Hotpoint Wdl 540 G - Soap Drawer Removal

I just wanted to say a sincere thanks to HCF for this very useful advice. It's the only useful thing on the internet about this bloody drawer! Finally got it open thanks to this and cleaned out a horrible amount of gunk. Service wash now happily working away.

Thanks for that.

Having come to this same problem years later, and seeing no solution on line, though it was worth a response. They key step here is to open the quarter circle door a little too far, so that the tray is able to lift a little bit at the back clear of the top of the interior then the tray will easily slide forwards (separating from the door). There is a little clip inside, which attaches to a metal rail, this needs to separate before the drawer will slide away. See photos.

Maybe they didn't update the instructions for the new design? The instructions sound typical for a normal dispenser drawer.

Thanks. This design is a quarter circle so there are no 'sides' to squeeze. However much lifting you do it makes no difference. I found out why when it finally gave way. The rear is clipped onto the steel hinge spindle, so it has to be released not by lifting and pulling, but by lifting the front at an angle causing the cover to hinge in and the inside snap loose. Phew! What 'genius' thought that was a good design for something the manual says should be done 'frequently'.