How To Unlock A Beko Washing Machine (the easy way)

If your washing machine door won’t open and there’s a full load of wet washing in the drum it can be enough to spoil your day. You can get so frustrated that you feel like wrenching the door with a crowbar. 

But, before you start getting so destructive, read on, because in this article I explain some easy ways to get the washer door open, as well as a few tips on how to prevent it from getting stuck in the future.

Why Has The Door Lock Stuck On My Beko Washing Machine?

There are several reasons why your Beko washing machine door lock could have become stuck which include;

Probable CauseSolution
Thermal Or Timed LockAllow a few minutes to pass before trying to open the door again
Child Lock ActivatedDeactivate the child lock
Power Outage/FailureWait until the power has been restored and then try to open the door again
Washer Hasn’t Drained CorrectlyCheck the drain filter, drain hose and drain pump
Door Lock JammedCheck that the door is aligned correctly
Defective Or Broken Door HandleRemove and replace the door handle
Control Board MalfunctionPerform a reset/contact a technician

Please Note: Performing some of the fixes in this article could void any warranty you have. You should always consult your user manual before performing any task on your appliance. If in doubt, contact Beko customer services.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these issues;

Thermal Or Timed Lock

The thermal or timed lock is a feature on most modern washing machines which prevents you from opening the door for a few minutes at the end of the cycle. This is absolutely normal and nothing to be concerned about.

All you need to do is wait for two to three minutes for the thermal interlock to cool down. You will then be able to open the washer door.

Child Lock Activated

The child lock is a safety feature designed to prevent inquisitive little hands from messing with the dials, buttons and controls on your washing machine. In some cases, the child lock can be activated accidentally without your knowledge.

You will need to check the display on the washer for the child lock symbol (a padlock) or the letters “CL”. If the child lock has been activated you will not be able to open the door until it is deactivated.

Consult your user manual for specific instructions on how to deactivate the child lock on your model.

Power Outage/Failure

Plug socket in UK

If there has been a power outage or power cut whilst your washer was running, it can cause the door to become stuck in the closed position. 

All you need to do is wait for the power to be restored and then the door should work as normal.

Washer Hasn’t Drained Correctly

The washing machine will not allow the door to be opened if there is water detected in the drum. If there is water left in the drum at the end of the wash cycle, it will most likely be caused by one of the following;

Clogged Filter

Washing Machine Filter

This is the most common cause of a washing machine failing to drain properly. The filter is designed to trap anything likely to cause damage to the drain pump. Items like buttons, stray threads, or anything left in the pockets of clothes like; coins, screws, nails, hair pins, hair bands, etc. 

You will need to carefully remove the filter by unscrewing it from its housing after first placing a container on the floor to collect any water trapped inside. Once the container is full, close the filter, empty the container and repeat until all of the water has been removed.

You can then remove the filter and clean it under a fast running tap. Any stubborn stains can be removed using a soft bristled brush (like a toothbrush).

Twisted, Kinked Or Blocked Drain Hose

washing machine drain hose

In some cases, the drain hose can become twisted or kinked which restricts the flow of water from the drum. The drain cycle eventually times out, leaving some water stuck in the drum.

This is detected by the washer’s sensors and the door will not open as a result. You will need to inspect the drain hose and straighten any kinks or twists. 

This should solve the problem and allow the water to drain away freely. The door will then open after a short period to allow the interlock to cool down.

However, if the drain hose isn’t twisted or kinked it could still have a blockage. You will need to remove the hose from the drain pipe and run a plumber’s snake through it to clear any blockage.

Blocked Or Defective Drain Pump

In some cases, the drain pump itself is the cause of the problem. You can check on the functionality of the drain pump whilst the filter is removed.

Simply turn the impeller by hand (it should move freely) this shows that there’s nothing blocking the pump from working. However, other than that, inspecting the drain pump is a job best left to a technician.

Door Lock Jammed

If the door handle seems stiffer than usual and won’t allow you to open the door, the mechanism is probably jammed. This is often caused by the door being misaligned.

It is possible to realign the door yourself, but unless you know what you’re doing, you could cause more damage. Which is why I recommend contacting a technician to sort this for you.

Defective Or Broken Door Handle

If the door handle feels far looser than normal and it doesn’t do anything when operated, it could be because the door handle or the door catch has broken.

You will need to use one of the methods below to open the door before replacing the broken component.

Control Board Malfunction

The control board on a washing machine governs every function and just like your PC needs to be rebooted every so often. In some cases, all you need to do is perform a reset to clear any problems that the control board is having.

How To Perform A Reset On Your Beko Washing Machine

To perform a reset on your Beko washing machine all you need to do is;

  1. Disconnect The Power Supply
    Remove the plug from the wall socket or flip the circuit breaker to the off position.
  2. Allow 10-15 Minutes To Pass
    Leave the plug disconnected or the circuit breaker in the off position for at least 10-15 minutes to allow any residual power to discharge.
  3. Reconnect The Power Supply
    Once the electrical charge has been dissipated, plug the washer back into the wall socket or flip the circuit breaker to the on position.

