Samsung Washer BD Error Code — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

The BD error on a Samsung washer means the machine has detected excessive soap suds or a bubble overflow condition inside the drum. This typically happens when too much detergent was used, the wrong type of detergent was used, or a previous load left residue that is now foaming up. The washer pauses the cycle and adds extra rinse time to clear the suds before continuing. In most cases this error resolves on its own — but understanding why it happened helps prevent it recurring.

Affected Models

Samsung WF45R6100AW
Samsung WF42H5000AW
Samsung AddWash WF50K7500
Samsung WF56H9100AG
Most Samsung HE front-load washers

Common Causes

Too much detergent used for the load size or soil level
Non-HE (standard) detergent used in a high-efficiency washer — it produces far more suds
Detergent buildup from previous washes suddenly foaming when dissolved
Fabric softener used in excess creating a frothy mixture in the drum
Washing a previously hand-washed item that has soap residue remaining in the fabric

How to Fix It

Do not open the door while the error is showing. Allow the washer to complete its automatic de-sudsing cycle. It will add water, pause, then drain in an attempt to clear the foam.

This process can take 30 minutes or more. Be patient — the machine is working as designed.
Once the error clears and the cycle finishes, run an empty rinse-and-spin cycle to flush any remaining suds from the drum and drain system.

This helps reset the drum to a clean, suds-free state before your next load.
Switch to a high-efficiency (HE) detergent marked with the HE symbol. Samsung front-load washers require HE detergent. Standard detergent produces far too many suds for these machines.

Look for the HE symbol on the detergent bottle — it looks like the letters H and E inside a circle.
Use the correct amount of detergent. For a normal load with soft or moderately hard water, use only 1 to 2 tablespoons of HE liquid detergent. Using more does not make clothes cleaner.

More detergent does not mean cleaner clothes in an HE washer — it just creates more suds and more rinsing work.
Run a monthly Eco Drum Clean or Self Clean cycle (without any laundry) to remove detergent residue buildup from the drum and door seal. Residue buildup makes suds problems worse over time.

Samsung recommends running the drum clean cycle monthly or every 40 washes.

When to Call a Professional

The BD error is rarely a sign of a mechanical problem — it is almost always caused by detergent use. If the error occurs repeatedly even with correct HE detergent amounts, the water level sensor or foam sensor may be faulty. An appliance technician can test the foam detection sensor if the error persists after correcting detergent habits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BD the same as the SUD error on Samsung washers?

They are very similar. Both BD and SUD indicate a suds or bubble overload in the drum. On some Samsung models, the display shows BD, while others show SUD for the same condition. The causes and fixes are identical for both codes.

Can I prevent the BD error from happening again?

Yes — always use HE detergent, use the recommended amount (usually far less than you think), and run a drum clean cycle monthly. Those three habits eliminate the vast majority of suds-related errors.

My washer shows BD but I used the right detergent. Why?

Items washed by hand before machine washing often retain soap that foams up in the washer. Also, detergent residue built up in the drum from previous over-dosing can suddenly foam up. Run two empty rinse cycles to flush the drum, then run a Drum Clean cycle.