Woman said ‘no one told her’ to remove transit bolts before using her brand new washing machine

Shopper is furious no one told her to take the bolts out of new washing machine in a hilarious gaffe that almost BROKE her brand new buy

  • A New Zealand woman thought her brand new washing machine was broken
  • Aree said it was ‘rocking the house down’ during cycle and later discovered why
  • She realised she had to remove the four transit bolts that hold the drum in place
  • Transit bolts protect the machine from getting damaged while in transport
  • The bolts which are at the back of the machine must be removed before using 
  • The retail worker shared her hilarious gaffe in a now-viral video posted to TikTok 

A woman has been left red faced after discovering she needed to remove the transport bolts before using a new washing machine claiming ‘no one told her’. 

Aree, from Auckland, posted a video to TikTok saying she thought her brand new washing machine was broken because it would ‘rock the whole house’ during a cycle. 

The retail worker later discovered by reading the instruction manual her husband neglected, she needed to remove the bolts that prevent the machine from getting damaged when being transported. 

 

She said 'no one told her' she needed to remove the transit bolts before using it

Aree, from Auckland, posted a now-viral video to TikTok saying she thought her new washing machine was broken as ‘no one told her’ she needed to remove the transit bolts before using it

‘No one told me when you buy a washing machine brand new you have to take the bolts off before using it to release the spinny thing, otherwise it literally rocks the whole house,’ the Kiwi TikToker wrote in the clip.

The ‘spinny thing’ she is referring to is the machine’s drum that is held in place with transit bolts so it doesn’t move and break during delivery. 

The bolts, located at the back of the machine, need to be removed before using as it can cause serious damage and even void the warranty.

Most white goods brands strongly recommend holding onto the bolts and reinstall them in the machine if you’re moving house.  

Aree said the washing machine was 'rocking the house down' as she hadn't removed the bolts that are in place to protect the appliance from damage while being transported

Aree said the washing machine was ‘rocking the house down’ as she hadn’t removed the bolts that are in place to protect the appliance from damage while being transported

How to remove transit bolts from a new washing machine 

1. Locate the wrench supplied with the washing machine. This wrench is typically enclosed in the same package as the owner’s manual.

2. Place the circular side of the wrench over the top of the bolt. The flat sides of the bolt will line up with the flat spaces inside of the wrench. 

3. Twist the braces counter-clockwise with the wrench to unscrew all of the bolts. Bolts are often located at each of the four corners around the drum assembly at the back of the machine.

4. Grasp the bolt head and pull it out through the widest part of the hole. Repeat this process to remove all of the bolts. There will be four or five shipping bolts total.

Washing machine transit bolts

Washing machine transit bolts

5. Fill in the holes left by the bolts with the supplied caps. There will be one cap for each hole and these will be in the same package the wrench came in. Set the cap in place and press gently with your thumb to insert it.

Source: SFGate/Home Guides 

Aree’s video racked up more than 501,600 views and hundreds of comments from people who have made the same mistake.  

‘We left them in for three months before realising,’ one viewer admitted.

‘I’m so happy I’m not the only person who did this. Mine had instructions stuck to the top and I still didn’t read it,’ said another. 

Aree responded to dozens of viewers asking why she didn’t read the instruction manual while connecting the new machine saying: ‘Actually – I read the book. Hubby just went straight in no reading’. 

She also explained her gap in knowledge saying she had never had the problem before as she always bought second-hand washing machines in the past that already had the bolts removed.    

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