Hi, my washing machine has started leaking from the bottom of the soap drawer, not much about a cupfull also the machine is freezing halfway through a cycle any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

steve, January 2008

This has been the best solution that I have found. My Hotpoint washing machine was overflowing intermittently from the soap dispenser. A sock was stuck in the water inlet. Thanks

Anil, May 2022

This is amazing John, this has saved me expenses of a plumber and/or new washing machine!
Re posting the trick to clean the filter on Hotpoint WD860 washer-dryer (but most of Hotpoint washers as well):

I also initially went through lowering the water pressure to the point that it was taking ages to initially fill up; however, still ended up flooding the kitchen out of the detergent dispenser. The problem is not the water pressure, it's that the washer can't pump the water out fast enough - it my case this was due to a couple of my daughters little socks!

If your Hotpoint washer is a similar design to mine, you'll not have a user-accessible pump filter, so - presuming you're happy doing it and the machine is unplugged from the electricity of course - I rectified by the following:

1. Switched the machine to 'pump-out' and got rid of as much water as possible.
2. Unplugged and disconnected the pump-out pipe from the house drainage and drained off as much additional water as possible into a bowl by gravity.
3. Removed the panel at the bottom of the back of the washer to expose the pump, the bottom of the drum and the main washer motor.
4. On the right-hand side, you'll see the pump with the grey (in my case) drain pipe and a wide black rubber pipe connected directly to the bottom of the drum by an adjustable metal clip
5. The wide black pipe attached to the drum contains a ball-filter and is probably the source of your problems - undo the clip (watching for water of course; though none was spilt when I did it) - and lower it slightly to reveal the filter and - hopefully - the odd sock or so!
6. Clear the filter of the obstructions (the plastic ball can be lifted out by the way to aid doing this)
7. Make sure the ball is back in place and connect the wide black pipe back up to the bottom of the drum - ensure the clip is secure
8. Replace the machines back panel
9. Connect the drain pipe back up to the house drainage
10. Do a test wash !

Lucas, October 2014

I have a 10 year old Hotpoint WD860 Ultima Super Silent that occasionally spills water out of the soap drawer just as it starts to spin on Cottons.

The Wool and Hand Wash options began failing to complete a while ago. I put that down to its age and stopped using.

Just had a larger than usual spill of water from the soap drawer on Cottons so started a search.

I've tried John's excellent instructions and found a plastic lunch bag snagged around the ball and tissue mush compacted around the basket filter. No coins. All cleared and now even Wool is working! (Someone else said the machine will stop if it can't drain efficiently )

John's instructions are a long way down now and someone said they can't see them so here is the post again. I started at 3) :

- Had exactly the same problem with a WD640, which I've just fixed.

I also initially went through lowering the water pressure to the point that it was taking ages to initially fill up; however, still ended up flooding the kitchen out of the detergent dispenser. The problem is not the water pressure, it's that the washer can't pump the water out fast enough - it my case this was due to a couple of my daughters little socks!

If your Hotpoint washer is a similar design to mine, you'll not have a user-accessible pump filter, so - presuming you're happy doing it and the machine is unplugged from the electricity of course - I rectified by the following:

1. Switched the machine to 'pump-out' and got rid of as much water as possible.
2. Unplugged and disconnected the pump-out pipe from the house drainage and drained off as much additional water as possible into a bowl by gravity.
3. Removed the panel at the bottom of the back of the washer to expose the pump, the bottom of the drum and the main washer motor.
4. On the right-hand side, you'll see the pump with the grey (in my case) drain pipe and a wide black rubber pipe connected directly to the bottom of the drum by an adjustable metal clip
5. The wide black pipe attached to the drum contains a ball-filter and is probably the source of your problems - undo the clip (watching for water of course; though none was spilt when I did it) - and lower it slightly to reveal the filter and - hopefully - the odd sock or so!
6. Clear the filter of the obstructions (the plastic ball can be lifted out by the way to aid doing this)
7. Make sure the ball is back in place and connect the wide black pipe back up to the bottom of the drum - ensure the clip is secure
8. Replace the machines back panel
9. Connect the drain pipe back up to the house drainage
10. Do a test wash !

Liz, August 2014

Just wanted to add this as I've just fixed mine with partial help to this thread. I undid the top, took off the front and the drawer. Unded drawer housing after taking a lil while to figure out how too, then finally got the grip off the pipe and cleaned it through. I realised it wasn't at all the pipe. A sock had got into the drum and blocked the bit inbetween the drum and the pipe. I spent 10 minutes easing it through the half hole so I didn't loose any in the drum. Problem fixed but shocked a sock got in there!

