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sara_shaddle

How to clean paper from washer drum?

4 years ago

We just recently had our new washer and dryer installed and they had ran a quick cycle to make sure it was in working condition. Apparently they did not look inside the washer before they started a test cycle because the manual was in there as well as a plastic bag with some plastic part in there. 🥲 I am not sure what the best approach would be to clean this. i am in contact with the company to get it sorted but until then I would like to atleast use the washer. 1st pic is inside the washer second is the wad of paper I got out.


Comments (11)

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Do you have a shop vac that can vacuum wet things? Or borrow one? That paper is probably going to gum up the works (maybe?) but that's not really your problem because they will need to replace the machine. I'd vacuum (if you have a wet/dry vacuum) all you can get out and hand pick the rest (be sure to clean the door gasket as it's probably full of stuff) and put a couple of towels in the machine and wash several loads until it's all gone. Pull out the towels between washings and shake out any paper clinging to them. It might actually all dissolve and wash away; the towels will help buff off things from the wall. I'd probably add a bit of detergent, too, as that can help dissolve paper/glue on the interior parts that you can't reach.

  • 4 years ago

    So sorry this happened to you. I would have it replaced. Leave it as is if you can. No excuse for this period.

  • 4 years ago

    Paper pieces of varying sizes have escaped the inner drum into the outer tub and been flushed to the pump filter. The filter needs to be checked and cleaned. You didn't cite the brand/model of the machine. Does it have a hatch-door on the lower panel for the user to access/clean the pump filter? If not, then disassembly is required.

  • 4 years ago

    If this happened to me, I would call the vendor and have their installers come out and clean out the mess if disassembly is needed. IMO, they bear the responsibility, since they ran the initial cycle without checking for anything inside the tub.

  • 4 years ago

    Looks Like a GE Fresh Vent (judging by the blue reflection of the door seal).

    Get a vacuum and vacuum the (dry) bits of paper from the drum. As Dadoes said: clean the filter in the base of the wash and run rinses or the cleaning cycle, while cleaning/checking the filter after each drain. Also: yes, have them replace the wash.

  • 4 years ago

    I remember my Electrolux washer I purchased before the 617's came out. Home Depot had it on truck upside down. I seen it in truck that way, accepted it and then then returned due to drip marks on front panel that never could be removed. I exchanged it for same, hated the damn thing and got the 617. I will never buy another Electrolux.


    Installers from places are not the sharpest tools in the shed. This type of mistake is rare and tells all. They should be fired. Having a new unit dismantled over this would be too much for me to take. Replacement period!

  • 4 years ago

    What a mess! I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. I’d shoot for a replacement, but you may have a tough go convincing them. When I got my new W/D, the installers turned on the dryer without anything in it; told me to let it run for about a half hour. The installers left and less than 10 minutes later I heard loud, grinding and metallic sounds. Long story short - something was broken in the brand new dryer. I immediately asked for a replacement, not a repair. They insisted on doing a repair first. (This was a local family owned business). They took the entire machine apart, and took 4 trips to reassemble and get working somewhat . It never worked properly, so I finally got my replacement after about 2 months. It was ridiculous. I wish better for you.

  • 4 years ago

    I hope you didn't pay up front.....I would contact my credit card company or bank and stop payment until they made it right.

  • 4 years ago

    Wondering if Sarah ran the washer and what happened. Hopefully the manual was one of those two page things and she had most of it in that wad. Can't believe the installers did not peer in and see there were things in it while it was running. Certainly when it started its initial tumbling they could hear the manual and the bag of part(s) rumbling around.

  • 4 years ago

    It would be a non issue for me as I would have made them take it with them when they left and replace it when another one became available. The paper you can see you may be able to get rid of, however it is the paper that may have made it through the drain holes and down into the pump filter. That is what I would be worried about in the long term.

  • 4 years ago

    With all the supply chain issues, I would not have had them take it - who wants to live without a washer for a few months? I'd get it as clean as possible (using the clean machine cycle was a great suggestion) and if it functions well enough before they send a replacement, I wouldn't even go to the trouble to try to clean the pump or anything internal. Too bad if it ruins it in the long run; that's the problem of the dealer who is going to replace the machine.