Samsung Washer Sud/5ud Error: How to Clear it Fast (2026 Fix)

The Samsung Washer Sud code (often misread as 5ud) can result for a few different reasons. This code, unlike other error codes, isn’t caused by your washer malfunctioning! It is likely caused by detergent!

How to Fix Samsung Washer Sud/5ud Error Code:

• Wait for it to Drain: The washer will usually pause for 30–60 minutes to let suds dissipate naturally. Do not keep adding water.
• Clean the Debris Filter: Open the small panel at the bottom front of your washer. Slowly unscrew the pump filter and clear any lint, coins, or slime blocking the drain. Details at the bottom.
• Run a Rinse Cycle: Once the error clears, run a “Rinse + Spin” cycle with no detergent to flush out excess soap residue.
• The Real Fix: Switch to HE (High Efficiency) detergent and reduce the amount used by half.

What Causes Samsung Washer Sud Code?

The modern Samsung washer is designed to run with water efficiency. Built-in sensors continually sense water and sud levels throughout the various wash stages. Extra water will be used to clear the extra soap suds, and this causes inefficiency and the sud error code. Some washers will even adjust the length of the rinse to compensate for extra bubbles.

The Samsung washer is pretty smart and will eventually expel the excess suds on its own. Your machine is going to continually display the Samsung Washer code SUD, until the excess suds are removed.

Use of the Wrong detergent– use hE detergent

My first recommendation is to invest in HE (or high efficiency) detergent. Basically, today’s washing machines don’t use nearly as much water as their predecessors. Machines in the past used up to 40 gallons of water per cycle. This meant more detergent was needed to clean clothing.

Today’s machines utilize less than half that amount, ranging between 11 to 15 gallons per wash. Therefore, using more soap is simply going to result in more suds in the wash. More suds = error code.

Watch out for higher concentrated HE soaps, too. They come in 1X, 2X, and 3X. The higher the X (concentration), the less you need to get clothes fresh and clean.

Be sure to add the detergent to the correct dispenser on the washer so that the soap gets dispersed at the correct time in the wash cycle. Don’t just dump it into the drum without thinking or measuring!

Use of too much detergent– Suds!

In the past, people believed more suds meant clothes were cleaner. This isn’t the case! Too much detergent can cause powdery residue on clothes and strong odor in the washer tub. Mold and slime can accumulate around the door seal on a front loading machine.

In addition to problems with your clothes and the washer, an excess of suds can give you issues with your septic tank (if applicable). Excess detergents can throw off your septic flora balance and impact dissolving solid wastes.

Finally, there is a possibility that the filter is clogged and you’ll never be able to rinse it all through. This is the time to clean the drain pump filter and/or contact a repair technician. See below.

Read Related: Samsung Washer SE/5E Error Code — How to Fix It

Clogged Debris Filter Causing Sud error

Every Samsung washer features a debris filter designed to catch loose items—like coins, lint, and hair ties—before they reach the drain pump or hose. A clogged filter slows down drainage. When water sits in the drum too long, it gets agitated back into a foam, triggering the error.

How to fix:

The easiest solution is to clean out the debris filter and place it back in the machine. The location of the debris filter depends on whether you have a Front Load or a Top Load Samsung washing machine.

1. Front Load Washers (Most Common)

On almost all Samsung front loaders, the debris filter is located on the bottom-front left or right side of the machine.

• Look for: A small rectangular or square access door (about 3–4 inches wide).
• How to open: * Gently push on the door or use a coin/key to pop it open.
  • Inside, you will see a small rubber hose (the emergency drain hose) and a large white knob (the debris filter).
• Gently turn the debris filter and pull it out of the machine.
• Wash the filter trap in the sink and remove large objects that could be stuck.
• Return the filter and close the panel to resume normal operation.

It might look something like one of these:

2. Top Load Washers

Samsung top loaders usually do not have a traditional debris filter at the bottom like front loaders. Instead, they use different types of lint traps:

• “Magic Filter”: This is a small plastic cartridge inside the drum itself, attached to the side wall. You pop it out, empty the lint, and snap it back in.
• Pump Filter (Rare): A few older or specific top-load models have a pump filter at the back of the machine, near where the drain hose connects.
• No Filter: Most modern Samsung top loaders are designed to flush lint and debris out through the drain hose automatically during the spin cycle.

Quick Maintenance Tip (The “Sud” Connection)

If you are cleaning this to fix a Sud or 5ud error:

1. Drain First: Pull out the small emergency hose and let the water flow into a shallow bowl. If you just unscrew the big white knob first, you will flood your floor with several gallons of water.
2. Inspect the Propeller: After you pull out the debris filter, reach your finger into the hole and feel for the drain pump propeller. If a coin or a button is stuck there, the machine won’t drain properly even if the filter looks clean.

Tips for Clearing Excess Suds and Resetting Sensors

Flush with Rinse Cycles:

Run a “Rinse + Spin” cycle without any detergent to dilute and remove soap residue from your clothing. If you still have the error code, you can even run a full wash cycle without detergent to try and clean the sensor. I’ve used lightly soiled towels in a load without detergent to help push some of those suds through.

