7 Ways To Clean Washing Machine Drain Hose

Getting done with the piling laundry is a relief to everyone, making us feel fresh. But what if the water drains slowly, resulting in a long washing cycle? Let’s discuss the potential causes and steps to prevent them. 

You can clean the washer’s drain using a snake drain, vinegar, baking soda, and a power auger. You can insert the snake drain inside the hose, then twist and turn to unclog the dirt and debris accumulation. If all these don’t work, use a power auger to unclog your washer’s drain hose. 

This article will teach you how to unclog the drain hose, common causes, and steps to prevent clogs. So, keep reading. 

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Understanding the Importance of Cleaning Your Washing Machine Drain Hose

Electric appliances need regular maintenance for their efficient function. 

Especially washers which are used every day to make laundering easy. 

It is crucial to maintain a washer properly to avoid expensive repairs. 

One of my friends moved here from a foreign country, and he was unaware of appliance maintenance. 

He was not maintaining his washer properly, and in the long run, the drain hose of his washer got clogged. 

He had no clue what went wrong when his washer was not functioning efficiently. 

One day when I had a conversation with him about his lifestyle here, he shared how his washer became faulty due to improper cleaning of the drain hose. 

He told me he realized the importance of maintaining the washer well when he hired a professional to repair it. 

I shared with him several ways to clean the drain hose regularly and also educated him further about the importance of cleaning the drain hose regularly. 

Situations to avoid to make your washer work efficiently

Below are some avoidable situations that you will need to look for.

Avoid drainage issues

The main purpose of the drain hose is to expel waste water from the washing machine at the end of the washing cycle. 

When the washer’s drain hose is clogged due to improper maintenance, water flow from the washing machine to the drain is blocked. 

There are also chances of water backflow and overflowing, flooding your laundry room. 

It not only hinders the efficiency of your washing machine, but it also causes water damage in your home. 

You can avoid all these hassles from occurring when you have a routine for cleaning the drain hose of your washing machine. 

Mold and bacterial growth

When the drain hose is clogged, water will be stagnant in the hose. 

It creates a desirable environment for mold and bacterial growth. 

If left uncleaned for a long time, it will start spreading a bad odor. 

Mold growth also causes several health issues for people who are constantly exposed to the environment. 

You can avoid this by unclogging the drain when you sense bad odors from your drain hose. 

Cleaning it will make your laundry room smell good. 

Increase the efficiency of your washing machine.

When the drain hose is clogged, your washer will take a long time to drain the washer from its drum. 

It delays the functionality of your washing machine, affecting its overall efficiency. 

Due to the longer washer cycle, there will be a hike in energy bills, and your clothes will look dull due to the decreased performance of your washing machine.  

You can avoid all these issues when you keep the drain hose clean. 

Increase the lifespan of your washing machine.

Suppose you are not cleaning the drain hose even after the initial signs. In that case, your washer will put extra strain on the pump, drum, and other important internal parts. 

In the long run, due to the constant wear and tear, the life span of your washing machine will reduce. 

Allotting time for cleaning the drain hose in your schedule will prevent your washing machine from getting damaged. 

Avoid expensive repairs

Just like my friend who hired a professional to repair, not cleaning the drain hose will also put you in his place. 

As professionals’ labor costs are high, you must maintain your drain hose well to avoid expensive repairs. 

Signs That Your Washing Machine Drain Hose Needs Cleaning

There are obvious signs indicating the issues with the drain hose. 

Here are the common signs that indicate that your drain hose needs cleaning:

Water accumulation

Due to a clogged drain hose, water will start accumulating in the washer’s drum. You can observe this at the end of the washing cycle. 

Instead of draining, water will stand inside the drum, resulting in an elongated washing cycle. 

This occurs because clogs in the drain hose will block the water flow, paving the way to the backflow. 

It also causes the loss of shine in clothes. 

Bad odors

Due to the accumulation of dirty water, you can sense bad odors in your laundry room. 

A clogged drain hose forms the desirable environment for mold growth.

 Mold growth causes several health issues and is the major cause of bad odors. 

Slow water draining

You can notice that the draining cycle takes a longer time than usual. 

It is due to the blockage in the drain hose, which blocks the smooth water flow. 

The more clogs in the drain hose, the slower draining becomes. 

Initially, when the clogs begin forming, you may not notice it. Still, slow draining will be obvious as the clogs keep developing. 

Water leakage

Due to the water accumulation in the drain hose and the washer’s drum, there are chances of water backing up and overflowing, which may result in water leakage. 

It damages the machine and also causes water damage to the floor. 

