Has your washing machine ever lost control as it tries to spin - smashing and thrashing against your floors? This happens when it loses balance and it’s more common than you’d think. Sometimes it gets so bad that you can hear the throughout your house, with your washing machine ‘walking’ right out of its bay.
If you’ve experienced this before, you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about; you end up having to hold the machine down until it’s reached its full spin speed, before you can safely let go. But, what’s causing this ruckus, and why is it only happening on certain wash cycles? Here, we breakdown 6 reasons your washing machine is thrashing around and what you can do to prevent it (and protect your floors).
1. Overloaded
We say it time and time again, but you must avoid overloading your washing machine. This really deters the cycle; your detergent can’t be applied evenly, your laundry can’t agitate, wrinkles are more prominent, it takes a toll on the internal components, and on top of that the machine will likely lose balance.
With so much weight in the drum, which is enhanced once the clothes are soaked, your washing machine will struggle to pick up spin speed without the drum taking the machine with it, so to speak. With each rotation your machine will jump on the spot, which is what causes the vibrating and smashing. In short, your machine isn’t designed to spin such weight, so lessen the load and fill to no more than ¾ full.
2. Washing one heavy item
Likewise, your machine can’t control itself when washing a smaller, heavier item, like a pillow. While there might be plenty of space in the drum, that actually contributes to the problem here. The pillow absorbs a large amount of water during the cycle, and with nothing to secure it as it spins, that weight is thrown across the empty drum, with your machine feeling the effects.
You’re likely to damage your pillow, the washing machine and even your floors in the process! The solution is simple; you can either even out the weight distribution by washing two pillows at once, or you can pad out the load with bed sheets to better secure the pillow.
3. The transit bolts are still in place
Generally, 3-5 transit bolts are fitted in the back of most new washing machines. During transit, they keep the drum stable, so there’s minimal risk of internal suspension damage. However, if these bolts aren’t removed on installation (which sometimes happens when we attempt to install the machine ourselves), you’ll soon hear about it.
I've seen this for myself on one occasion. As the machine attempted to spin, there was an enormous ruckus and more smashing around than you can imagine. It was switched off immediately, but on pulling the machine out of the bay, concrete had crumbled onto the floor beneath. The smashing was so intense that it had taken internal damage.
Such damage isn’t covered by the warranty so stick to professional installation to avoid this mishap, and to make sure you’re covered. It’s also advisable to keep hold of the transit bolts in case you need to move the machine again in the future.
4. Uneven
There’s also a chance that your washing machine isn't level on its feet. This can happen when it’s moved to a new location. It will keep tipping and shaking during every cycle while unbalanced.
Use a spirit level to check your washing machine is level – you might even be able to rock it by hand to assess its balance too. If it’s uneven, you’ll need to adjust the feet. This is quite an awkward and laborious task involving moving the machine in and out of its bay, so you might want to call in a professional to help. But if you want to do it yourself, you will need a second person to help.
Once switched off, disconnected and empty, you'll need to tip the machine back (get a second person to help) and adjust the feet by loosening the locking nuts with a wrench and then turning each foot clockwise (increases height) and counterclockwise (reduces height). Then, check it’s level once again and tighten the lock nuts above each foot to secure.
If you’re uncomfortable doing this yourself, you should call in a professional. Never attempt the adjust the feet on your own.
5. Damaged flooring
If your washing machine has taken its toll on your flooring, that will be making matters worse. If the flooring is uneven by way of damage, your washing machine will tilt and shake as the drum rotates - even if you adjust the feet.
Inspect the flooring beneath your washing machine and make any repairs as necessary. Opt for a solid, moisture resistant surface, such as laminate. There are rubber mats and rubber feet you can place under the machine to help absorb the noise too.
6. Internal damage
Unfortunately, if none of the above solves your shaking washing machine, there might be an internal problem which needs addressing. Have a professional inspect the machine and make any necessary repairs sooner rather than later. The earlier it’s addressed, the less potential damage there will be and the longer your washing machine will last. Above all, don’t ignore the problem!
Washing machine essentials
Dr.Beckmann Service-it Deep Clean Washing Machine Cleaner
