Maytag washer CL code: what it means and how to clear it
A Maytag washer CL code can show after a load ends, when you try to start a cycle, or while the buttons seem locked. This page explains the two common meanings, what to try first, and when a stuck CL display points to a console or control problem.
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On many Maytag front-load washers, CL is a Clean Washer reminder that appears after 30 cycles and clears after the Clean Washer cycle, or after a few more cycles. The single most common cause is that the washer is due for that maintenance cycle, though a locked keypad can look similar if the buttons won't respond.
Check these first
Safe to do yourself. Unplug the appliance before you start.
- Look at what the washer is doing
If the washer still lets you pick cycles, treat CL as a Clean Washer reminder first. If most buttons do nothing, treat it as Control Lock or Child Lock.
- Run the Clean Washer cycle
Take all clothes out, close the door, add a washer cleaner tablet to the empty drum or use the cleaning method in your manual, then start Clean Washer. Maytag says the CL reminder clears after that cycle, or after three regular cycles.
- Turn off Control Lock
Find Control Lock, Child Lock, a lock symbol, or small print under another button. Press and hold that button for 3 to 5 seconds until the display changes or the controls respond.
- Check the small print on the console
On some panels, the lock function is tied to a button such as Chime, Extra Rinse, End of Cycle Signal, or another option key. Owners often miss the tiny Control Lock text printed under the real button.
- Reset the washer
If CL stays on after the right button hold or a Clean Washer cycle, unplug the washer for 5 minutes, then plug it back in. If the washer was paused or canceled, try Pause or Cancel twice, then Power once.
Conditions that make this more likely
Hard water makes this more likely
Water above about 7 grains per gallon counts as hard, and USGS maps put much of the Southwest, Texas, the Great Plains and the Midwest above that. Scale builds up on inlet screens, valves, heating elements and spray arms years sooner than the manuals assume. If you're on hard water and this fault points to a fill or heating part, mineral buildup is the first thing a technician will look for.
Boards fail earlier in hot rooms
Electronics are rated for room temperature. In a garage or an unconditioned laundry room in summer, a control board can sit well above that for hours a day. Before replacing a board, a good technician confirms the parts it controls test good, since a shorted pump or valve can take out a new board too.
What a technician tests
Most likely part first. These are for a technician with a meter and the tech sheet, not a weekend project.
Don't see your symptom?
Describe it on the phone. The company on the other end works on these every day and will know what to ask.
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Is the Maytag washer CL code an error?
Usually, no. On many Maytag front-load washers it is a Clean Washer reminder, while a locked keypad points to Control Lock rather than a wash system failure.
How do I reset a Maytag washer with CL showing?
Finish or cancel any running cycle first. Then unplug the washer for 5 minutes, plug it back in, and try the correct Control Lock button hold again if the controls are still locked.
Why did CL come on in the middle of a cycle?
That usually points to Control Lock being activated by an input at the console. If no one touched the washer and it repeats, the console should be checked for a stuck key or moisture at the touch area.
Does CL mean the door lock is bad?
CL is not the normal Maytag door lock fault. Door lock trouble is more often shown by a different fault code, such as an F5 E2 style code on front-load models.
Does this apply to top-load and front-load Maytag washers?
The Clean Washer reminder described by Maytag is documented for front-load washers. Control Lock can appear on many washer styles, so use the label on your exact control panel.
Still showing the problem after the checks?
Call and describe what you tried. You'll be connected with an independent repair company near you.