Looks like a model released specifically for the Aussie market. You’re in Oz?

Per the manual:

Child Lock: Select this function on the control assembly to prevent tampering. “Child Lock” can be set only during the washing cycle.

What a breathtakingly stupid design. I’m going to have to eat crow on this one; I have never seen such a thing before, and why the hell it would be devised this way is beyond me. All US and to my knowledge also Euro models allow you to lock the thing out when it’s off, for the express and obvious purpose of preventing toddlers from washing themselves (or your pets). This indeed seems like the sort of thing that would get somebody sued.

In that case, back to your thought about a countdown timer plug. Something like this might work? If I’m interpreting the Engrish correctly, you can set it to some interval and it just shuts off after the specified time. It says it goes up to 10 hours – definitely more than 2. And not on a schedule.

Plan C… Can you swap the doorknob on the laundry room door to one with a keyed lock on it? Or is it one of those sliding pocket door arrangements?

I’m going to ask you a stupid question, so don’t get mad at me: Have you tried it?

Key words being “disables control panel buttons.” On my LG machine at home (WM4200HA) it will lock the panel regardless of whether a cycle is currently running or not. If you lock it when the machine is not already running it won’t let you start a new cycle. All you can do is power it on and off, and any of the other buttons just give you a sad beep and “CL” message.

If somehow you can start a cycle with your control panel locked, record a video and call your lawyer. Because that’s lawsuit material, right there.

Unless your machines are a thousand years old, the control lock prevents activation of a cycle on all current and recent LG models. It locks all of the buttons on the panel except the control lock pad itself, which you have to press and hold for 3 seconds in order to unlock it again. Usually it’s the rightmost and lowermost button.

It doesn’t lock the door, though. Rugrats will still be able to open it and climb inside, but they won’t be able to start it unless they read the manual first.

What brand are your machines? Because the child lockout function you mentioned absolutely should prevent a cycle from being started. That’s what it’s for.