Washing machine making metallic scraping noise
A metallic scraping or rasping noise when the washing machine drum revolves is very commonly caused by a bra underwire that has worked loose and slipped through a drum hole into the space between the drum and the outer tub. Check the drum holes first – if the wire is visible and accessible, it can often be retrieved without disassembly. If it cannot be seen, it will need parts removed to locate and extract it.
Why Bra Underwires Cause Scraping Noises
The inner drum of a washing machine rotates inside a fixed outer tub. There is a small gap between the two. A bra underwire that escapes from the bra during washing is thin and stiff enough to pass through one of the holes in the drum wall and lodge in this gap. As the drum rotates, the wire scrapes or catches against the outer tub – producing a persistent metallic rasping or scraping sound that occurs on every revolution.
The noise is distinctive – regular, rhythmic, and clearly metallic. It is different from the thumping of an unbalanced load or the grinding of a worn bearing. If the drum makes a light scraping sound consistently as it turns, a foreign object between drum and tub is the most likely cause.
What to Check First
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Unplug the machine.
Before investigating any noise inside the drum, always disconnect the machine from the mains supply.
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Look through the drum holes for the wire.
Rotate the drum slowly by hand and inspect the holes as they pass. A bra underwire is sometimes visible poking through a hole or caught at the edge of one. Use a torch to see into the gap. If the wire is visible and the end is accessible, it may be possible to hook it back out through the hole with a piece of stiff wire or long-nosed pliers.
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Check the door seal.
Items sometimes become trapped in the fold of the door seal rather than passing through the drum holes. Run a finger around the full inner circumference of the seal to check for anything embedded in the rubber.
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If the wire is not visible – disassembly is required.
If the wire has fallen fully into the tub space and cannot be seen or reached through the drum holes, the machine needs to be disassembled to retrieve it. This typically involves removing the rear panel or front panel depending on the make. See our guide on how to remove something stuck in a washing machine drum for the full process, or book a repair engineer to do this safely.
How to Prevent It Happening Again
Bra underwires escape during washing when the bra’s casing stitching fails. Once the stitching breaks, the wire can pull out of the fabric channel and pass through a drum hole on the next wash.
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Wash bras in a mesh laundry bag. A zipped mesh bag keeps the bra contained throughout the wash and prevents the underwire from escaping into the drum even if the casing stitching fails. This is the most reliable prevention method. See our guide on protecting bras when washing. -
Check bra casing stitching regularly. Run a finger along the base channel of each underwired bra before washing. If the stitching has broken or the wire is beginning to poke through, repair or retire the bra before washing it again. -
Use a cooler wash temperature for bras. High temperatures accelerate the breakdown of the delicate fabric and stitching in underwired bras. A 30 or 40 degree wash extends their life significantly.
Other Causes of Scraping or Noisy Washing Machines
Related Guides
Washing Machine Is NoisyFull guide to washing machine noises – scraping, grinding, banging, and rattling, and what each indicates.
Remove Something Stuck in the DrumHow to retrieve items from the tub space when they cannot be reached through the drum holes.
Protecting Bras in the Washing MachineHow to wash underwired bras safely to protect both the garment and the machine.
Washing Machine Pump FilterSmall items can also end up in the pump filter – how to check and clean it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes a metallic scraping noise in a washing machine?
The most common cause is a foreign object – typically a bra underwire, coin, or small metal item – that has passed through a hole in the drum and become lodged in the gap between the rotating drum and the fixed outer tub. As the drum turns, the object scrapes against the tub wall. Other causes include a worn drum bearing (which produces a continuous grinding), or an object caught in the pump (which produces noise during draining).
Can I keep using the washing machine if there is a scraping noise?
Not recommended. A metal object in the tub gap can damage the outer tub, drum seal, or drum itself if left to continue scraping. In some cases a bra underwire can work its way into the pump or heating element area, causing more serious damage. Retrieve the object as soon as possible. If it cannot be reached through the drum holes, arrange for a repair engineer to disassemble the machine.
How do I stop bra underwires getting into the drum?
Always wash underwired bras inside a zipped mesh laundry bag. This prevents the wire from escaping into the drum even if the bra’s casing stitching fails during the wash. Check the underwire channel stitching regularly and repair or replace bras where stitching has broken before washing them again.
14 Comments
Grouped into 13 comment threads.
1 reply Hi, Hoping you can help me please My hotpoint washing machine makes an annoying 'churping cricket' sound when it pumps out! Its not effecting the machine just annoying me to the point i want to fix it
0 replies Good work Martin :-)
Good work Martin :-)
0 replies You legend, this was exactly the problem we just found, just read this post in time before my father in law started opening the whole awaking machine and played expert :)
You legend, this was exactly the problem we just found, just read this post in time before my father in law started opening the whole awaking machine and played expert :)
0 replies Could be the pump. Does it only make the noise when it starts to empty the water?
Could be the pump. Does it only make the noise when it starts to empty the water?
0 replies My Beko WM7147W washing machine has developed a new sound! as it moves from wash/rinse to spin and just as the drum is turning slowly, for about 5-10 seconds it makes a noise just like a machine gun. I've looked for the obvious, cleaned the filter and can find nothing visible. The machine seems to complete its cycles. Any ideas as to what the cause is are welcome. Regards Ian
My Beko WM7147W washing machine has developed a new sound! as it moves from wash/rinse to spin and just as the drum is turning slowly, for about 5-10 seconds it makes a noise just like a machine gun. I’ve looked for the obvious, cleaned the filter and can find nothing visible. The machine seems to complete its cycles. Any ideas as to what the cause is are welcome.