Lucy, June 2014

Gremin is my hero, I had same problem on my wd420. My water was pouring out during fill.
Underneath the drawer, there is a rubber tube, connecting the drawer to the drum, This is how I done it.
I removed the two screws from the back, and tried to slide off top, it didn't slide, so tried various ways, checking for extra screws then I gave it good thwack with ball of hand and it came off,
I undid soap dispenser, but in honesty I didn't need to, as I have small hands, so I could get under the drawer, and reconnect the pipe, and loop the rubber ring on the pipe, on the stickyout thigme of the drawer. All working, but that rubber pipe is loose, think I may have to get a jubilee clip.

Sarah., August 2013

It seems that the answer supplied by John has been successful for many people. Can someone please post what this answer is, maybe I am missing it....I can't seem to find the answer on the page. Please help.

Mark, January 2013

Thank you John, finding water droplets coming from the bottom of the door I replaced the door seal, water still pooling around the bottom of the machine. Found that the water was coming from the draw, checked it wasn't blocked and aligned correctly, stood there scratching my head then I googled my way to this. Brilliant John, massive thank you :)

Mark, December 2012

john you are a star!! goodness knows what i pulled out of ours.. £3.14 a ball of slime, a hair band, a biscuit wrapper too!!

simon, September 2012

John, if i could give you the £1.52 that i found, the 7 hairbands, tiddlywinks and the wire from my wife's bra then I would - you deserve it! Washer Dryer working like a dream now and not pumping water out of the powder drawer and ruining the floor anymore. John, you're a legend!
thanks for the clear instructions.

Giles, August 2012

Thnaks folk's. mine was the colour catchers and a 5 pence

Bbar, July 2012

hubby just did it on our washer/dryer. done in minutes. 25p and shed loads (no exaggeration) of my hair mixed with fluff WHOOOOOOOOOOOOPS!!!

HAIRY MONSTER ;), July 2012

I had the same problem and it turned out to be a firred up hose that connects the soap draw to the drum. Quite easy to fix. You have to take the top of the machine (3 screws at the back and slide it off backwards). Remove the soap draw by pressing the clip in the middle and pulling it out. Then remove the 4 screws holding the soap draw housing in place. There is a u shaped hose under it held in place by 2 clips. Remove the clips and the hose. If you run the hose under a tap you will find that it overflows. Clean out all the hard scale and it should then not overflow.

Gremlin, February 2012

Fixed the problem in 10 mins, fabric whitener sachets.
Thanks very much.

Iain Roxburgh, October 2011

thanks ours is a different model (wma58) but same filter arrangement >>> 4 buttons 20p loads of gunk & bits of plastic strips out of shirt collars

colin c, October 2011

Thank you for your much appreciated help.
Colour catchers seem to be the colprate along with 21 pence.
Wicked!.... ;)

maldar, August 2011

Tip top advice. 5p, 2 hair grips and about a pound of fluff!

Andy Brown, August 2011

Thanks
Worked a treat got 71p

pjn, July 2011

Thank you so much John - you are a total star and it fixed our Aquarius too !! - Found loads of matted dog hair and mud all caught up round a metal wire from a bra would you believe !

Amanda., June 2011

Hi,
Thanks for the advice so far which has been great (got £2, a stretchy hair band a disgusting rusty kirby!). I know it is probably really obvious but I just can't see step 2 in Steve's answer...how do I check the cap is the right way round, and I can't see the 2 vertical cutouts? Thanks

Nats, April 2011

Absolutley fantastic advise!!!! One sock, one hair grip, one penny and 2 collar stifferners later and we are all sorted. Thank you so much it is greatly appreciated and took me about 5 mins.

Damon, March 2011

Only a pound in mine, and quite a nice bracelet undamaged. Plus, wholly filled with gunk. Confirmed - you can get at everything with only the biggest clip undone. Watch on reassembly that 1/ the rectangular hole at the bottom of the shuttlecock engages with the rubber lug moulded in the black pipe. 2/ that the shuttlecock cap is the right way round to engage BOTH vertical cutouts on the rim. Otherwise the thing won't go far enough back onto the big drain for the clip to re-secure properly.

Steve, March 2011

John apparently you are my wife's hero... I couldn't claim I knew what to do but your instructions were very helpful. Bit disappointed I didn't find any missing socks of money as other appear to have - just an old hankie and a rusty hair grip!

cheers

r, January 2011

john, done what you said, and my Mrs washer is working like new and she has stopped nagging me! thanks your a star!

jay, November 2010

John, you are a true genius! Mine has been leaking on and off for 4 years and tonight I removed £4 odd (which will buy a beer at tomorrow's bonfire) and 2 half socks (which explains the half socks I found months ago). Ran a cycle and no leaks. Thank's v. much

lellabells, November 2010

GREAT ADVICE, We have the Hotpoint WD645, and everything written there is spot on, Little bit of water to contend with, £5 in coins and colour catchers, they were the problem, they had totally bloked the filter system.
Follow the instructions and you'll be done in 10 minutes

Dave, October 2010

I was fed up of my washing machine leaking all over the floor so I threatened to go out and buy a new one, the minute I suggested this, my husband got the tools out and followed your instructions. We found 70p, couple of buttons, hair slide and 3inch wood screw! along with lots of gunk. No more leaks ! Thank You. Husband now on internet looking for something to spend his £300 on!

