You are dealing with soft sludge, not tree roots. A snake will poke a hole through the sludge, but it won't clear the walls. The water will drain for a week, then clog again.
If you just snake the standpipe, you are pushing the clog deeper into the trap. You need to pull the auger back toward you to hook the sludge and yank it out. You will eventually get this clog again. Sludge is inevitable. But you can turn a "once a year emergency" into a "once every 5 years maintenance."
But before you call the plumber (and pay weekend rates), let’s take a deep breath. This is one of the most common, and surprisingly fixable, plumbing emergencies in the home. Here is everything you need to know about why this happens, how to fix it, and how to ensure it never ruins your evening again. When water doesn’t drain, most people’s first instinct is to blame the machine. They assume the pump is dead. In 80% of cases, that is wrong. washing machine drain clog
It usually happens on a Sunday night. The hamper is empty, the last load is spinning, and suddenly, your washer beeps an error code: You open the door, and instead of damp, clean clothes, you are greeted by a standing pool of stagnant water.
Here is the trick 90% of DIYers get wrong: You are dealing with soft sludge, not tree roots
No, not literally. But you have to remove the washing machine standpipe trap. Usually, there is a cleanout plug just above the trap. Remove that plug (have a bucket ready). Go in with the auger downstream toward the main line, not upstream toward the washer.
You have a .
I know, I know. It smells like a meadow. But liquid softener is basically wax. It coats your clothes, your machine, and your pipes. Use white vinegar in the rinse cycle instead. It softens fabric and dissolves alkaline sludge.