Bosch washing machines have a wide range of different settings and features that enable you to wash clothing at a variety of temperatures for different lengths of time. The brand is known for offering durable and powerful products that can last several years if properly maintained.
However, as with any kitchen appliance, a Bosch washing machine can sometimes malfunction or stop working altogether, and there are a number of reasons why this can happen. Since it has several important components and features so many different washing settings, there’s always a risk of something going wrong inside the washer, leading to its breakdown.
If your washing machine stops working as effectively as it once did or it completely breaks down, you might need to reset it. Keep reading to learn how to reset your Bosch washing machine to restore it to its full function.
What Causes a Bosch Washing Machine to Breakdown?
There are a number of reasons why your washer might stop working and show an error code on the display screen. Some of the most common causes of a malfunction or breakdown include:
- Lack of adequate power supply or problems with the power outlet
- Faulty heater or thermostat, causing the appliance to overheat
- Issues with the water-emptying mechanism inside the washer
- Damage to the driver’s belt
- Clogged drain pump or water filters
- The door lock jamming or malfunctioning
- Defective user control board
How to Reset a Bosch Washing Machine
With so many potential faults, it can be difficult to figure out what’s actually wrong with your Bosch washing machine and find the right solution to the problem. Resetting the appliance enables you to restore all of its settings and continue doing your laundry.
Luckily, you can reset a Bosch washer even if you have already filled the drum with clothes and added detergent to the drawer. Here are the steps to take if your machine stops working.
Pulling the plug
The simplest method of resetting a Bosch washer is pulling the plug out of the wall socket to cut the power supply to the appliance. Leave the washer unplugged for several minutes to allow the system to reset before plugging it back in and checking that the washing settings have all been restored.
When the control panel isn’t working
If you’re pressing all the buttons on your washer’s control panel and none are responding, including the start button, it’s most likely an issue with the power supply to the machine. You’ll need a different reset procedure from the above method for this issue.
You might have accidentally pulled out the plug from the wall socket when moving the Bosch washer or cleaning the area. Alternatively, you might have had a recent power cut that impacted the electrical power supply to the appliances in your home.
It might also be an issue with the control panel itself, which might occur from water damage or overheating.
When you’re unable to use the power button to reset your washing machine, you’ll need to check the power outlet to determine whether there is an issue with the machine’s power supply. You can check this by looking at the plug as well as the voltage meter.
When the circuit breaker has tripped
Bosch washing machines can also stop working and need resetting if the circuit breaker has tripped. You’ll need to check the circuit breaker in this case.
Leave the washing machine plugged in and locate the electrical board in your home. Find the switch that controls the washer (this should be clearly labelled) and flick it to the ‘off’ position.
After around 30 seconds, turn the switch back to the ‘on’ position and return to your washer. Hold down the reset button on your washing machine to see if it starts working once again so you can run a new cycle.
When the child lock is active
Your Bosch washing machine can sometimes stop working properly when the child lock is activated. The child lock stops all the buttons from working on the control panel, except the start button, to prevent a child from adjusting the washing setting while a wash cycle is running.
You might have accidentally activated the child lock on your appliance, and this could be the reason it won’t start properly. Turning off the child lock is pretty simple, although this process can differ between different Bosch models.
Most Bosch washing machine models have a button with ‘CL’ to denote where you can turn the child lock mechanism on and off. Press and hold this button for 5-10 seconds until you hear a beep or the button is no longer illuminated.
In some models, you’ll need to simultaneously hold down the ‘RPM’ and ‘finished in’ buttons for 5-10 seconds. Doing this will turn the child lock off, and the symbol will disappear on the control panel.
Child lock on new Bosch washers
Newer Bosch models might have a touch screen that displays all the different settings in one place.
If your washer has a touch screen, locate the child lock symbol and hold it down for three seconds until it is no longer illuminated. You might also hear a beep to indicate that the child lock is now deactivated.
Final Word
The steps that you need to follow to reset a Bosch washing machine depend on the cause of the issue. Once you’ve identified the problem with your washer, follow the appropriate steps above to reset your appliance so you can continue doing your laundry.
Note that resetting the error on your appliance might not always work the first time. Before you call an engineer, try a few different things to reset your Bosch washing machine.
If you’ve exhausted all of the above steps and you’re still not able to reset your machine using any of the above steps, check the user manuals for additional information on where to begin.
Calling an engineer
You might need to call a Bosch engineer to your home to take a look at your washing machine if you’re completely stuck. If your washer model is still under warranty, this service might be free of charge.
The engineer will be able to replace any faulty components inside the appliance and get it working once again. They’ll also be happy to answer related questions or direct you to the Bosch website for more information.