Seeing a cryptic error code flash on your washing machine display can be confusing and concerning. The good news is that “SUD” is typically an easy issue to identify and resolve yourself.
Determining the Meaning of “SUD”
“SUD” stands for “Suds Detected.” This simply means that your washing machine has sensed there is an excessive amount of soap suds in the drum during the wash cycle. Machines have a special sensor that can detect when suds reach a level that may negatively impact the performance of your washer.
Common Causes of the SUD Error
There are a few common things that can result in a sudsy wash load:
- Using too much detergent – This is the most likely cause of suds buildup. Modern detergents are highly concentrated and most people simply put too much detergent in per load. Refer to your detergent container recommendations for proper dosing based on load size, soil level, and water hardness.
- Small load size -Sudsing is more likely to occur with smaller load sizes since there is more room for suds to multiply. Make sure to use less detergent for smaller loads.
- Issues with detergent quality or type – Low quality, generic brands or older detergent that has lost some efficiency over time can create excess suds. Also, make sure you are using a standard laundry detergent and not hand wash detergent or dish soap!
Clearing Up “SUD” Issues
If your washing machine shows a “SUD” display, here is what you need to do:
- Let it finish running – If detected early in the cycle, it may attempt to rinse away suds on its own. Don’t open the door mid-cycle as that can make matters worse!
- Drain it manually – If suds remain after the full cycle completes, run a Drain & Spin cycle to clear excess water and detergent bubbles out. You may have to do this more than once.
- Run an empty “rinse” cycle – Once drained, run it again on the Rinse cycle with no detergent and no laundry load. This helps rinse away any leftover suds or detergent residue. You may need to manually drain in between rinse cycles if sudsing persists.
- Use less detergent next time – Clearly you used more detergent than needed for the load size, soil level and water hardness, so use less next time and avoid SUD errors going forward!
When to Be Concerned About SUD
The SUD message is very common and most often caused by everyday oversudsing as explained above. However, if you find yourself getting repeated SUD errors even after reducing detergent and properly loading the washer, there could be an underlying issue.
Potential causes for chronic SUD codes can include:
- Faulty water level sensor
- Circulation pump failure
- Clogged drain lines or drain pump
- Excessive detergent dispenser leakage
If basic troubleshooting does not resolve repeated SUD errors, it’s best to contact a technician to inspect your washer in case there is a faulty component causing excess sudsing.
So in most cases, SUD is an easy fix – just grab some towels, manually drain the suds, and run an empty rinse cycle or two. And remember to use less detergent next time! Properly dosing your laundry soap makes your washer work its best without oversudsing.
References
Whirlpool. “Washing Machine Error Codes.” https://www.whirlpool.com/owners.html
CNET. “Washing Machine Error Codes Explained.” https://www.cnet.com/home/appliances/washing-machine-error-codes-explained/
The Spruce. “Excess Suds in Your Washing Machine.” https://www.thespruce.com/fixing-sud-error-codes-in-washing-machine-1388736
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.