How to Troubleshoot Odors and Drainage Issues in a Bosch Washing Machine

BoschBosch Washing MachineModerate⏱ 2 - 3 hours

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Use this maintenance guide to keep a Bosch Serie 4 VarioPerfect washing machine efficient, clean, and less likely to smell. It covers the detergent drawer, door seal or door seal, pump filter or coin catcher, Aqua inlet filter, drain hose, drainage U-bend, leveling feet, and drum clean program. This guide was written with a Bosch Serie 4 VarioPerfect washing machine, so other Bosch models may have minor layout differences.

🧰 Tools

Needle Nose Pliers
Brush
Bottle brush
Shop Towels or Rags
Small tray
Bucket
Scrubbing Sponge
6-in-1 Screwdriver
Level
Washing machine cleaner

ШагиSteps

Prepare the washer

Perform the drawer, seal, pump filter, inlet filter, drain hose, and leveling checks every 6 months.
Power off the washer, unplug it, and turn off the power supply cold water supply before opening the pump filter, inlet hose, or drain plumbing.
Keep a bucket, small tray, towel, sponge, and cloth within reach because trapped water will drain from several areas.
Location map: the dispenser drawer is at the upper left, the pump filter panel is at the lower right, and the Aqua inlet filter is at the back top left.
Some Bosch models have an AquaStop filter, but this Serie 4 VarioPerfect example uses a small inlet filter inside the rear hose connection.

Remove the detergent drawer

Pull the dispenser drawer on the upper left straight out until it stops.
Press the release button down far enough to lower the retaining clip.
Pull the drawer out of the washer.
Block the hole inside the drawer area with a cloth so a brush or wire can't fall into the washer.

Clear the dispenser spray holes

Use a piece of coat hanger wire to gently poke each jet nozzle hole in the top of the drawer housing.
Focus on the middle fabric softener holes because fabric softener buildup creates mold and residue over time.
Use a small brush with a small brush head as an alternative, pushing and wiggling it through the holes to remove debris.
Clear the detergent side and pre-wash detergent side holes too.
Don't pry off the upper nozzle unit unless you can release it safely because the small clips can snap.

Scrub the drawer housing

Use a brush and hot, soapy water to scrub around the jet nozzle holes and the entire dispenser drawer area.
Use a hot soapy cloth to wipe the housing until visible mold and detergent residue are gone.
Clean the top of the drawer area especially well because mold can build up there even on a relatively new machine.

Clean and reinstall the drawer

Lift the removable insert off the dispenser drawer.
Scrub the drawer, insert, and back surfaces with a brush and hot, soapy water.
Wipe the level indicator area clean.
Let the drawer dry before reinstalling it.
Line up the drawer, press the release button if needed, and slide the drawer all the way home.

Clean the drum rubber

Open the door and pull visible hairs and dirt from the rubber door seal.
Peel back the door seal lip to inspect the hidden channel.
Wipe inside the rubber with a hot soapy cloth.
Make sure the small drainage holes in the rubber are clear.
Use a brush to scrub heavy dirt, but don't tear or puncture the rubber.

Drain the pump filter hose

Inspect the pump filter or coin catcher if the washer shows E18 or isn't draining.
Confirm the washer is switched off, unplugged, and the cold water feed is turned off.
Press the top clip on the lower-right front panel and remove the panel.
Pull the small drain hose out and place its end over a small tray.
Unclip the cap and drain excess water from the hose into the tray.
Push the cap back on securely and return the hose to its holder.
Don't leave the cap off, or water will leak onto the floor during the next wash.

Remove and clean the pump filter

Set a small tray under the filter and lay a towel on the floor.
Turn the filter counterclockwise a little, but don't remove it completely until the water slows.
Tighten the filter, empty the tray, and loosen it again if the tray fills too quickly.
Unscrew the filter fully and remove coins, hair clips, color catchers, or other debris.
Look inside the filter housing for stuck items.
Use a flat-blade screwdriver to gently check that the propeller turns freely.
Rinse a gunky filter under hot water.
Reinstall the filter by turning it clockwise until it locks upright, and clip the front cover back on.

Access the Aqua inlet filter

Pull the washer out only as far as the hoses allow.
Watch the rear drain hose and cold water inlet hose so they don't stretch or kink.
Confirm the cold water supply is still turned off.
Place a bucket under the rear cold water hose connection.
Unscrew the cold water feed hose counterclockwise from the back top-left inlet as viewed from the front.
Let drips fall into the bucket and rest the hose end in the bucket.

