The danger of front-load washing machines.

[mia]

Spread the word.

I’ve been hesitant to write this post. First, because of the inevitable online mom-shaming that is bound to ensue; and second, because it’s just really hard to re-live.

On Sunday our washing machine broke down. On Monday my husband went to Lowe’s and purchased this new front load washing machine. We thought it was the “new and cool” type of washing machine and didn’t think anything of it. We spent that evening installing it with the kids underfoot. We told them several times that they were not to touch it. They all replied “OK.”

Early Tuesday morning we were woken up by our four-year-old son who was crying so hard he could barely talk. As I was trying to understand what he was saying, my husband flew out of bed and down the stairs. It was then that the realization hit. He had said: Kloe. Inside. Washer.

By the time we reached the laundry room in the basement, my three-year-old daughter Kloe was LOCKED inside the airtight washing machine. It was tumbling and filling with water. She was screaming but you couldn’t hear her....

https://www.facebook.com/lindsey.mciver1?fref=nf

[CurtEastPoint]

1. Notice the child lock on the door now. She said they placed it there after the incident.

If you have little ones and this kind of washer, get one and install it right away.

[samnsara]

2. i would never have one cuz then i would have to bend over TWICE!

they look sharp tho. I splurged with my tv fridge that my trumper sis thinks is spying on all of us. I told her I want that job! How cool to sit around and just monitor fridge tv activity!

[yellowdogintexas]

9. I love mine. I got it due to low back issues; top loader was much harder on my back

Our w/d sits on a raised slab in the garage. My top loader made me have to reach and stretch down into the washer then come back up and rotate to the right to the open dryer door. If I had to do much laundry in one day I would strain my back badly.

When we got new machines, I got front loader on a pedestal. This raised the door to exact waist level for me for both machines. After that it was just a case of reach in, transfer over. Even the door positioning helped because the washer is on the left and the dryer on the right, so when both doors opened there was nothing I have to reach around to move the laundry. No more bending and twisting !!

Now regarding what happened with the kids, that is frightening as hell. My conclusion is that the 4 year old is a stone cold genius who should be given lots of challenging things to do to keep him out of trouble.
The way mine works, you have to touch the power on button, then turn a dial to the cycle you want, do all the loading and soap etc, then push a start button Three distinct processes. Plus, if the door isn't shut tightly enough, you can't power it on. If one wishes to keep the washer on lockdown, there is a button for that which has to be tapped before you can open the door. My old one which was even more basic, had a knob to turn to activate it after you did all the soap and so on. Not like a dishwasher where you just touch a button.

I do not recommend locking down the door unless you live in a very dry climate due to the risk of souring under the door seal. I leave mine wide open. Of course with the raised slab, the controls are pretty high up. And my paranoid husband locks the door from the kitchen to the garage even if we are both in the house (door knob lock and a little latch thingie higher up on the door.) Only the cats can get in there!!! And yes I have found a cat asleep in the washer from time to time.

[yellowdogintexas]

10. LOL it would be worth the splurge just to mess with the trumper sister !!!

I have a french door bottom freezer model that I LOVE to the point of idolatry. No tv in the door though but I feel certain the Freepers are peeking out from my microwave or my very dead top oven

[hlthe2b]

3. Dangers for kids are just not always foremost in people's minds as they once were...

I remember the risks from discarded refrigerators and car trunks that had no internal opener... Every time I'd see either, growing up, I'd always comment on the need for someone to remove those closure mechanisms.

I'm not "parent-blaming" but when I see those front loading washers--in the store, in people's homes, or in a commercial laundromat, that (the risk for children and pets) is the FIRST thing that comes to mind. It surprises me that so few seem to anymore.

[mainer]

4. Never even considered this possibility

I don't own a front-load machine. I just assumed they could be pushed open from the inside.

[GoneOffShore]

5. So, how did the washer get started?

The kid obviously didn't start it herself.

So, the 4 year old brother started it?

There's an on/off switch, a program knob that has to be rotated, a door that has to be closed, firmly.

I've got some problems with this.

[LisaL]

7. Mother states in her facebook post that it took 2 kids to pull it off.

At least 4 year old got the parents quickly instead of running away scared.
Little girl could have easily drowned.

