Washing Machine Making a Loud Noise During Spin Cycle

A washing machine that bangs, thumps, grinds, or screeches during the spin cycle is hard to ignore --- and it's usually trying to tell you something. Some noises are harmless and easy to fix; others are early warnings of a component about to fail. Here's what the different sounds mean.

Banging or Thumping

Unbalanced Load

The most common cause of banging during spin is an unbalanced load. When heavy items like jeans, towels, or blankets clump to one side of the drum, the machine shakes violently as it spins. It's normal for your washer to stop and try to redistribute the load --- but if it happens every cycle, check how you're loading the machine.

Fix: Open the washer, redistribute the clothes evenly around the drum, and restart the spin cycle. For bulky items, wash two at a time to keep weight balanced.

Unlevel Machine

A washer that isn't sitting level on the floor rocks and bangs during spin even with a balanced load. All four feet should make firm contact with the floor. Check with a bubble level and adjust the feet --- they're usually threaded and can be turned up or down by hand or with a wrench.

Grinding or Rumbling

Worn Drum Bearings

A low, rumbling or grinding sound during spin --- especially one that gets louder as the spin speed increases --- is the classic sign of worn drum bearings. The bearings support the inner drum and allow it to spin smoothly. When they fail, you get metal-on-metal contact.

This is a significant repair that requires disassembling much of the machine. On older washers it may not be cost-effective. On newer machines (under 7 years old) bearing replacement is usually worth doing.

Foreign Objects in the Drum

Coins, bra underwires, buttons, and small clips can slip past the drum seal and get trapped between the drum and the outer tub. They create a grinding or rattling sound that changes with drum speed. Check the drum thoroughly before calling a technician --- sometimes you can fish the object out through the drum holes or the door gasket fold.

Squealing or Squeaking

Drive Belt Wear

A squealing noise during spin often points to a worn or misaligned drive belt. The drive belt connects the motor to the drum and can develop squeaks as the rubber ages and loses flexibility. A technician can inspect and replace the belt relatively quickly.

Motor Brushes

On front-load washers with brushed motors, worn carbon motor brushes produce a high-pitched squealing sound, especially during high-speed spin. Brush replacement is a moderately priced repair that restores normal operation.

Loud Banging Against the Drum Wall

If you hear something hitting hard against the drum wall during spin, check the drum interior immediately after the cycle. A bra underwire, a forgotten item in a pocket (keys, coins), or a broken piece of the drum baffle can cause this. Remove any foreign objects before running another cycle --- they can scratch the drum or damage seals.

When to Stop Using the Machine

If the noise is accompanied by vibration severe enough to move the machine across the floor, a burning smell, or visible sparking --- stop use immediately and call a technician. These are signs of a more serious mechanical or electrical failure.