How to Fix Your Washer if It Won't Drain but It Spins and Pumps

Pull out any clothing that you currently have in the washing machine. The clothes are likely wet, so drop them into a plastic bag or put them in the dryer.

Place a clean plunger into the washer and over the drain of the washing machine. Push down on the plunger to create a seal and then plunge the drain. This often dislodges clogs from the drain line much the way it would in a toilet, and any water inside should start subsiding.

Remove any water still in the washer by sucking it out with a shop vac. Empty the shop vac into a sink as it starts to fill up to prevent overflow. Continue until the washer is completely empty.

Look at the drain and remove any debris that you see lodged in it. Pull out the drain cover if your washer allows you to, and insert a straightened coat hanger to fish out any lint or blockages that are deeper in the drain and that are preventing the water from exiting the basin of the washer.

Mix several drops of dish soap in with a gallon of hot water. Pour the entire bucket over the drain. The combination of heat and water pressure along with the cleansing abilities of the dish soap may be enough to dislodge a clog in the drain. If the water doesn't drain, try the plunger again, and then suck out the solution with the shop vac.

Inspect the drain hose going into the washer. Straighten it if it bends or has any kinks in it. If the end of the hose is sticking into the machine by more than four inches, cut the excess off with scissors.

Pour a cup of bleach down the drain of the washer and let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing the drain out with water. This helps break down clogs deeper in the system.

Inspect the door to the washer to see if the tab under the lid is broken. The tab is part of a sensor that shuts off the washer when the door is open. A broken tab needs to be replaced for the washer to drain properly again.

Request professional assistance if the washer still doesn't drain properly.