EOE: Any Suggestions for Draining a Washing Machine?

[jadziadax8]

So I was doing laundry when a big thunderstorm hit us yesterday.  Now I have a washing machine full of water, towels and jeans as the power is off for the next couple of days.  Any suggestions for a way to drain the washer?  It's a Maytag if that helps.

[Snapping Twig]

Grab a garden hose, make a siphon.

[jadziadax8]

Grab a garden hose, make a siphon.

Thought of that one.  Was hoping to avoid.  

[coho]

You could push it over...

Not a particularly good suggestion, but you wouldn't have to use a siphon.

[black hills]

pull out hte clothes and hang them on the line, dump a little bleach in to prevent things form growing and wait for the power to come back on... far simpler

[Mr.Black]

pull out hte clothes and hang them on the line, dump a little bleach in to prevent things form growing and wait for the power to come back on... far simpler

Sounds good

 

[Mac]

[Guy]

Check around on the back of the washer. There should be a place near the bottom that you can attach a hose to and drain - w/out having to get a mouthful of dirty,soapy water.

[nnjhawk02]

What type of machine?

Front loader or top?

if front - there is a drain at bottom, take off bottom panel, should be right there, grab a tupperware & place below & keep emptying into a bucket.

[zer0netgain]

pull out hte clothes and hang them on the line, dump a little bleach in to prevent things form growing and wait for the power to come back on... far simpler

Of course that only works IF the unit isn't prone to leakage.  You'd think it'd not be a problem, but most units are watertight for the short term.  Let water stay in for several hours to days and it might seep out in places.  At least, that's a concern my mom always had from it happening to her.

If someone has a portable generator with enough wattage to run the machine, use it to put it into a spin/drain cycle and pump it out?

[jadziadax8]

What type of machine?

Front loader or top?

if front - there is a drain at bottom, take off bottom panel, should be right there, grab a tupperware & place below & keep emptying into a bucket.

Top loader.

Check around on the back of the washer. There should be a place near the bottom that you can attach a hose to and drain - w/out having to get a mouthful of dirty,soapy water.

I will have to look at that.  Thanks!

If someone has a portable generator with enough wattage to run the machine, use it to put it into a spin/drain cycle and pump it out?

Hmmmm, I hadn't thought of that.  Our adjacent neighbor is running his.  I could probably run an extension cord out.

[zer0netgain]

Hmmmm, I hadn't thought of that.  Our adjacent neighbor is running his.  I could probably run an extension cord out.

Be sure to ask first before you plug in.  

[jadziadax8]

Be sure to ask first before you plug in.  

 

[Bounce]

Grab a garden hose, make a siphon.

+1

low cost. no moving parts. nature working for you.

[Yankee Dog]

the hose idea is not all that hard.  

IF

your hose reaches from an outside and lower faucet. but the hose into the washer. turn on the facet. as soon as water starts flowing into the washer, turn the facet off and unhook the hose from the outside facet. Your siphon has now primed itself. The water will run backwards sucking the washer dry.  

[black hills]

when is the power supposed to be restored??

[jadziadax8]

when is the power supposed to be restored??

MAYBE today at 5:00 pm.  If that happens, I'll not worry about it.  This morning they were saying tomorrow at 11:00 pm.

[jadziadax8]

Power's back up.  Running a mix of bleach and baking soda in the clothes.

[dorklord]

Why do people make using a siphon so difficult?

Take hose, insert into water. Make sure that lots of the hose is in the water, then put your thumb over the (output) end, pull out a bunch of hose (which will still have water in it because your thumb is sealing the end).

Get the end of your hose below the level of water in your washer, preferably into a drain or something, remove thumb. Presto.

Why would suck on the hose when you can let gravity do the work?

[rgbeard]

I am surprised no one came up with the obvious ones:    

A) Kick it over.

B) Shoot it.