I can't decide the best way to secure our front loading washing machine.
We have twins. They're fascinated by the washing machine. Lights, beeps, action... everything. One twin getting inside and their erstwhile companion starting the cycle is absolutely possible.
Obviously we keep the laundry door closed but in a way you just build up the appeal. One of them has figured out how to open doors by standing on his trike.
I could put some kind of stick-on toddler lock on the door but I worry it would be tough to establish the habit of closing the door and putting that lock on. Besides which surely it's nice to leave the door open to dry out between loads anyway?
The washing machine does have a toddler lock but that's only to prevent someone changing the settings during a cycle, it doesn't prevent starting a cycle.
My best idea thus far is a timer on the power outlet. So you turn on the power and set the timer to turn it off after however long the load takes.
The problem with this is that I haven't been able to find a count-down style timer that allows you to set periods longer than 2 hours. Most power outlet timer thingies do schedules, not count-down.
I know this maybe sounds like an easily solvable problem - just turn the power off when it's done - but that's just not how things roll in our house.
They also have those storage/riser blocks that raise the washing machine/ dryer by 1.5ft or so. Check with the manufacturer. Those might be able to help push it out of arms reach. Not the only solution needed but could be an extra layer of defense, and saves your back!
Also you say you keep the door closed, but just an fyi that the door is supposed to be able to air out after a load or you can get a nasty smell eventually and give off a musty smell to clothes.
I know that's a new problem but if you can somehow limit access to the room then that takes care of both issues.
There's a dryer on top of the washing machine so we can't really raise it.
Also we keep the laundry door closed not the washing machine door.