Janet, October 2010

BRILLIANT!!!
just cleared out my filter and got £2.51 back plus some kirby grips and an old sock....Off to the pub now to spend my new found wealth!!

Willie Bennie, August 2010

Thanks John.

I had water leaking out of the soap tray of my Hotpoint WMA50. I followed your advice and removed about six months' worth of decaying Colour Catchers from the filter.

Phil, August 2010

John, you are a legend. I apent most of yesterday trying to sort the problem from the front of the machine and was just about to spend £280 on a new machine when I came accross this. It took me 10 mins to do and the problem is sorted. I cannot thank you enough. I found a sock, a few clips and about 8 different coins!!

Thanks again!

Mr Allen - July 2010, July 2010

this worked a treat on my hotpoint with the same prob, mucho grateful thanks

graeme, June 2010

I've just had the same problem of water leaking from the soap dispenser drawer and also the door, furthermore the machine had previoulsy 'stalled' on various occasions, then started again after prolonged periods of time.

I followed the advice given below and it worked incredibly well. The machine seems to be having no problems now and its been through 4 test cycles!

Wih ergarsd to the instuctions, my pump was on the left hand side and the clips were plastic. The clips were incredibly difficult to remove- you have to push the centre section out and the top and bottom section in the opposite direction. A bit of a pain, but once they're off it's easy as stated below! You also have to tighten them agaion with pliers, otherwise you risk them coming loose during a spin cycle.

I had 8 kirby grips, paper, 20p and some random tags from clothes stuck in the filter of my Hotpoint Aqaurius WDL540. The joys!!!!!!

Kirsten, May 2010

this was happening to my hotpoint WD860. booked a repair with hotpoint and it was going to cost £165. tried this and its worked a treat. cancelled hotpoint appointment and saved loads. thanks x

jen, April 2010

Have just fixed Aquarius WD645 using your instructions. My haul was collar stiffener and large blister plaster sock insert. Thanks to all.

George, April 2010

Thanks so much guys, had same problem on Hotpoint WF860P. I thought as it was leaking orginally from bottom of door seal it was the wire spring clip around front of door which had rusted and I had just replaced. Then saw water pouring from bottom of soap drawer as obviously it now couldnt go anywhere else.Took off bottom back panel undid large jubilee clip around rubber at base of drum and found 3 colour catchers in ping pong ball filter. I think we've found the culprits

JT, February 2010

Fantacstic help, as said before it only took 10 mins and saved £££££'s. Thank you so muck

Kerrie, February 2010

I can't express my thanks enough for this... I bought a 5 year warranty extension on my WD640 machine, and 3 visits by the SAME engineer did not fix the leak. But after reading this, I found a few colour catchers and a couple of coins.

The only difference I found though, is that the black hose on my machine, was secured with a big plastic clamp rather than the metal ring, and it was abit harder to get off - but the job still only took about 15 minutes.

Thank you!

Chris M, February 2010

Removed all components as described, found a drill bit, 2 x buttons, 70 pence, a rubber band and a short collar stiffener. Great thanks.

richard, January 2010

Follow up Jones Sharp information
Is perfectly and percesly discribed and you never going to missed any step and it is very easy to understand
Thank you Jon You are the master
Kind regards
Dardan

Dardan, January 2010

Hi every one is fixing them self the washing machine licking.
Very help full iformation from all of you,it was very easy to fixed,takes only 30 minutes and you save my mony and time
Thank you so much

Dardan, January 2010

thanks so much, just about to phone a repair man. found half a shoe insole, load of fluff and a 5p-have an old hotpoint aquarius and thought its time was up!!

thommo, January 2010

Same problem on a Hotpoint WMM55. 2 colour cathers and a load of gunk, no money though.
Thanks for the help, first time I have used this site but I'm sure it won't be the last.
And a big thanks to John's detailed description on how to do it.

Peet, December 2009

Same problem with Hotpoint WD640 wirh water coming out of soap tray. Removed filter and pipes, cleaned. Now £2.05 better off from the filter and no more leak from tray !!!

Sutton Blues, December 2009

Worked a treat...found 16p a button 2 colour catchers and a peice of wood!!!

Louise, December 2009

tried this solution, very easy to do, fished out a load of change and peice of rotten old material, thanks for the tip.

Lee, November 2009

I have a hotpoint WD860 which was pouring water out of the draw so on the off chance i tried what was suggested and it worked, we found £1.45 in coins some hair bobbles and some paper, no socks though :)

i now have a working machine again :)

Dee, October 2009

Thank you! Thought we'd have to get a new machine!