High energy bills

Due to the longer washing cycle, electricity and water bills may rise.

 If you notice other signs along with the high energy bills at the end of the month, you can confirm that the drain hose is causing issues in your washing machine. 

Gurgling sounds during draining

At the end of the washing cycle, while the water is draining, you can hear the gurgling and air bubbling sound if the drain hose of your washing machine is clogged. 

If you sense such noise, immediately unclog your washer’s drain hose. 

Materials and Tools Needed to Clean a Washing Machine Drain Hose

Suppose you have confirmed that your washer’s durian hose is clogged. In that case, you must gather all these necessary materials and tools to unclog it. 

  • Snake drain
  • Vinegar
  • Water 
  • Salt 
  • Water spray 
  • Power auger 
  • Baking soda. 

You may not need all these materials, but you will need one or two based on the method you choose to unclog your drain hose. 

After deciding the method you will choose to unclog your drain hose, you can choose the specific tools and materials needed. 

Ways to Clean a Washing Machine Drain Hose 

Here are the 7 ways to clean the drain hose of your washing machine.

1. Using cleaners

Locate the drain hose of your washing machine. Start by pouring hot water into the drain. 

Pouring hot water helps loosen all the greasy materials and makes unclogging easy. 

After running the hot water in the drain hose pipe, pour the drain hose cleaner solution of your choice to clear all the clogs. 

For efficient results, disconnect the drain hose from the washing machine.

 Pour the cleaner solution and let it sit for a few minutes. 

Make sure the cleaner is not too harsh to damage the drain pipe.

 After pouring the cleaner solution, use warm water to rinse the debris particles from the drain hose. 

Ensure all the clogs are removed by flushing the hot water at the end. 

If you have removed the drain hose from the washing machine for efficient cleaning, make sure you screw it back into the washer properly to avoid leakage. 

2. Using a snake drain

Forliver Snake Drain Hair Drain Clog Remover Cleaning Tool Pipe Snake Shower drain with 25 Inch 3 Packs Plastic sink snake & 1 Pack Drain Relief Tool for Kitchen Sink Bath Tub Bathroom(3+1)

Snake drains are especially available for cleaning the washing machine’s drain hose. 

It is an efficient way to remove clogs from the drain pipe. 

To do so, remove the drain hose from the washing machine using a screwdriver.

 Follow the instruction in the user manual to disconnect the drain hose. 

Once done disconnecting it, insert the snake drain into the pipe and twist it inside the hose forcefully until all the clogs are removed. 

After unclogging the drain hose, flush the hot water to remove the greasy build-up in it. 

You can buy a snake drain in your local shop or order it online. 

3. Using a high-pressure water spray

I use water spray to clear all the clogs in the drain hose twice a month. I have recommended it to my friends, and it also worked well for them. 

It is simple to use. You can attach your drain hose pipe to the water spray and continue to spray until all the clogs are cleared. 

Due to high water pressure, clogs are easily removed in less time. 

4. Cleaning with a vinegar solution

You can use a vinegar solution if you are looking for an affordable way to clean your washer’s drain hose. 

You can prepare the vinegar solution by mixing 1 cup of vinegar with 2 cups of water and letting it boil for a few minutes. 

After the mixture is ready, flush it inside the drain hose and let it soak for 5 to 10 minutes. 

You can also use a snake drawing for effective results. 

It cleans the dirt and debris particles and also helps prevent bad odors. 

5. Salt and water solution to clean

A salt and water solution is another affordable technique to clean the drain hose. 

You can prepare a salt and water solution by adding salt to the bowl of water. 

Let the mixture boil for 10 minutes. 

After that, pour the mixture slowly into the drain hose. Let it soak for 5 to 10 minutes. 

Now, flush the hot water again to remove all the remaining clogs and the saltwater mixture. 

Use this technique thrice a month to prevent clogs in the drain hose. 

6. Using a hot water and baking soda mixture

Hot water and baking soda mixture are also cost-effective to unclog the drain hose. 

Boil one gallon of water and keep it ready. 

Unplug the washing machine and move it from its original position. 

Remove the drain hose from the drain pipe and pour the hot water into it.

After pouring the water, put the baking soda into the drain pipe. 

Let it soak in the drain hose overnight, and you can also add vinegar with it for efficient unclogging. 

After soaking it, pour the hot water to flush all the residue and debris particles from the drain hose. 

Once done, reattach the drain hose to the drain pipe and run the test wash cycle to check if the issue is solved. 

7. Using a power auger

The power auger is the most intensive technique to unclog the stubborn accumulation in the drain hose. 

