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Switch your washing machine door to the other side

Is your washer door in the way? Here's how to change it over.

Megan Wollerton
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1 of 18 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Open your washer door

If your washer door's in the way, it's no big deal to change it over. Just note that switching your washer door to the other side only works on select front-load models. I used the Electrolux EFLW427UIW for this tutorial. The steps may vary slightly from machine to machine, so consult your owner's manual.

First, turn off and unplug your washing machine. Open the washer door all the way to show the four hinge screws.

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2 of 18 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Remove the hinge screws

Take off the four hinge screws with a No. 2 square bit driver (save them, you'll need them later). This is the only tool you'll need for the entire process. 

Don't have a No. 2 square bit driver? Find them on Amazon or in your local hardware store. 

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3 of 18 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Remove the terminal cap from the hinge plate

Hold the door and slowly pull it away from the washer. Slide out the black plastic terminal cap from the door's hinge plate to separate the door from the wires connecting it to the rest of the washer. 

Set the washer door on a towel or other protected surface while you complete the rest of the steps. 

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Separate the wiring harness from the terminal cap

Press down on the tab on the yellow wiring harness and separate it from the black terminal cap. 

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5 of 18 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Remove the door lock screws

Remove and save the two screws on the other side of the washer opening (the door lock side) using the same No. 2 square bit driver.

Slowly pull the lock out through the opening. Again, don't pull it too far, as it's still connected to a wiring harness.

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6 of 18 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Remove the wiring harness

Press the tab on the yellow wiring harness to separate it from the door lock. Save the door lock, you'll need it later. 

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7 of 18 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Switch the hole cover to the other side of the washer

Pull up on the hole cover on the side of the washer where the door used to lock. Move it to the other side, to cover up the hole where the hinge used to attach.

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8 of 18 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Reverse it

Grab the door lock, move it to the other side of the washer and connect the yellow wiring harness to the door lock.

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Reinstall the door lock

Feed the door lock into the washer panel and install it with two of the screws you set aside earlier. 

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Remove the door screws

Remember the washer door you set aside? Remove the nine screws on the inside of the door. Save them for a later step.

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Remove the inner door

Lift up the inner door section from the rest of the washer door and set it aside.

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Rotate the glass

Pick up the glass and rotate it 180 degrees and set it back down. 

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Line up those tabs

Make sure the repositioned door lines up with the tabs. 

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Reattach the inner door

Reinstall the inner door with the nine screws you removed previously. Make sure the wide section of the glass is located at the bottom of the washer door. 

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15 of 18 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Connect the wiring harness into the terminal cap

Connect the black terminal cap to the yellow wiring harness on the other side of the washer. 

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Connect terminal cap to the hinge plate

Connect the terminal cap to the hinge plate.

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Attach the door to the other side

Line up the hinge plate with the washer and attach the four screws you removed earlier.  

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18 of 18 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

You're done!

Test out the door to make sure it opens and closes correctly. Run a partial test wash to make sure the door lock engages and doesn't open midcycle. 

It may seem like a lot of steps, but it's actually really straightforward and simple. Just take your time and make sure you have a No. 2 bit driver.

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