Washing machine making a loud noise on spin: what to do

Stop the spin before investigating the noise.

The answer in 2 lines. Stop the programme using the appliance controls and follow its instructions for draining and opening the door. Do not hold down a machine that is jumping or moving. Once it is safely unplugged, check accessible areas for loose objects and consider whether the load or installation could explain the vibration. If the machine is newly installed, ask the installer to confirm that transport restraints were removed. Persistent grinding, scraping or excessive drum movement needs a qualified diagnosis.

The first steps

Stop or pause the programme as the instructions explain. Wait for the drum to stop and the door lock to release; never force it.
Note what you already heard: banging, metallic scraping or a steady rumble. Record any displayed error without restarting the machine to reproduce the noise.
Disconnect the electricity safely before inspection. If water is near the plug or socket, keep clear and isolate the circuit only from a dry, safely accessible position.

Stop: danger

Machine moving violently: keep people away and stop it using safely reachable controls. Do not try to restrain it with your body.
Newly installed machine: stop using it if it jumps or bangs. Have the installation and transport restraints checked before another spin.
Smoke or fire: leave the property and call 999. Do not approach the appliance to unplug it if that puts you at risk.

What the sound can tell you

Noise provides clues, rather than a reliable diagnosis. A heavy wet item may leave the load unevenly distributed; poor levelling can make vibration worse. A loose object can cause rattling or scraping. Internal wear is another possibility when a new rumble persists.

Prepare a short description for the repair technician: when the noise started, whether it happens during washing, draining or spinning, and whether the appliance moves. Mention any recent installation or house move. Do not run an empty high-speed spin simply to collect more evidence.

Accessible checks after unplugging

Look inside the empty drum and around the visible door seal for coins or other loose items. Remove only objects you can reach easily without tools. Do not insert wire through drum holes or dismantle the casing to retrieve something hidden.

Read Which?’s guide to a loud washing machine for its load and levelling checks. Use your own instructions to identify the adjustable feet and locking arrangement. If access requires pulling out an integrated or heavy machine, ask a competent installer to do it.

Load, filter and installation

Once the door opens normally, check whether a bulky item has collected against one side. Follow the programme and loading instructions before deciding whether redistribution is appropriate. Do not add more washing automatically: an already overloaded drum needs a smaller load.

Only clean a user-accessible filter using the method in the instructions. Water may remain inside, and it may be hot. Prepare for controlled draining and stop if the filter will not turn normally. Filter maintenance will not retrieve every object trapped inside a machine.

For an appliance that has just been delivered or moved, ask the installer to check the transport restraints against the installation instructions. Do not remove unidentified bolts.

What not to do

Continuing to spin while the machine scrapes, bangs violently or moves across the floor.
Packing cardboard underneath it or wedging it against the worktop to hide vibration.
Forcing the door open, unscrewing a filter full of hot water or inspecting a plugged-in appliance.
Ordering bearings or suspension parts on the strength of the sound alone.

Repair, replacement and costs

If accessible checks do not explain the noise, leave the machine off and arrange assessment by a qualified appliance repair technician. Ask for the diagnosis in writing and a breakdown of call-out, labour and parts charges, including any charge if you decline the repair.

Request an explanation of whether the affected part is replaceable separately on your model. Compare the complete repair proposal with replacement and installation costs before deciding. There is no universal repair price or age at which every washing machine should be replaced.

For routine precautions, read Electrical Safety First’s washing-machine guidance, particularly its sections on loading, accessible filters and warning signs.

Your next steps in England

If the machine may have been faulty when supplied, contact the seller before paying for internal repairs. Use Citizens Advice’s faulty-goods guidance to check your options and what evidence to send. Keep proof of purchase and correspondence.

If you rent and the machine came with the home, tell your landlord or managing agent before authorising work; check your tenancy documents. This guide covers England. Select the relevant nation on the advice page for Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Good to know

A rumble can suggest internal wear, but it does not establish that bearings are responsible.
For an actual fire, follow the fire service’s emergency guidance: get out, call 999 and ask for the fire service.

Illustrative example: Daniel’s newly installed washing machine bangs during its first spin. He stops it and contacts the installer rather than trying another programme. The installer checks the transport restraints and levelling against the instructions before returning it to service.

A made-up story, for illustration.

Bobby

Sources, verification, confidence

Verified on 6 November 2026, for England. Confidence: high for isolation, loading precautions and consumer guidance; medium for interpreting noises. Bearings, suspension and trapped internal objects require assessment. No standard repair price is confirmed.