Hi, I have had a very strange experience. I washed an old chenille throw on obviously too high a temp and it disintegrated in the drum and has clogged up all the holes and wont drain fully. I have spent hours sluicing it out, plunging the drum and even pulled the outside hose in from outside and sent water down the drain pipe but all to no avail. Is this beyond hope or is there something I havn't tried? I have no money for a new one and with 3 children and being on my own this is a nightmare just before xmas. All replies welcome.

michelle, December 2007

Sorry to hear about this, Michelle. The only way to get a result here is to clear the pump out - normally they are visible from the underneath, with the machine on its side. You'll find the pump well choked but with the rubber drain pipe disconnected you can often get in and clear it. There will be more cloth debris between the inner and outer drum however so either the machine will have to be stripped to clear it, or the pump clearing process will have to be repeated. If there is a good side to this, you shouldn't need any new parts, just a labour charge.

John, December 2007