Note that you only need to remove a drum paddle from a washer if it is cracked or otherwise damaged, so you can replace it.
A broken drum paddle can rip or otherwise damage your clothes when they’re in the machine. Your washer should have 3-4 drum paddles. If you see fewer than this, your machine might be missing a paddle and you should put a new one in. The space where a paddle is missing will look like a flat groove in the surface of the drum with several notches in it.
This applies to most common brands and models of washers that have removable paddles. Depending on the model, the clip might be under a different hole, so you might have to try pressing the screwdriver down into a few different holes until you find it. You should hear a clicking noise when you press down the clip far enough, which indicates that you have released the paddle. On older models of washers, there might be 2 metal tabs locking the drum paddles in place. Press both of them down before you slide and lift out the paddle.
It should be very obvious when you pull the paddle far enough to release it because it will make a loud unsnapping sound and feel looser.
If you can’t lift the paddle out of the drum, try sliding it further towards the front of the machine until it is loose enough to pull out.
Always put a new drum paddle in when you remove a broken or damaged paddle or if you purchased a second-hand washer and it is missing a paddle. Don’t do laundry in a washer without all of its drum paddles in place. Your clothes can catch and tear in the metal slots that are meant to hold the paddle.
This clip will automatically hold the new paddle against the surface of the washer drum after you snap it into place.
There are usually 6 plastic tabs on the underside of the drum paddle that correspond to the 6 slots in the washer drum. As long as you have the right replacement paddle, it should fit easily into your washer.