[Tipperary]

13. I thought the same.

Odd story.

[LisaL]

6. Lots of stuff in your home is dangerous to small kids.

[sl8]

8. Related:

I wasn't able to access the cited Facebook post, but did find this blog post which discusses it and has a couple of safety tips:

https://foreverymom.com/family-parenting/front-loading-washing-machine-warning/
They Got a New Washing Machine. The Next Day They Woke to Hysterical Crying

[jmowreader]

11. I'm going to need some more information on this one, folks

Folks, this horror story just doesn't wash. (Pun not intended.)

First, the doors on LGs take a good hard pull to get open. A 2-year-old couldn't do it. A 4-year-old would have to exert superhuman effort for his size to open the door. The door's also up high enough that a 2-year-old would have to execute a minor gymnastic routine to get in there. They take even more effort to close.

Next, let's go across the front panel of this machine. From left to right, you have:

(1) Drawer for detergents and wash aids
(2) Power button (which must be pressed every time you want to wash clothes; the machine turns itself off after every load)
(3) Cycle selector knob
(4) Cycle start switch (which requires a long press to make it start the washer)
(5) Cycle modifier buttons and display panel

(I have sold LGs. They're a pretty good washer.) All these controls are above the head of a 4-year-old.

So...what these folks are telling me is a kid who's had this machine in his house less than a day was able to figure out how to yank the door open, lift a small human being into the drum, shove the door closed, and push the two buttons that are above his head, one of which has to be held in for a few seconds so the machine knows you're serious, in order to wash his sister.

[GoneOffShore]

12. You have articulated this far better than I would have. And I agree, the story just doesn't wash.

Of course, I hadn't had my coffee when I asked a similar question.

If you want to head over to Facebook and ask the same questions, I'm sure you'll get slammed.

[Tipperary]

14. I agree.

Just another fb story most likely. I do not do fb, but I have seen some whoppers repeated here that started there.

[Blue_Tires]

16. This guy gets it...

You can use this attention whoring sob story to fertilize the lawn...

Nevermind the fact that when my mom and dad got their LG washer/dryer years ago, it was installed by the technician with the button tones set to their loudest defaults. I'd like to think a parent would have heard...

And I'll concur that the LG is a quality washer/dryer

[LisaL]

21. Machine was in a basement.

I don't think they would have heard buttons go off.

[Kaleva]

18. A link to a better source on this story

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Family/parents-share-warning-rescuing-year-water-filled-washing/story?id=56615188

[Tipperary]

20. He pulled on the door again and again. Duh, how about pulling the damn plug?

Lordie me.

[Kaleva]

22. One cannot think rationaly in a crisis situation.

That's the main reason why I routinely conduct fire and intruder drills when the grand-kids (all age 4 and younger) are over. They think of it as a game but it trains them to act accordingly in case of a real fire or intruder.

As a former foster parent, I also keep an eye out for potential hazards to children in the home.

In a crisis, one reverts to training and if there is no training, a person's actions may be non-productive and even foolish.

[Ron Obvious]

15. These aren't "new"

We've had them living in Europe since - at least - the early seventies. For that matter, we bought an imported Asko front-loader when we bought our house in the US more than 25 years ago and we're still using it. It's more than paid for itself in energy and detergent savings and it hasn't needed any repairs in all that time either.

I've never heard stories like this before either.

[MissMillie]

17. 12 years from now

they won't be able to get Kloe anywhere near that machine.

[Kaleva]

19. Many models come with a child lock or control lock feature

LG
https://www.lg.com/us/support/video-tutorials/CT10000011-1366662755240-others

GE

"Front Load Washer Control Lock

The Control Lock feature on Front Load Washers can prevent any selections from being made when activated. The controls can be locked or unlocked after a cycle has started. Children cannot accidentally start the washer by touching pads with this option selected.

To lock or unlock the washer controls:

Press and hold the LOCK button for 3 seconds.
A sound is made to indicate the lock/unlock status. The control lock icon on the display will light up when it is on.


The POWER button can still be used when the machine is locked."

http://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=36018