Just as in real life, your Sims have to do the laundry if they want their clothes to be fresh and clean. Unfortunately, when you put dirty clothes into the washing the machine, the Wash option is greyed out or missing completely. Sometimes, the laundry hampers aren’t even clickable.
Well, if you can’t use the washing machine to do laundry in Sims 4, follow the steps below to fix the problem. Hopefully, one of the solutions below will do the trick for you.
What to do if your washing machine is not working in Sims 4
Remove mods
If you’re using mods, move your Mods folder to your desktop. Restart the game and check if you can do the laundry now. Mods and CC often cause various unexpected glitches, especially after installing the latest Sims 4 updates.
To identify the culprit, add your mods back one by one and check if the issue persists.
Move the washing machine to household inventory
Many players confirmed that moving the washing machine to the household inventory and then placing it back in the house solved the problem for them. If the item is glitched, simply moving it to the household inventory and back should debug it. Give this workaround a try and check if it works for you as well.
Repair your washing machine
Make sure your washing machine is working properly. Maybe you need to repair it. If your Sim doesn’t have strong handyman skills, have someone else repair it.
On a side note, ensure your washing machine and dryer are fully upgraded. They’ll break down less frequently.
Move to a different lot
The lot you’re living on could be the culprit. Move to a new lot and check if the washing machine works fine. Many players confirmed this quick workaround did the trick for them.
Get a new washing machine
If repairing your washing machine didn’t help, get a new one and check if you’re still experiencing the same problem. Most of the time, replacing your old washing machine with a new one should permanently fix the problem.
Many players confirmed that sometimes, the only solution is to enter build mode, create a new washing machine, and replace the current broken item.
Start fresh
Try removing your save files and start fresh. In other words, delete all of the cache files, including spotlight and localthumbscache.package files from your Sims 4 folder. Then add the latest save you want to play back in. Check the results.
Useful tips to make laundry day easier in Sims 4
If you have Seasons, befriend Patchy. The Straw Man can help you do the laundry, as well as repair broken washing machines and dryers.
If you have Get Together, create a new club and name it Cleaners. Have them clean and repair objects. Start a club meeting next time your washing machine stops working.
Did these troubleshooting steps help you fix your laundry problems? Which of these suggestions worked for you? Let me know in the comments below.