What does the Whirlpool Cabrio SD Code mean? (EXPLAINED!)

Are your clothes coming out of the wash dirtier than when they went in? Maybe you placed too much detergent or added the wrong kind. 

Either way, you have a sud error code to resolve, clothes to clean again, and perhaps floors to mop. We know how frustrating it is, but not to worry, it is an easy fix.

Here’s how to resolve the SD code on your Whirlpool Cabrio and how to clean it up to prevent it from recurring.

What does the SD code mean on a Whirlpool Cabrio washer?

A SUD or SD error code appears when your Whirlpool Cabrio washer detects excessive suds during a cycle. It will produce too many suds when you use too much detergent or the wrong kind.

Detergent build-up can also cause excess suds—even when you use the right kind or the right amount of detergent.

What happens when there are excessive suds in your Whirlpool Cabrio washer?

Excess suds in a Whirlpool Cabrio washer can cause various problems, such as sudsy overflows and residue-ridden laundry. Too many suds can also affect the cleaning efficiency of your washer, which can lead to component failure.

It reduces the cleaning performance of your washer.

Washing machines use friction to get stains and dirt off your clothes. As the tub spins, your garments will rub against each other in soapy and sudsy water and loosen dirt.

Having too many suds in the tub will cushion the laundry, preventing impurities and residual detergent from being completely rinsed out.

It may damage your washer.

It is harder for the washer to rinse away all the detergent when there is too much foam inside, making malfunctions more likely. 

One of the parts that can get damaged due to excess suds is the water level pressure switch, which is attached to the hose under the washing machine. 

When there’s too much foam, it can travel to the hose and reach the switch, causing it to malfunction. If the switch is defective, you’ll have to replace it to continue using the washer.

It can overflow and damage your floors.

If there’s too much foam in the tub, it might overflow and flood the floors of your house. It can cause permanent damage to your flooring, which can cost a lot of money to repair.

Now that you know the consequences of having excess suds in the wash, we’ll show you how to troubleshoot the SD error when you encounter it.

Causes and Solutions

If an SD error code appears mid-cycle, your Whirlpool Cabrio washing machine automatically extends the rinse cycle to get rid of the suds. You can also run a cycle on an empty load to remove excess foam.

Run a Cleaner Washer cycle to remove detergent build-up and prevent the SD code from recurring.

Before making any repairs, here are a few quick troubleshooting tips to help resolve the SD error code:

• Select a warmer wash temperature. Use warmer water to dissolve any excess detergent in the tub.

• Check the hot and cold inlet hoses. Determine if the inlet hoses are reversed, then make adjustments, if needed.

Here’s an overview of the most common causes of oversudsing. We also have helpful tips and troubleshooting instructions.

Causes	Solutions
Regular Detergent	• Use a high-efficiency detergent for your Whirlpool Cabrio washing machine.  • Choose good quality detergent to prevent damage to your washer.
Too Much Detergent	• Determine the correct amount of detergent your washer needs by following the manufacturer’s instructions. • Never pour beyond the max fill line of the dispenser.
Splashless Liquid Chlorine Bleach	• Let the washer finish the cycle, then empty the tub. • Run a cycle with an empty tub. • Add affresh® cleaning tablets to the washer basket. Never add tablets to the detergent dispenser. • Close the lid of your washer. • Run a Clean Washer cycle. Push the Start/Pause button for 3 seconds. • Once the cycle is done, leave the washing machine’s lid open and let the tub fully dry.  • Run a new load and check if the SD error code recurs.
Detergent Build-Up	Using affresh® washer cleaner: • Open the lid of your washer and empty the tub before running a cleaning cycle. • Add affresh® cleaning tablets or pods to the washer basket. Never add tablets to the detergent dispenser. • Close the lid of your washer. • Select the Clean Washer cycle. Push the Start/Pause button for 3 seconds to start it. • Once the cycle is done, leave the washer’s lid open to let the tub fully dry.
Inadequate Loading	• Measure your laundry load to prevent underloading or overloading it. • Then, distribute the clothes evenly around the drum. • A small load should fill up ⅓ of the drum, while a medium load should fill up half of it. • Fill ¾ of the drum to do a full load.
Broken Drain Pump	• Unplug your washer or turn off power at the circuit breaker. Then, disconnect the supply and drain hoses. • Tape the lid shut. Set a towel on the floor, then lay your washer on its back to access the pump.  • Locate the drain pump on the washer. Check your user manual for reference. • Disconnect the wires on the drain pump. • Unthread all three 5/16 screws securing the pump to the washer. • Loosen the clamp on the drain hose and the tub using a wrench. Take the clamps off and set them aside. • Insert the clamps into the new drain pump. • Slide the drain pump into position. Then, tighten the clamps to secure the hoses.  • Rethread the screws to secure the drain pump to the washer. • Reconnect the wires. • Pull the washing machine back to an upright position. • Reconnect the hoses to the washer. • Restore power. Run a quick wash cycle to check if the tub drains properly and doesn’t create excess suds.

Regular Detergent

Not all washing machines require a high-efficiency (HE) detergent, but your Whirlpool Cabrio does. It needs low-sudsing laundry detergent to clean your clothes thoroughly.

Unlike traditional washers, an HE model uses less water for cleaning your clothes. If you use regular detergent instead of HE detergent, your washer will produce an excessive amount of foam during a cycle, triggering an error code. 

This not only extends the length of the cycle but also affects its rinsing performance. Your clothes will come out of the washer with suds and chalky detergent residue.

Solution: Use a high-efficiency detergent for your Whirlpool Cabrio washing machine. Choose good quality detergent to prevent damage to your washer.

Too Much Detergent

Even if you use the right detergent, using too much of it will still produce excess suds in your washer and trigger the SD error code.

