How To Get Standing Water Out Of A Washing Machine

There are several culprits that cause slow or stopped washing machine drains. A sock or other small piece of clothing may have gotten into the drain. A kink or bend in the hose slows the drain down. An improperly attached hose or pump also causes problems. Draining standing water, before it starts to mildew or smell stale, is a messy but straight-forward task.

Step 1

Allow the washer time to drain. It may have a slow drain, rather than a complete blockage.

Step 2

Line up several buckets or bowls to hold the water as you drain it. If you have a floor drain, this step is unnecessary.

Step 3

Unplug the machine and open the main access panel. Find the large rubber hose connected to the pump at the bottom of the machine. Check inside the hose for a small piece of clothing that may have made its way inside and gotten stuck. Remove this blockage if possible. If you can't reach the blockage, contact a professional who will take the machine apart to get to the problem.

Step 4

Point the drainage hose downward toward the floor drain or the first of your lined up buckets or bowls. Gravity will drain the water from the tub through the hose. Lift the hose higher than the drainage point if you need to empty buckets.