How to open locked washing machine door every time with ‘secret’ latch

Struggling with a washing machine door that just won’t budge? You’re not alone.

Many have encountered the exasperating issue of clothes trapped inside, getting damper and smellier by the minute.

The reasons for a stuck door can range from un-drained water to a power cut. While it might be tempting to prise it open with brute force, there’s actually a clever little trick that can save the day – and your machine.

Zachary and Jerry Pozniak, the father-son team behind textile aftercare brand Jeeves NY, took to TikTok to reveal: “You should know that there is a secret latch on your washing machine that will allow you to open the door at any time.

“This will also immediately end the wash cycle if it is running.”

They continued: “To access it, open the bottom left lid and look for a small ring at the top corner. Grab a small tool and slide it from right to left. This is quite literally a string that opens the door.”

Not only does this neat trick unlock the door and stop the cycle, but it also exposes a circular filter which, according to the cleaning gurus, should be cleaned out every few months.

However, they caution that this method should “only be used in case of emergency or if your machine is malfunctioning and won’t release the door”. They added: “For example, you lose power and do not want your clothing to get mouldy. Your clothing will likely be very wet so I recommend running a drain and spin cycle to extract the water.”

Currys advises allowing your machine to cool down before attempting to open a locked washing machine door.

If you’ve already waited a few minutes and it still won’t open, they suggest turning the machine off, waiting for 10 minutes and then trying to open the door again. Other suggestions include running another spin-dry cycle, which might eliminate the excess water.

Alternatively, you can try to “hit the door over the lock area” with your palm, which might trigger the mechanism. However, if these methods fail, they recommend using the “hidden release tab with a screwdriver” which is “usually inside a removable flap under the door”.