Regards
Ian
0 replies yes after finding the bra wire between the tub and drum(from where the sound was coming-in my case it was in right side in my machine drum) i was thinking its impossible to take it out. but I took a normal metallic hair pin and opened its leg and make an L shape ( u can take a wire hanger of your wardrobe perhaps) and put in too the center of the curve of the bra wire and spin the drum with hands gently in order to move it. but in the first turn one head of the bra wire came out from a hole of one (out of three) of the projected plastic parts from its top (plez don't think the wire will come out from steel drum, it will come out from one of the hole made on the top surface of projected plastic areas on the side walls of drum), which help to move the cloths in the drum while washing or spinning (some machines have three or four. mine has 3)...total time which i spent was only 5 mints...feel lucky....when i found the wire in my hand, the shape was still curve from the front ...but the same curve turned out like an S shape from side pose. it is perfect shape which help to take it out. good luck.
yes after finding the bra wire between the tub and drum(from where the sound was coming-in my case it was in right side in my machine drum) i was thinking its impossible to take it out. but I took a normal metallic hair pin and opened its leg and make an L shape ( u can take a wire hanger of your wardrobe perhaps) and put in too the center of the curve of the bra wire and spin the drum with hands gently in order to move it. but in the first turn one head of the bra wire came out from a hole of one (out of three) of the projected plastic parts from its top (plez don’t think the wire will come out from steel drum, it will come out from one of the hole made on the top surface of projected plastic areas on the side walls of drum), which help to move the cloths in the drum while washing or spinning (some machines have three or four. mine has 3)…total time which i spent was only 5 mints…feel lucky….when i found the wire in my hand, the shape was still curve from the front …but the same curve turned out like an S shape from side pose. it is perfect shape which help to take it out. good luck.
0 replies Nice one Alan. Thanks for the feedback and tip.
Nice one Alan. Thanks for the feedback and tip.
0 replies I had a metal bra wire that had worked it's way between the drum and the tub, my wife had said she had found one missing when she had last washed. It was not actually touching the rotating drum - no sounds, but I thought it could do some damage if it moved or went into the pump. I removed the back of the washing machine and my wife shone a powerful spot lamp at the plastic tub. I then spun the drum round and from inside the drum I could see exactly where the wire was lying - it had jammed around the heater coil. But with a very slim screwdriver and being very careful I managed to move the wire working from each hole until I got it to the drain hole, where I could remove it easily. What a relief, but, although it took a bit of time, it saved completely dismantling the machine. Hope this helps others.
I had a metal bra wire that had worked it’s way between the drum and the tub, my wife had said she had found one missing when she had last washed. It was not actually touching the rotating drum – no sounds, but I thought it could do some damage if it moved or went into the pump. I removed the back of the washing machine and my wife shone a powerful spot lamp at the plastic tub. I then spun the drum round and from inside the drum I could see exactly where the wire was lying – it had jammed around the heater coil. But with a very slim screwdriver and being very careful I managed to move the wire working from each hole until I got it to the drain hole, where I could remove it easily. What a relief, but, although it took a bit of time, it saved completely dismantling the machine. Hope this helps others.
0 replies I have found it is possible (but fiddly) to remove such items by taking off the pump hole at the drum and turning the drum while carefully feeling inside for the offending article. Tipping he machine and shaking a bit can help. Worth a try before stripping the machine.
I have found it is possible (but fiddly) to remove such items by taking off the pump hole at the drum and turning the drum while carefully feeling inside for the offending article. Tipping he machine and shaking a bit can help. Worth a try before stripping the machine.
0 replies I also wanted to thank you!! exactly the same problem - 1 metal bra support. Saved a call out fee. Happy new year
I also wanted to thank you!!
exactly the same problem – 1 metal bra support. Saved a call out fee.
Happy new year
0 replies Fantastic - you just saved me a load of £££ (especially as it was a Servis, no warranty!) as my machine was making the same grating sound and I spotted the bra wire sticking out. Carefully removed it and it's good as new again! Thank you!!
Fantastic – you just saved me a load of £££ (especially as it was a Servis, no warranty!) as my machine was making the same grating sound and I spotted the bra wire sticking out. Carefully removed it and it’s good as new again!
Thank you!!
0 replies I once had a fridge making a chirping noise which turned out to be a smoke alarm at the back of it with battery going. Other than that if it has a chirping sound built into it to communicate option button presses or the end of a wash etc. it must either be faulty or trying to tell you something. Try checking instruction book to see if it says anything about it. Maybe there's a fault on the circuit board though.
I once had a fridge making a chirping noise which turned out to be a smoke alarm at the back of it with battery going.
Other than that if it has a chirping sound built into it to communicate option button presses or the end of a wash etc. it must either be faulty or trying to tell you something. Try checking instruction book to see if it says anything about it. Maybe there’s a fault on the circuit board though.
0 replies My sister has a clothes washing machine that makes a seeping chirping noise even while the machine is off. It doesn't last long, however; it lasts long enough to awaken her from a sleep (She is a light sleeper). MIght there be a capacitor or some other electrical storer that can leak out electricity, making a noise? Thanks for your interest. SKip
My sister has a clothes washing machine that makes a seeping chirping noise even while the machine is off. It doesn’t last long, however; it lasts long enough to awaken her from a sleep (She is a light sleeper). MIght there be a capacitor or some other electrical storer that can leak out electricity, making a noise? Thanks for your interest.
SKip
Hi,
Hoping you can help me please
My hotpoint washing machine makes an annoying ‘churping cricket’ sound when it pumps out!
Its not effecting the machine just annoying me to the point i want to fix it
Likely replying to Julie woods
Hello Julie. Of course without hearing the sound it’s hard to comment. The first thing I would do is check the pump filter and inside the pump to make sure there is nothing catching on the impeller.