Most washing machines have a timer that prevents you from opening the hatch just after the washing cycle ends. Instad you must wait for the timer to go off, usually a minute or two, before you can open the hatch.

Why? Would letting the user open the hatch immediately after washing ends pose any safety or other issues?

    • @[email protected]
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      fedilink
      51 year ago

      Many top loaders will lock at certain points in the wash. Most often during the spin cycle. A top load with an agitator is just begging to break an impatient child’s arm.

      • @[email protected]
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        fedilink
        21 year ago

        Yeah, makes sense. They’re not very popular in Australia anymore (use way more water) so I haven’t used a top loader since the 90s. The old ones used to just slow down to a stop once you opened the lid, but they literally didn’t have a lock on the lid.

        • @[email protected]
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          fedilink
          21 year ago

          There are high efficiency top loaders too. I have an old style one because I couldn’t afford to keep repairing my HE, and 400 for a new top loader was cheaper than replacing the motherboard in my HE for the 3rd time.