What to do if your Washing Machine Breaks | Loans from £100

There are few things more gutting in life than opening your washing machine door after a cycle and being greeted by a flood of water cascading out onto your floor.
A washing machine is essential for most households, and a fault, such as a jammed door or a leak, could cause major disruption to both your routine and your wallet.
There’s no need to let a broken household appliance get you in a spin!
What to do if your washing machine breaks? In our guide, Little Loans explores some common washing machine faults and shares what to do if yours stops working.

Washing machine packed up for good? We’ll also explain how we could help you search for a loan to cover the cost of a new model.

Common washing machine faults

• Washing machine won’t switch on/start.
• Washing machine won’t drain water.
• Washing machine is making excessive noise.
• Washing machine door won’t open.
• Washing machine is leaking.

What to do if there’s a fault with your washing machine

1. Check whether your washing machine is still under warranty. If it is, the manufacturer is obligated to repair or replace it. Warranty information can typically be found on your original paperwork, that will have been given to you when you bought it. This could have been sent by email or a paper copy.


2. Contact the manufacturer. Even if your washing machine isn’t under warranty, they may still be able to offer advice on what to do next. If they’re willing to send someone out to look at your machine for free, you could save money on a callout fee (you may still be charged for parts and labour – check with your manufacturer first).


3. Have a look through the user manual, which will usually have common troubleshooting methods. If you no longer have the original paper version, you might be able to find a digital copy online or ask your manufacturer to send you a copy.


4. What if your washing machine breaks, the helpline is closed for the night, and you need help quickly? It might be worth checking out YouTube, which is full of useful step-by-step tutorials explaining how to troubleshoot various issues with common household appliances.


5. Decide whether your washing machine can be repaired or if it needs to be replaced. If the cost of repairs is higher than the price of a new washing machine, you might consider replacing it altogether.

Is there a callout charge for a washing machine?

You’ll typically be charged a callout fee for washing machine repairs. The average callout fee for a washing machine repair is between £60 and £150, although the amount you’ll be charged will depend on the company you contact.

Need money to replace a washing machine? Little Loans could help

Little Loans is a credit broker working with a panel of over 30 direct lenders. You can use the Little Loans credit broking service to help you search for a suitable short-term personal loan to replace a washing machine with no impact on your credit score.*

Washing machine loans: how much could I get?

With Little Loans, you could search for a loan between £100 and £10,000. Depending on the amount of money you apply to borrow, you could choose a repayment term from 3 to 60 months.

Could I apply for a loan to pay for a new washing machine?

You’re welcome to search for a washing machine loan with Little Loans if you:

• Are over the age of 18;
• Are a UK resident;
• Have a UK bank account and debit card; and
• Have a regular source of income paid into your bank account.

How does the Little Loans process work?

Searching for a loan with Little Loans is straightforward.

1. Work out how much money a new washing machine will cost. The repayment terms available to you will depend on the amount of money you apply to borrow. You should never apply to borrow more money than you need or can afford to repay.


2. Little Loans will carry out a soft search with no impact on your credit score.* Next, we’ll scan our panel of lenders for a suitable loan for you.


3. If we’re able to match you with a loan, you’ll be redirected to the lender’s website, where you can decide whether you’d like to make a full application.


4. Happy to go ahead with the application? The lender will carry out a creditworthiness assessment, which will include a hard search or an Open Banking check.


5. If you successfully pass the lender’s checks, you’ll be formally offered the loan.

Money for a new washing machine: how quickly could my loan be sent?

If approved for a short-term loan for a washing machine, your money could be sent the same day. It’s worth bearing in mind that every lender has their own payout timescales, and the time it takes for the funds to become available in your account will depend on your bank’s policies and procedures.

Claiming certain benefits? You could be eligible for a Budgeting Loan

A Budgeting Loan could help cover a range of essential costs, such as household items. The amount of money you’re able to borrow will depend on your circumstances, and if approved for a Budgeting Loan, the money will be paid into the same account as your benefits. Your repayments will be automatically taken from your benefits.
You could be eligible for a Budgeting Loan if you have been claiming at least one of the following benefits for the past 6 months:

• Pension Credit.
• Income Support.
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

You can apply for a Budgeting Loan here.

Do you receive Universal Credit? Check your eligibility for a Budgeting Advance

Can I get a Budgeting Advance for a new washing machine?
If you’ve claimed Universal Credit for 6 months or longer, you could be eligible for a Budgeting Advance to help pay for an essential household item.
Similar to a Budgeting Loan, the amount of money you could get will depend on your individual circumstances; for instance, whether you’re single or have children. Please note that certain eligibility criteria must be met before you can apply.

How is a Budgeting Advance repaid? Your Budgeting Advance will be paid back through your Universal Credit payments, usually over 24 months.

You can apply for a Budgeting Advance here.

Worried about money?

Below is a list of charities and organisations that offer free, confidential financial advice and support:

• StepChange
• MoneyHelper
• Citizens Advice
• National Debtline

*If you’re matched with a loan through a search with Little Loans and choose to make a full application, the lender will complete a creditworthiness assessment, which will involve a hard search or an Open Banking check.
Please note that a hard search will remain on your credit file for up to 12 months, and multiple hard searches in a short space of time could have a negative impact on your credit score.

The information contained in this article is meant as a general guide and does not constitute or should be taken as advice.
November 2025.