Written by
Maren Coleman Appliance Care EditorPublished October 29, 2026
VERIFIED
Error codeF0E1, rL
ApplianceWasher
Clean Washer cycle with something inside
This code appears on front load washers when the Clean Washer cycle has been started while the machine senses a load. It is shown as F0 E1 or rL; the rL form is also reported to mean items were detected in the washer during the Clean Washer cycle.
Clearing it
Take out every item still in the washer.
Begin the Clean Washer cycle once more.
If it does not clear
Cycle power as well: turn the breaker off or unplug the washer for 5 minutes, restore power, and see whether the code returns.
Compare these codes
F0E7: clothes detected during the Clean Washer cycle, a close relative.
F0E2: “Sud” or “Sd” on the display and a longer rinse.
Front load washer repair in San Francisco
A front load Whirlpool washer in San Francisco that still shows the code with an empty drum can be seen by a technician. Call (415) 687-4102 or look at Whirlpool washer repair. Share the model number and tell us that the drum was emptied and power was cycled.
Model compatibility: Whirlpool reuses codes across series and model years, so F0E1, rL may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
Plain language
What this code means
F0E1 (F0 E1 or rL) means the washer detected a load inside after the Clean Washer cycle was started.
Important safety warning. Do not attempt repairs involving electrical components, gas, water lines, refrigerant or sealed systems. Unplug the appliance if it is safe to reach the outlet, and leave internal diagnostics to a qualified technician.
Seeing this code on your Whirlpool appliance?
Book a specialist visit for a clear estimate and approval before any repair.
You submit a request with your appliance model and symptom, we confirm an appointment window, and a technician performs an on-site diagnosis. You then receive a clear estimate and decide whether to proceed before any repair begins.
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Replacement parts are selected for the exact model and confirmed with you before ordering or installation.
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Ready to get your Whirlpool appliance working again?
Book a repair online or call us — clear estimates and approval before any repair work begins.