Any fault or defect stored in the memory of the washer will now have been removed. The washer has been reset and the door should now work correctly again.

However, if there is a genuine fault with the control board, the reset will not have solved the problem and the door will probably not open. If this is the case, you will need to contact a technician to diagnose and probably replace the control board.

Ways To Unlock A Beko Washing Machine Door

person changing the program on washing machine

Now that we have some idea of the reasons why the door on your Beko washing machine won’t open, let’s have a look at the ways to solve this issue.

Don’t try To Open The Door Too Soon

Many people assume that as soon as the cycle ends, the door on the washing machine should open. However, modern Beko washers have a LED light next to the Ready button and another next to the End/Cancel button.

Once the cycle has finished, the Ready light flashes for a few seconds before the End light comes on and stays on. Only then has the cycle actually completed.

The door will not open until the Ready light has finished flashing and this can take upwards of two or more minutes. You should also turn the dial to the Off position (typically with the black line pointing straight up). Then, once the Ready light stops flashing the door lock should release.

Turn The Washer Off & On Again

If your Beko washing machine won’t unlock the door and you’re sure there’s no water in the drum, you can try to reset it by simply unplugging it for around two minutes. 

Then reconnect the plug, this is often enough to release the door lock.

Perform A Reset

If the door on your Beko washing machine won’t open at the end of the cycle even after allowing the interlock time to cool down (around 2-3 minutes), you should perform a reset by disconnecting the power supply for around 10-15 minutes.

This allows any residual power to dissipate which clears the memory or any faults. Once the time has passed, reconnect the power supply and the Ready light should have been extinguished and the door lock should open as normal.

Run An Extra Spin & Drain Cycle

If you suspect that there is water remaining in the drum, try running another spin and drain cycle to remove it. 

If this doesn’t work, it’s possible that the drain hose is twisted or kinked or the filter is clogged or the drain pump is defective (see above).

Use A Thin Fishing Line To Release The Door

You can use a thin nylon fishing line, strimmer line or similar to open the door on your Beko washing machine. All you need to do is feed the line around the washer’s door and pull it from the opposite side to the door handle across the front of the door.

This will catch around the door latch hook and open the door. You will then be able to remove your wet laundry and investigate the cause of the problem.

Use An Old Credit Card To Release The Door

All you need to do is slip the credit card under the door and push the latch hook to release the door.

However, this won’t work on all models because some have sunken doors which don’t allow the credit card to access the door latch.

Ways To Help Prevent The Door Jamming In The Future

Beko washing machine

We all have enough going on in our lives without the added frustration of a jammed washing machine door. So to prevent the door from jamming on your Beko washing machine you should;

  • Ensure your washer Is Level
    If your washing machine isn’t set on a level floor, the door could become misaligned. Use a spirit level to ensure that your machine is level and adjust the feet accordingly.
  • Never overload The Drum
    If you put too much laundry in the drum, it can put unnecessary pressure on the door and hinges. This can lead to the door becoming misaligned leading to the door becoming stuck. It is recommended that the drum should never be more than ¾ full this means an 8 kg washer should have no more than 6 kg of dry laundry added to the drum.
  • Clean The Filter Regularly
    To avoid issues with drainage on your washer, it is recommended that the filter is cleaned at least every 8 weeks (more if you use your washer more than three times per week).
  • Regularly Inspect The Drain Hose
    If you move your washing machine to clean behind it you need to take care when putting it back into its regular position. It is so easy to twist or kink the drain hose when replacing the washer after cleaning.
  • Ensure The Door, Lock & Hinges Are Clean
    If you regularly clean around the door, lock and hinges of your machine you will be less likely to experience any problems with the door jamming.

SEE ALSO: Beko Washing Machine Not Draining? (do this)

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I open my washing machine’s door if it’s full of water?

If your washing machine is full of water, you should never try to open the door. You will need to drain the water away first. This can be done by running an extra spin & drain cycle or if the machine has stopped working, carefully remove the filter after placing a container on the floor in front of the filter housing. Unscrew the filter partially to allow the water to drain then close the filter once the container is full. Then empty the container and repeat until all of the water has been removed. Then, and only then you can open the washer door.

How to open a locked Beko washing machine door?

If the door on your Beko washing machine is locked after the cycle has finished it could be due to an electrical fault or control board malfunction. The best way to solve this is to disconnect the power supply for 10-15 minutes to discharge any residual power. Then reconnect the power supply and the door should open as normal.

Can I open the washing machine door when it’s locked?

You can often open a washing machine door when it’s locked by disconnecting the power supply for 10-15 minutes. This allows the power to dissipate and is often all that’s needed to free the lock. If the door still won’t open, try looping some nylon strimmer wire or fishing wire around the door and pulling away from the handle. This can free the catch allowing you to open the door and access the drum.

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