Maytag washers are highly-reliable and handy, their digital interfaces giving you all sorts of options and information when it comes to washing your clothes. However, you’re here because something’s wrong with your Maytag – perhaps the door won’t open, the cycle won’t finish, or you’ve got an error message and you can’t work out why.
In this case, your first step (if possible) should be to try and reset the washer. That way, you may be able to fix the problem without having to spend unnecessary cash on a repair person. At the very least you’ll figure out what’s wrong with the machine.
There are two ways to reset a Maytag washer. Both are very similar, but will apply to different washer types. Try method #1, and if that doesn’t work, then try method #2. For any additional information, or if you have further questions, see our FAQ section at the end of this article.
Table of Contents
How to reset a Maytag washer (Method #1)
- Ensure (if at all possible) that the washing machine is empty and drained.
- Now, with the power on, imagine the dial on your washer as a clockface, and turn it to 12 o’clock – this is your starting point for a sequence of turns you’ll need to make to trigger the Reset. Think of it like turning a combination lock on a school locker.
- From 12 o’clock, rotate the dial one full turn anti-clockwise (to the left), back to 12 o’clock
- Next turn it clockwise to 3 o’clock (three clicks to the right)
- Next turn it anti-clockwise to 2 o’clock (one click to the left)
- Next turn it clockwise back to 3 o’clock (one click to the right)
- You should now see the lights of the machine blinking. Turn the dial clockwise again one click at a time until you see only ‘Rinse’ illuminated
- Finally, press the ‘Start’ button on your Maytag washer. The machine will now perform the reset (also known as the recalibration). Hopefully this will fix any issues. If it can’t, then it will tell you which area there is a problem with by leaving one light illuminated on the problem area.
How to reset a Maytag washer (Method #2)
- Ensure (if at all possible) that the washing machine is empty and drained.
- Now, with the power on, imagine the dial on your washer as a clockface, and turn it to 12 o’clock – this is your starting point for a sequence of turns you’ll need to make to trigger the Reset. Think of it like turning a combination lock on a school locker.
- From 12 o’clock, turn the dial anti-clockwise to 11 o’clock (one click to the left)
- Next turn it clockwise back to 12 o’clock (one click to the right)
- Next turn it clockwise to 1 o’clock (one click to the right)
- Next turn it clockwise to 2 o’clock (one click to the right)
- Next turn it anti-clockwise back to 1 o’clock (one click to the left)
- Next turn it clockwise back to 2 o’clock (one click to the right)
- You should now see the lights of the machine blinking. Turn the dial clockwise again one click at a time until you see only ‘Rinse’ illuminated
- Finally, press the ‘Start’ button on your Maytag washer. The machine will now perform the reset (also known as the recalibration). Hopefully this will fix any issues. If it can’t, then it will tell you which area there is a problem with by leaving one light illuminated on the problem area.
And there you have it! If one of those methods described doesn’t work, and you still can’t get your Maytag washer to reset/recalibrate, then chances are it’s too old (or too new), and you should contact a specialist.
For any other information or queries, please see our FAQs below.
FAQs
What is a Maytag washer?
Maytag Corporation is an American brand, owned by Whirlpool Corporation, which manufactures both home and commercial appliances. Many homes in America, including leased apartments and condos, are equipped by a washing machine, or clothes washer, produced by Maytag.
Maytag is renowned for producing high-quality, durable and long-lasting American-made appliances, which is why so many landlords opt to install Maytag washers in their buildings.
What’s unique about Maytag washers, especially when compared to older models, is that they are all digital. This means that they have a digital interface with preset settings you can easily cycle between, and can often be set to operate on a timer, and with various different customizable settings.
Why would I need to reset a Maytag washer?
Maytag washers should most likely last you quite a long time before you start to see any major issues. Having said that, one of the possible nuisances of working with a Maytag washer is that you may find it gets stuck on one cycle and won’t move to the next. Alternatively, you may have a problem opening the lid or door of the machine to put a new load in.
Other problems reported with Maytag washers include seeing an error light appear, but not knowing what it refers to, and thus not knowing how to describe the fault to a plumber or handyman when hiring them.
Thankfully, a lot of these problems can be aided, if not actually fixed, by resetting the washing machine. By resetting your Maytag washer, you should find that your issue is resolved. If it is not, however, then at the very least resetting your washer should show you quite clearly where the problem area lies, so that you can then phone or contact the appropriate repair person.
Can I reset my Maytag washer at any point?
You might find you don’t have a choice, especially if the drum is full and the door has digitally jammed shut, or the machine has stopped mid-cycle and won’t start working again. However, having said that, we highly recommend that you do not attempt to reset your Maytag unless the drum is empty and drained.
Does the technique described here work for all Maytag washers?
We have described two different techniques based on the same overall methodology, one of which should apply to your Maytag washer, so long as it’s a digital one. However, there are some Maytag washers which might still not be able to be reset with these tutorials – such as coin-fed Maytag washers of the kind found at laundromats. For these, we suggest contacting a handyman, rather than trying to reset the washer yourself.