Clean the Aqua inlet filter

Locate the tiny plastic inlet filter in the middle of the rear inlet opening.
Dry the filter face so the pliers can grip the flat edge.
Use pliers to squeeze the flat edge, pull outward, and wiggle the filter until it pops free.
Handle the filter gently because the small plastic rim can be hard to grip and easy to damage.
Blow through the perforated holes to clear dirt and debris.
Use brush bristles to clean the tiny holes if blowing doesn't clear them.
Reinsert the filter flat and level, then press it fully home with a finger.
A blocked inlet filter can reduce flow and pressure, and may cause a water pressure error code.

Reconnect the cold water feed

Offer the cold water feed hose squarely to the inlet and start the threads by hand.
Keep the hose level while tightening so the plastic threads don't cross-thread.
Tighten the hose by hand until you can't tighten it more.
Don't use pliers or other tools to tighten this connection, because overtightening can damage the plastic threads.
Turn the power supply cold water back on.
Use pliers on the shutoff valve only if you can't reach it by hand.
Check the inlet connection for leaks while the power supply water pressure is on.

Inspect the drain hose and U-bend

Check the drain hose and drainage U-bend if the washer smells or doesn't drain properly.
Put a bucket and sponge nearby because water will come out.
Remove the drain hose from the waste pipe and empty trapped water into the bucket.
Look down the hose end for obvious blockages and leave the hose resting in the bucket.
Place a small tray under the U-bend.
Loosen the hand-tight plastic collars on the U-bend by hand.
Release the top clip if you need to remove the whole U-bend from the wall.
Pour remaining water into the sink and inspect the U-bend for residue or blockage.

Refit the drain plumbing

Refit the U-bend pipe and hand-tighten the plastic collars gently.
Don't use pliers on the collars, because overtightening can damage the plastic threads.
Insert the washing machine drain hose back into the waste pipe.
Make sure the drain hose is back in place before using the washer.
Check that no hoses or pipes are loose before pushing the washer back.

Reposition the washer

Remove the dispenser drawer if you need extra grip for moving the washer.
Wiggle the washer back into position slowly.
Watch the rear hoses while moving the washer, and don't kink the drain hose or cold water inlet hose.
Check the cold water feed hose after the washer is in place, making sure it is loose and not kinked.

Level the washer

Place a level on top of the washer.
Adjust the legs at the corners until the washer is level.
Turn the bottom-left leg if that corner moved while pushing the washer back.
A level washer is less likely to rattle and bounce during a fast spin cycle.

Run the drum clean program

Plug the washer back in only after the filter, hoses, and drain plumbing are refitted.
Pour washing machine cleaner directly into the empty drum.
Use the Bosch Drum Clean program on the Serie 4 VarioPerfect if available.
This program automatically sets the drum to 90 °C on this model.
Run the drum clean program with no laundry inside.
Start the cycle.
Run washing machine cleaner every 2 to 3 months or after every 30 wash cycles.
Keep children away from the door because the glass gets very hot during the 90 °C cycle.

Complete the hot clean

Let the drum clean cycle run to the end, which takes just over an hour on this model.
Avoid touching the door glass or hot water during the final rinse.
Open the door after the cycle finishes and check that the drum smells fresh and looks clean.
If odors remain, repeat the checks for dispenser buildup, dirty door seal, blocked pump filter, blocked drain U-bend, or missed hot cleaning cycles.

Use the symptom guide

If the washer smells, inspect and clean the drawer, rubber, pump filter, drain hose, and U-bend, then run a hot drum clean cycle.
If the washer smells after many cool washes, run the hot Drum Clean program.
If E18 appears or drainage is slow, clean the pump filter and inspect the drain U-bend.
If filling is weak or a water pressure error appears, clean the Aqua inlet filter.
Detergent pods go directly in the drum and can reduce dispenser drawer buildup.
Keep the six-month maintenance and 2 to 3-month drum clean schedule.

Repeat these maintenance checks on schedule to keep the washer clean, reduce odors, and catch small blockages before they become drainage or filling problems. Repair didn't go as planned? Ask our Answers community for help.

«How to Troubleshoot Odors and Drainage Issues in a Bosch Washing Machine» — автор eCuration, iFixit, лицензия CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. Показано без изменений. Открыть оригинал и комментарии →