# Please explain how to operate my German clothes washing machine.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 19, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021 "2009-01-19T19:11:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/21 "2009-02-26T16:40:09Z")

</div>

> [@Bear\_Nenno](#):
>
> Now the dryer will not work. It does one revolution and then stops and just beeps! From what little I’ve been able to find online, it seems maybe the “Control Lock” has been engaged. Anyone familiar with control locks on dryers?  
> On some model, the solution given online was to simply hold the option and select button simultaneously for like 5 seconds or something. I’m hoping there is an easy solution like that. But I can’t find it online. Any dryer experts out there?

On my machine it means uneven load. Usually something like towels which would put it out of balance causing a load on the bearings.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/22 "2009-02-26T16:51:30Z")

</div>

> [@Gfactor](#):
>
> Whoa! You needed to go there? Really?
> 
> **Gfactor**  
> General Questions Moderator

I’m a quarter German and a quarter Austrian. One of my relatives was forced to be a nurse for the Nazis and another died because, apparently, at least one Nazi ship depth-charged a submerged mine. I also have a bizarre sense of humor and was likely feeling just a little bit off that day. I don’t usually go there in GQ, no, but sometimes these things just write themselves.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/23 "2009-02-26T19:47:22Z")

</div>

> [@Vetch](#):
>
> On my machine it means uneven load. Usually something like towels which would put it out of balance causing a load on the bearings.

My first thought was of this. But it does the same thing when empty. It won’t spin more than one time before stopping and then the lights start flashing and the beeping starts.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021.md?page=1)