Every repair question has a page. Every page has a job.

Open the door and spread out any load bundled to one side, such as a single heavy towel. Then check the machine stands level; most models have front feet that turn by hand, as shown in the manual.

When to book a technician instead: it still shakes on a balanced, level load, or you hear knocking from inside the cabinet.

Many washers keep the door locked for a few minutes after spinning. Wait, check the cycle has fully ended and that no water is visible in the drum. Never force the handle.

When to book a technician instead: the door stays locked with an empty drum, or water stays in the drum after the cycle ends.

Wipe the folds of the door seal with a cloth and mild detergent, removing lint, hair or coins caught there. Leave the door ajar between washes so the seal can dry.

When to book a technician instead: the seal is torn, or water drips from under the door during a wash.

Run an empty maintenance or drum-clean cycle if your model has one, with the cleaner its manual names. Dose detergent as marked on the pack; too much leaves residue.

When to book a technician instead: the empty drum grinds, scrapes or won't turn by hand with the machine unplugged.

Pull the drawer out fully (most have a release tab), rinse it under warm water and brush out the recess it slides into. Dried powder in the recess often blocks the water flow.

When to book a technician instead: the drawer fills and stays full of water, or no water reaches it at all.

Check whether child lock is on; the manual shows the button combination that turns it off. Clean the panel with a dry cloth only.

When to book a technician instead: the display stays blank or shows a fault code after child lock is off.

Unplug the machine and let any hot wash cool. Lay a towel and a shallow tray under the drain-filter hatch at the bottom front, open the hatch and unscrew the filter slowly so water runs into the tray. Clear lint or small items, rinse the filter and screw it back in firmly.

When to book a technician instead: the filter is clear and water still won't drain, or the filter won't unscrew by hand.

Twist out the filter at the base of the tub, rinse it under warm running water and brush the mesh gently. Refit it until it locks into place.

When to book a technician instead: water stays in the base with a clean filter, or the machine stops mid-cycle.

Wipe the door seal and the edge of the tub with a damp cloth to remove food debris. Check that nothing in the lower rack stops the door closing fully.

When to book a technician instead: water reaches the floor during a wash.

Close the door on a sheet of paper and pull it out at several points. If it slides out with no resistance, the seal may not be closing. Clean the seal with warm soapy water, dry it, and check nothing on the door shelves stops it shutting.

When to book a technician instead: the seal is split, or the fridge stays warm while the door seals well.

Clear the lint screen after every load and rinse it if residue clogs the mesh. Avoid overloading the drum so air can move.

When to book a technician instead: drying stays slow with a clean screen, or the outside of the dryer feels unusually hot.

On a condenser dryer, slide out the water tank, empty it into a sink and push it back until it clicks. Empty it after every load.

When to book a technician instead: the light stays on with an empty tank.

With the oven off and fully cool, wipe the door seal gently with a damp cloth. Avoid abrasive cleaners, which can harden it. Clean the racks separately in warm soapy water.

When to book a technician instead: the seal is torn, loose or flattened, or the door no longer closes evenly.

Switch the hood off and let it cool. Unclip the metal grease filter, soak it in hot soapy water, rinse it and let it dry completely before refitting. The manual says whether your filter is dishwasher-safe.

When to book a technician instead: extraction stays weak with a clean filter, or the fan rattles.