On the newer models described by Samsung, CL can report a Child Lock safety drain. It does not by itself establish a failed door lock.
Check what happened before CL appeared
Note whether Child Lock was on, whether the door was opened and whether draining began. Keep those observations separate from a door that physically will not close or release.
Samsung’s CL section allows clearing the message by turning Child Lock off or switching the washer off and on. Use the control instructions for your model. This page supplies no universal button combination.
Choose the matching situation
CL followed the Child Lock drain behavior
Use the documented controls to clear it, then confirm that normal operation returns. The control setting, displayed message and physical door position are three separate observations.
The door remains locked or water remains inside
Do not force the door or bypass its interlock. Record the water state and use model-specific support for release or drainage. A cleared display would not prove the door is safe to open.
The sequence does not match or CL returns
Confirm the full model and exact display with Samsung. The reference says “newer models”; it does not identify every model to which this behavior applies. Leave the interpretation conditional until matched.
When arranging service
Describe the Child Lock setting, door event, drain behavior and result of the permitted control action. Do not order a latch solely because CL is visible. Stop operation for escaping water or electrical warning signs.
Evidence and applicability
Samsung Electronics America: Samsung washing machine information and error codes. Section: CL: Child Lock. Reviewed October 15, 2026.
This U.S. support reference does not enumerate every applicable model. This guide covers the stated display and owner observations. Exact-model internal diagnosis, reset sequences and replacement-part compatibility have not been established.