What safety precautions should I take before performing any maintenance or cleaning on the washer?

To minimize the possibility of electric shock, unplug the washer from the power supply or disconnect it at the household distribution panel by removing the fuse or switching off the circuit breaker before attempting any maintenance or cleaning. Note that turning the Cycle Selector knob to an off position does NOT disconnect the appliance from the power supply. Never attempt to operate the washer if it is damaged, malfunctioning, partially disassembled, or has missing or broken parts. (Page 6)