Diddy, October 2009

This also worked for us! It was filled with half a sock and a load of colour catcher sheets. So glad we didn't have to call anyone out :)

J MacLean, October 2009

Wow great thanks it worked !!!!!.My washinge machine was throwing out water throught the soap dish when on the spin cycle.It also wouldnt pump out water,the filter as you said was blocked with coins hair clips and a shoulder pad !!!!!!.FANTASTIC THANK !!!!!!!

John London, October 2009

Thanks a million for the info.Mine is a WMA56.Doing a test now.My wife will think i'm a legend for this.Cheers

Stephen, September 2009

Same problem here. Thanks for the info.

D, September 2009

great description. Just done this on a hotpoint aquarius wf220. Found about 1.70 in change, a child's plastic bracelet, some chewing gum wrappers and a long lost back door key along with some fluffy gunk from the washing. I've yet to tighten the pipe back on but that's all. Looking at the pump I may have to tip the machine to do it but the pipe is clear and I'm happy!

patricia, August 2009

thanks john, i removed the fillter pipe and found 3 20 pence piece's and half a bra wire in there!!
bit tricky getting pipe back. just saved me a fortune
cheers danni

danni, April 2009

Fantastic, i have a Hotpoint WMA58 and this worked a treat. The description of where and what was spot on, excatly the same as a WF220. Onec i had removed the black rubber pipe from the bottom of the drum i found hair, hair bands and other rubbish which had completely blocked the drain. Now working perfectly.
Thanks, i think you have just saved me about £200 and took me no more than 10 minutes.

Liam in Farnham, April 2009

Thanks for the info. Had the same problem with a Aquarius WD645. Found 6p, safety pin & remains of colour catchers. Surprised any water was getting p

Graeme, March 2009

Just performed this operation on an inherited Hotpoint Aquarius WMA58, revealing a lot of red slush (it all went wrong after I washed a chenille throw...), a nail, one earring and sadly only 17p in change. Running a test wash now, fingers crossed! Many thanks to the OP for these instructions.

Shunsui, January 2009

Hi, many thanks for the detailed instructions - worked a magic, ours is a Hotpoint Aquarius WD420. Found 2 socks and small pencil! Thanks again!

Karina, November 2008

Followed this super advice and saved a fortune, was ready to get an engineer out who would no doubt have changed the timer and door seal.

Neil White, October 2008

Thank you very much for this info i found a sock and a few coins .

john calladine, July 2008

Thanks John

Had same problem with my hotpoint WD645 - turned out to be a sock and £1.50 in 50 pence's

Mark

Mark, February 2008

John,
We had water gushing from the soap tray of our Hotpoint Aquarius WMA58.

Your solution worked perfectly - In our case it was one of my daughter’s gloves!

Many Thanks

John Sharp, January 2008

Had exactly the same problem with a WD640, which I've just fixed.

I also initially went through lowering the water pressure to the point that it was taking ages to initially fill up; however, still ended up flooding the kitchen out of the detergent dispenser. The problem is not the water pressure, it's that the washer can't pump the water out fast enough - it my case this was due to a couple of my daughters little socks!

If your Hotpoint washer is a similar design to mine, you'll not have a user-accessible pump filter, so - presuming you're happy doing it and the machine is unplugged from the electricity of course - I rectified by the following:

1. Switched the machine to 'pump-out' and got rid of as much water as possible.
2. Unplugged and disconnected the pump-out pipe from the house drainage and drained off as much additional water as possible into a bowl by gravity.
3. Removed the panel at the bottom of the back of the washer to expose the pump, the bottom of the drum and the main washer motor.
4. On the right-hand side, you'll see the pump with the grey (in my case) drain pipe and a wide black rubber pipe connected directly to the bottom of the drum by an adjustable metal clip
5. The wide black pipe attached to the drum contains a ball-filter and is probably the source of your problems - undo the clip (watching for water of course; though none was spilt when I did it) - and lower it slightly to reveal the filter and - hopefully - the odd sock or so!
6. Clear the filter of the obstructions (the plastic ball can be lifted out by the way to aid doing this)
7. Make sure the ball is back in place and connect the wide black pipe back up to the bottom of the drum - ensure the clip is secure
8. Replace the machines back panel
9. Connect the drain pipe back up to the house drainage
10. Do a test wash !

Hope that helps - in practice it took about 10 minutes all together and is pretty easy.

cheers,
John

this worked thanks

steve, January 2008

Is the freezing occurring at a drain or spin point? in the cycle, check pump and filter for blockages,water MUST pump out in(A SPECIFIC TIME) or machine WILL stop programme and hang. When water can't get out with drum trying to spin water gets thrown BACK UP the filler pipe into the powder drawer leaks out under the drawer.

wirecutterman, January 2008