the washer is not in use. That would prevent or limit any glass flying out. Keep children and pets away from it especially when it’s running.
Take care of your washing machine and treat it gently
Many of them aren’t built as well as they used to and can’t take much “abuse”. Don’t overload the machine by cramming it so full that the whole laundry just turns around in one big lump. Don’t under-load it either – Loading a washing machine).
Also make sure you check all pockets for coins and other obstructions before washing.
Don’t put laundry in with metal buckles or buttons which could hit the door glass.
Some new washing machines do have a plastic barrier in front of the glass
I’ve seen two new AEG washing machines that both have a protective plastic see-through plate in front of the door glass (which is the solution I’ve always described). However, they were both washer dryers.
So it’s more to do with thermal insulation again than protecting against shattering door glass. As AEG have only had 1 reported incident on Whitegoodshelp (so far) it seems unlikely they would have introduced this “shield” for safety. It’s likely to just be coincidental.
(More views on this subject from another engineer : Ken Watt runs UKWhitegoods and is an experienced appliance engineer. He has written an article giving his views here – Washing Machine Door Glass Failures)
Photos and tally of broken door glass
I have a separate page where I feature some of the photos of shattered door glass I’ve received. On this page there is also a list of all of the incidents reported to me in order of which brands are most affected. Photos are currently here – photos and tally of broken glass.
There are also plenty of comments on this article below to read and research if you scroll down. If you have any information or would just like to register an incident with me please add a comment or contact me
Related articles
- Exploding door glass who’s fault is it?
- For an article on actual washing machines exploding (not just the door glass) go here – Washing machines exploding: What’s going on?
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Hi – I bought a second hand washing machine just last week, a Tricity Bendix, and yesterday I went in to switch the load over to the dryer to find shattered class all over the floor! I’ve never heard of this happening until I googled it and came to this website. I didn’t hear anything, and it was a normal load, normal temperature, nothing irregular about it. The glass is completely gone, and the shards that came out were very dangerous. Thank god my learning disabled son didn’t walk in there (he wears no shoes when at home, just goes about in his socks) or he would have been seriously hurt.
I have contacted all the people you mentioned. I didnt even get a reply from trading standards or watch dog! The retailer did respond. But with only go further if I am prepared to use there premium number! Typical
My partner and myself bought a Beko washing machine 5 months ago and this morning at 11am there was a loud bang and the glass in the door had shattered. I called both Comet and Beko. An engineer will be out from Comet next Wednesday, so a week with no washing machine!!!!! I dread to think if I was not in what would have happen????? I do not want it in the house now and my partner is terrified of it!!!! I will be asking the engineer to replace the whole unit as there is lots of glass in the machine and I doubt that it safe!!!!!! Can someone shed some light on what the engineer did when they had their machine fixed?
Waiting for an engineer to come and fix my Hoover washing machine that imploded yesterday. The electric was off as we were putting a light fitting on upstairs, I heard a crash like glass and found my washing machine completely smashed, there was no one else on the room thank god as glass was everywhere and alot in the machine all over a load of baby clothes that had been washed that morning. Baffled. Obviously I expect the engineer to presumebit was my fault, I certainly will Persue a legal claim, it’s when people don’t take complaints further that they get away with making expensive products so shoddily! Ridiculous it’s not even 2 years old yet!
There is anecdotal evidence that some of these door glasses are shattering when the washing machine is not even in use. If you are sure you haven’t aggravated the situation by washing something with heavy metal buckles or buttons or badly overloading it then I’d be inclined to complain to the retailer and ask for it to be replaced with a different make. Unfortunately though, it seems a lot of different makes appear affected.
We were away on holiday on return we found our LG washing machine door in pieces on the floor. We called yesterday to get it repaired and have been told they have never heard of an exlpoding washing machine door. It scares me, what if it gets fixed and then happen again while we are at home?
Iz from Aus
I presume you’ve pointed them to this article Izzy? Another one with washing machine door glass exploding when not even in use! Regarding your question, see my last reply above yours.
13/01/2012 – i bought my Hotpoint Ultima on the 25/05/2011 and today during a rinse the door glass exploded, spraying the kitchen with shards of glass. it shook us all up as our 2yr old was only a meter infront of it playing. i called them straight away and was bounced from number to number i took me over 45 minutes to talk to someone and then i was told to contact the seller. so i called them who then had to call hotpoint direct. the earliest i get to see someone is wednesday as the engineers dont work week ends and dont work after 6pm. They even said that it would take longer to repair if the fault was found to be ours. i found them to be very unhelpful and quite rude. they have no consideration for the dangers involved or for what could have happened, and they are prepared to leave me with a very dangerous machine for a week. I didnt spend top money for so called good quality and bad service!! i thought i would buy what i thought was the best and have great service…… how wrong was i!
The glass in my Hoover washing machine door exploded sat during a hot wash cycle, glass all over kitchen floor and inside the drum. I bought the machine in April 2010. Luckily no one was in the kitchen at the time, and the wash cycle carried on regardless!! I contacted Hoover who said although it was covered by a 5yr parts warranty I’d have to pay £119 labour. Have refused to pay as this must be a major health & safety issue and desgn fault …. Planning my next move would be grateful for any advice.
My daughter had this happen also (see Dave says: August 23, 2011 at 8:56 pm)
In reply to Tracy’s Hoover 5 year warranty, this company and Hotpoint give out a 5 year warranty and in small print they state that this is only a free parts warranty if you deal with their service engineer. A charge of each call out is over £100 regardless how small the job. Hoover charged me this for tightening two nuts, total time 10 minutes. Hotpoint wanted similar for oven thermostat light bulb change. I did the job myself in 15 minutes but Hotpoint still charged me over £14 for bulb and standard delivery of over £6. The bulb arrived loose unwrapped in a basic envelope with general post. Rip off Britain wanted me to appear on their programme but my health doesn’t allow for this.
Don’t pay them a penny and threaten them with small claims court telling them that once the fee is paid for court appearance, that you will be requiring a refund for ALL your costs to date before settlement whether they settle before or in court. All travel expenses and loss of work to appear should bump up their bill.
They will try to get you to part with your money before caving in.
The evidence on this web page alone states that they are aware of the problem and that you are not the first person to claim. Keep a record of all correspondence and receipts of additional costs (including telephone call records). My bet is that they will replace the door free rather than attend a small claims court.