The amount of detergent you need will depend on various factors, such as load size, hardness of water, and the detergent itself. 

Type of Detergent	HE Washers
Pod	1 per cycle
Liquid	2 tablespoons
Powder	2 tablespoons

Solution: Follow the detergent manufacturer’s instructions closely when determining how much detergent to use. Never go over the max line in the dispenser.

Splashless Liquid Chlorine Bleach

Did you use no splash or easy pour liquid chlorine bleach? Laundry bleaches are highly concentrated formulas often made with thickening agents to help clean, whiten, and disinfect your clothes.

Unfortunately, it may create too much foam in the washer if you aren’t using it correctly or adding too much. 

Solution: To get rid of excess suds caused by liquid chlorine bleach, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Let the washer finish the cycle.
• Step 2: Empty the washer.
• Step 3: Run a cycle with an empty tub.
• Step 4: Add affresh® cleaning tablets to the washer basket. Never add tablets to the detergent dispenser.
• Step 5: Close the lid of your washer.
• Step 6: Run a Clean Washer cycle. Push the Start/Pause button for 3 seconds.
• Step 7: Once the cycle is done, leave the washing machine’s lid open and let the tub fully dry. 
• Step 8: Run a new load and check if the SD error code recurs.

Quick Note:
Liquid chlorine bleach should never be poured directly onto the clothes as it can cause extensive color removal, weaken the fibers of the garments, and create holes.
When you add liquid chlorine bleach to the dispenser, your washer automatically dilutes and dispenses it during the wash cycle.  

Detergent Build-Up

When you add too much detergent, your washer can’t rinse all of it away, leaving residue on your clothes and in the crevices of the tub.

If the detergent build-up isn’t removed, your washer will continue to create more suds during wash cycles–even when you pour the correct amount of detergent.

Not to worry, a thorough cleaning session is all you need to remove the detergent build-up. Whirlpool washing machines have a built-in cleaning cycle that makes it easier for you to remove gunk and grime, especially in hard-to-reach areas of the tub.

affresh®  Washer Cleaner

Whirlpool recommends using the affresh® cleaner, which can seep into the hard-to-reach places of your washer and remove all the gunk. 

Solution: To clean your Whirlpool Cabrio washing machine using the affresh® cleaner, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open the lid of your washer and empty the tub. Transfer all the clothing to a separate container before running a cleaning cycle.
• Step 2: Add affresh® cleaning tablets or pods to the washer basket. Never add tablets to the detergent dispenser.
• Step 3: Close the lid of your washer.
• Step 4: Select the Clean Washer cycle. Push the Start/Pause button for 3 seconds to start it.
• Step 5: Once the cycle is done, leave the washer’s lid open to let the tub fully dry. 

Chlorine Bleach Procedure

Aside from affresh®, Whirlpool recommends liquid chlorine bleach for cleaning the interior of your Cabrio washing machine.

Solution: To clean your Whirlpool Cabrio washer using liquid chlorine bleach, follow these steps carefully:

• Step 1: Open the lid of the washing machine. Remove all the contents in the tub.
• Step 2: Pour a cup of liquid chlorine bleach into the bleach compartment. Don’t go over the recommended amount to prevent damage. 
• Step 3: Close the lid of the washer.
• Step 4: Never add detergent and other cleaning products while performing this procedure.
• Step 5: Select the Cleaner Washer cycle on the control panel.
• Step 6: Press the Start/Pause button for 3 seconds to run the cycle.
• Step 7: Wait for the cycle to finish. Then, leave the door open to let the tub fully dry.

Inadequate Loading

Underloading your Whirlpool Cabrio washer is just as bad as overloading it. 

Inadequate loading of your washing machine can cause an SD error code. Since there’s not enough laundry in the drum to provide sufficient friction, your items will further compress, allowing more suds to form inside.

Solution: Measure your laundry load to prevent underloading or overloading it. Then, distribute the clothes evenly around the drum.

Here’s a little guide to help you.

Load-Size Recommendations
Small Load	A small load should fill up ⅓ of the drum. That’s a pound of laundry per cubic foot of the washing machine’s capacity.
Medium Load	A medium load should fill up half of the drum or two pounds of laundry per cubic foot of the unit’s capacity.
Large Load	An extra large load should occupy ¾ of the drum or three pounds per cubic foot of the washer’s capacity.

Broken Drain Pump

If you’ve ruled out all the common laundry errors that cause excessive suds, you might want to consider component failure as the underlying cause of your SD code. It could be a broken drain pump, preventing the suds in the tub from draining properly.

Solution: To replace a broken drain pump on a Whirlpool washer, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug your Whirlpool Cabrio washer, or turn off power at the circuit breaker. Then, disconnect the supply and drain hoses.
• Step 2: Tape the lid shut. Set a towel on the floor, then lay your washer on its back to access the pump. 
• Step 3: Locate the drain pump on the washer. Check your user manual for reference.
• Step 4: Disconnect the wires on the drain pump.
• Step 5: Unthread all three 5/16 screws securing the pump to the washer.
• Step 6: Loosen the clamp on the drain hose and the tub using a wrench. Take the clamps off and set them aside.
• Step 7: Insert the clamps into the new drain pump.
• Step 8: Slide the drain pump into position.
• Step 9: Tighten the clamps to secure the connection of the hoses and prevent leaks. 
• Step 10: Rethread the screws to secure the drain pump to the washer.
• Step 11: Reconnect the wires.
• Step 12: Pull the washing machine back to an upright position.
• Step 13: Reconnect the hoses to the washer.
• Step 14: Restore power. Run a quick wash cycle to check if the tub drains properly and doesn’t create excess suds.

Frequently Asked Questions

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