washing machine not draining

Cause: If your washing machine is not draining water, the issue could be a clogged pump or a kinked hose. Down below we have outlined two fixes for this issue. If the problem still persists after using the solutions below, you can arrange for one of our qualified Bosch engineer to come and look at it for you.

What to check:

How to clean the drain pump

1. Turn the appliance off.
2. Pull out the mains plug.
3. Open and remove the service flap.
4. Drain off all water using a drainage hose or by removing the pump cover slowly (prepare for a lot of water with a larger container).
5. Clean the interior, the thread and the housing of the pump so that the impeller is able to rotate.
6. Refit the pump cover and screw back firmly.
7. To check the pump for leakage and the power of the pump, pour 1 litre of water into the detergent drawer.
8. Check for any leakage.
9. If the pump is sealed watertight, start the pumping programme.

How to fix a blocked or kinked drain hose

1. Turn the appliance off.
2. Pull out the mains plug.
3. Check that the drainage hose has been installed correctly without any kinks.
4. Before loosening the hose clip on the siphon, place a bucket under the tap to avoid spills.
5. Carefully remove the drainage hose and pour the remaining water out of the drainage hose into the bucket.
6. Clean the drainage hose and the connecting piece of the siphon.
7. Hold the drainage hose in the bucket.
8. Select the "Drain" programme.
9. Connect the drainage hose to the siphon.
10. Check whether the drain hose is watertight.

The manufacturer recommends an engineer if these checks do not resolve it.

Source: Bosch Home UK troubleshooting page, retrieved 3 Nov 2026 Verified