What does controls lock mean? And how do I unlock

The Control Lock is a safety feature that allows the consumer to lock the control panel to prevent small children from manipulating the controls. It can inadvertently be set following a power outage, or by leaning against the control panel. The following link explains how to turn the feature on/off:

http://www.fixya.com/support/r2469429-kenmore_elite_amp_whirlpool_duet

If this does not correct your problem, then you may have a more serious problem than a simple operator control issue. If you need further assistance, please let me know. I hope this corrects the problem for you.