Based on its power version, a power auger ranges from $300 to $4000. 

Compared to other techniques, it is an expensive repair but equally effective. 

Unplug your washer and move it from its original position. 

Spread the towel or place a blanket around the drain hose to collect standing water while removing it. 

Disconnect the drain hose from the drain pipe. 

Connect the power auger to the electric outlet and switch it on. 

Now, you can begin to insert the wire cable into the drain hose. 

You can find the pedal foot control in the power auger, making it easy to direct the power cable manually. 

Set the power auger to turn both clockwise and anticlockwise. 

Also, rotate the pedal foot control as necessary to remove all the stubborn clogs in the drain hose. 

Once done, remove the cable from the drain hose and unplug the power auger from the electric outlet. 

Pour hot water into the drain hose to flush all the remaining debris and greasy materials. 

Thoroughly rinse the drain hose with hot water until there are no debris particles. 

Finally, reattach the drain hose to the drain pipe and plug in the washing machine. 

Run the test wash cycle to check if it is draining well. 

Tips for Preventing Clogs in Your Washing Machine Drain Hose

Follow the tips below to prevent clogs in your washing machine: 

Clean the drain hose regularly

Wastewater draining from the washing machine contains dirt and debris particles.

 In the long run, all this dirt and debris will accumulate in the drain hose. 

So, it is important to clean the drain hose regularly. 

Disconnect the drain hose from the washing machine and flush hot water into it.

 Use a snake drain to remove all the clogs. 

Doing this will avoid severe clogs in the drain hose. 

Trapping the lint

Trapping the lint at the end of the drain hose will also prevent clogs in the drain pipe. 

To do so, attach the nylon stocking at the end of the drain hose.

 It will catch all the debris and dust particles from the drain hose, which will empty into the drain pipe. 

Doing this will prevent clogs in the drain hose and the drain pipe. 

Install water softener

High salt and mineral content in the water is the major cause of clogs in the drain hose when such water is used to wash clothes. 

You can prevent this by installing a water softener in your water tank. 

Clean the drain pipe.

Even after cleaning the drain hose, the washing machine will drain slowly if the drain pipe is clogged. 

You can prevent this by cleaning the drain pipe regularly with the help of a drain cleaner solution. 

Also read: How To Remove Hardened Detergent From Washing Machine?

Common Causes of Clogs in a Washing Machine Drain Hose

So far, we have learned the signs of a clogged drain hose, how to unclog it, and how to prevent it. 

Now, let’s discuss the common causes of drain hose clog to avoid them from occurring in the future. 

Here are the common causes of clogs in the washing machine drain hose: 

  • Accumulation of soap residue in the drain hose. 
  • Dryer lint and fragment getting stuck in the drain hose. 
  • Loading clothes that are greasy, oily, and contain debris particles in them. 
  • Not cleaning the drain hose and drain pipe regularly.  

When to Call a Professional Plumber for Help with Cleaning a Drain Hose?

If you have tried all the above methods and your washing machine drains slowly, it is time to seek professional help. 

And also, if you lack time to do this DIY, you can schedule a professional cleaning service to unclog your drain hose efficiently while saving you time. 

Also read:

Final Thoughts

Cleaning the durian hose of the washing machine will prevent several issues, such as clogs, water backflow, and water leakage. 

You can clean the drain hose by combining hot water with baking soda, vinegar, or salt.

You can also use a power auger in case the clog is stubborn. 

Follow the steps mentioned in the article to unclog the drain hose of your washing machine. 

You can also take preventive measures to remove drain hose clogs by cleaning them regularly. 

How do I know if my washing machine drain hose is clogged?

If the draining cycle is started and you hear the pump sound, but no water is getting into the drain pipe, you can confirm that your washer’s drain hose is clogged.

How often do you need to clean the drain on a washing machine?

It is best to clean the washing machine drain hose and pipes once every month to avoid the formation of clogs.

Reference: Washing machine and Drain(plumbing)  

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Jeniffer Smith

Hi, I am Jeniffer Smith, a housemaker and blogger, and I grew up in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. I have been researching and fixing appliances and other things around the home and kitchen from a young age to help my single mother. Every time something went wrong, I couldn't rest until I fixed it. And ever since, I have enjoyed fixing things around my home, and I am always ready to help my friends and family with advice and hands-on help. Since we were always looking for affordable ways of fixing things, we rarely hired experts and tried to fix most things ourselves. That interest brought me to write for this blog, as I realized my knowledge could help many people trying to fix things around their homes on their own without spending hundreds of dollars.

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