What that little door on your front load washing machine is really meant for

If you own a front load washing machine, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed that little door on the bottom left- or right-hand corner. But, have you ever wondered what it’s actually meant to be used for?

Well, according to Better Homes and Gardens, that little door on your front load washing machine is in fact a door to a drain trap. Yes, that’s right, this is where all those little items such as coins, missing buttons and bobby pins end up.

According to BHG, the drain trap catches loose items in your washing machine to prevent them entering the main drain, so you don’t end up with clogged pipes.

So the next time your front load panel indicates there’s a drainage problem or one of your blouse buttons go missing, you may want to check the drain trap first. Better Homes and Gardens says that “some drain traps pop off with a little force, while others may require a flat-head screwdriver to pry it open”.

They also advice arming yourself with a towel and a container to catch any excess water or gunk that may come trickling out whilst you access it. If you’re a bit hesitant, however, we’d recommend reading your washing machine manual first. Can’t find yours? Give your manufacture a quick call.

This isn’t the first washing machine hack to make headlines either. In March last year, Starts at 60 wrote a story titled ‘Why you shouldn’t close your washing machine door when it’s not in use’.

Although closing the door of your machine when it’s not in use makes the room look neater and avoids any accidents, according to one expert in the field, it’s an absolute no-go. An Aussie repair technician took to social media at the time to share his cleaning tips and revealed the washing machine door should always be kept open when it’s not being used.

This is because keeping it closed can cause grime and mould to form inside the machine, which will not only leave your clothes smelling poorly but can also affect the function of the appliance.

“The first thing I tell people when I’m called out to a job is to start leaving the doors on their washing machines open when they’re not using it,” he wrote on a cleaning Facebook group. “Keeping it closed for hours and days on end can cause all sorts of problems. It’s the mould and grime build-up which is your biggest problem.”