How do I force my washing machine to drain?

Forcing a residential washing machine to drain when it is stalled with a full drum of water involves canceling the current cycle and initiating a manual drain or spin program. First, press and hold the "Cancel," "Pause," or "Power" button on the digital control panel for three seconds to stop the active cycle. Second, turn the program dial to select the "Drain and Spin" or "Rinse and Spin" setting, then press start. If the electronic controls do not respond, you can drain the tub manually by opening the small service access door at the bottom front corner, placing a shallow baking pan underneath, and slowly unscrewing the pump filter plug a quarter-turn at a time to let water trickle out in controlled batches. You can troubleshoot drainage easily by listening for the pump motor. You can verify that your draining procedure was successful when completely emptying the trapped water allows the drum weight to drop and the door lock to release safely.