Note: Always Use Buffer Items. Always include towels or lightly soiled clothing in these rinse cycles; the sensors need the weight of a load to trigger a high enough water level for a proper flush. If you run it empty, you will not get the desired results.

Run a Deep Water Level Wash

After trying the above, you can use a “Deep Wash” setting to maximize the volume of water used to dissolve the foam. At this point, you are not going to be water efficient, but you are going to clear the error code!

• Practice Patience: Avoid running cycles back-to-back in quick succession; give the bubbles time to settle and dissipate naturally between attempts.
• The Waiting Game: If the machine is heavily foam-locked, the best solution is simply time. The sensors will only clear the code once the foam has sufficiently collapsed.

Remove half the load

If you run out of time (or patience), you can remove half the load of soapy clothes. Take out some of the sud-filled clothes and place them in the tub. This allows the washer to rinse only half the soapy clothes at a time. I’ve done this when the spinning becomes too unbalanced, as well. Simply finish half the load with a rinse cycle, and then do the other half later. This is in cases of extreme suds overload!

Run a Cleaning Cycle

Final tip: run an “Eco Drum” Clean cycle or a 90-degree C cotton cycle (depends on the model of your Samsung washer, and what the wash cycles are called). This cycle will allow your machine to remove the excess suds and detergent, and the error code should disappear once the excess suds are eliminated.

Read about Samsung Washer Error Code 4E or NF here.

Updated Info for 2026 Models (Bespoke/AI Smart Washers)

• Check the Auto-Dispenser: On newer Samsung AI washers, the “5ud” error often occurs because the auto-dispense setting is set too high for the water hardness in your area.
• How to Fix it: go into Settings > Dosage and lower the concentration.
• The “Eco-Bubble” Trap: Samsung’s Eco-Bubble technology creates more foam by design. If the user is using “Normal” detergent instead of HE, the machine will almost always throw a 5ud error.
• Pressure Switch Issue: If the drum has no suds but the error won’t go away, the pressure level sensor (water level switch) is likely clogged with dried soap gunk and needs a manual cleaning.

How to Never See the Sud Error Again: 5 Pro Tips

If you want to stop the Sud or 5ud code from interrupting your laundry day, follow these simple prevention steps:

• Always Use “HE” Detergent: Samsung washers are High-Efficiency machines. Regular detergent creates too many bubbles for the sensors to handle. Ensure your detergent bottle has the HE logo.

• The “Two-Tablespoon” Rule: Most people use too much soap. For a standard load, you only need two tablespoons of HE liquid detergent. If you have a water softener, you need even less.

• Adjust Your “AI Auto-Dispense” Settings: If you have a newer 2024–2026 Samsung Bespoke washer, your auto-dispense might be set too high. Go to Settings > Dosage and change the concentration to “Low” or “Medium.”

• Monthly “Self Clean” Cycle: Run the Self Clean (or Eco Drum Clean) cycle once a month with no clothes and no detergent. This flushes out the “hidden” soap residue that builds up behind the drum and triggers false Sud errors.

• Clean the Debris Filter Every 2 Months: A clogged filter slows down drainage. When water sits in the drum too long, it gets agitated back into a foam, triggering the error. Set a reminder to drain the emergency hose and clean the filter every 60 days.

How to Reset Your Samsung Washer after Codes

To reset a Samsung washing machine and clear an error code, there are three primary methods depending on your model. Samsung washers do not have a dedicated “Reset” button, so you must use a specific power-down sequence or a menu combination.

1. The Power Cycle (Hard Reset)

1. Turn off the washer and unplug it from the power outlet.
2. Wait at least 5 to 10 minutes to allow the electrical charge to fully dissipate from the control board.
3. Plug the washer back in and start a test cycle (like “Rinse + Spin”) to see if the code returns.

2. The Manual Sequence (Quick Reset)

If you don’t want to move the machine to reach the plug, try this button sequence:

1. Press the Power button to turn the machine off.
2. Press the Start/Pause button and hold it for 5 seconds.
3. Press the Power button again to turn it back on.

3. Factory Reset (Newer Smart/AI Models)

If your washer has a digital dial or an “Additional Functions” button (a finger icon with a plus +), you can perform a full factory reset.

1. Press and hold Additional Functions for 3 seconds.
2. Turn the dial to scroll until you find Factory Reset.
3. Press the O (OK) button, select OK, and press the button again. The washer will reset and power off.

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When a Reset Won’t Work

A reset only clears the notification of the error. If there is a physical problem, the code will reappear within minutes. Use the table below to see if your code requires a manual fix instead of a reset:

Code	Meaning	Real Fix (Resetting Won’t Solve This)
5C / 5E / nd	Drain Error	Clean the debris filter at the bottom front.
4C / 4E / nF	No Water	Check that your water taps are fully open and hoses aren’t kinked.
DC / UB / UE	Unbalanced	Open the lid and redistribute the wet laundry evenly.
Sud / 5ud	Excess Soap	Wait for suds to melt; run a cycle with no soap to flush the system.

How To RESET Samsung Washer & FIX 5E or SE Error Code?