Whitegoods Help article

Washing Machine is Noisy

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Quick Answer

The most common cause of a noisy washing machine on spin is worn drum bearings – identified by a constant rumbling during spin that can be heard when the drum is spun by hand. Other causes include foreign objects between the drum and tub, pump obstructions, a recirculation pump fault, or a trapped bra wire. The noise type and when it occurs are the key diagnostic clues.

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Do not ignore washing machine noises

Some noises are harmless. Others, if left unattended, will cause progressive damage that ends in a write-off. A noise that could have been fixed cheaply becomes an expensive or irreparable fault over time. If you cannot identify the cause, get it checked – ignoring noises is a risk with real consequences.

This is Part 1 of the noisy washing machine guide. It covers the most serious and common noise causes. Part 2 covers squealing, knocking, rattling, clicking, and motor-related noises.

Quick Reference: Noise Type and Likely Cause

Noise When Most likely cause
Constant rumbling or roaring Spin, audible when drum spun by hand Worn drum bearings
Loud bang or crash each revolution Spin, especially with heavy loads Cracked drum spider, or coin/object loose in tub
Grinding or grating Draining Object in pump – check filter and impeller
Continuous noise even when drum is still Wash cycle only Recirculation pump bearing failure
Light scraping or ratcheting Wash and spin Bra underwire trapped between drum and outer tub

Rumbling on Spin: Worn Drum Bearings

Worn drum bearings are the single most common cause of a noisy washing machine on spin. The noise is a constant rumble or roar that is present throughout any spin – it does not come and go. It can be confirmed by opening the door and spinning the drum firmly by hand. If you hear the same rumbling noise, the bearings are the prime suspect.

Isolate the bearing noise

For a more accurate test, remove the drive belt from the motor and spin the drum by hand. Spinning without the belt means you are not turning the motor at the same time, which isolates the drum bearing noise from any motor-related noise. See our guide on what noisy drum bearings sound like for audio examples.

Checking for Excessive Drum Play

Grab the top of the drum through the door (at the top lip, behind the door seal) and try to lift it upward. This reveals how much wear has occurred in the bearings and drum shaft.

✅ Normal

No movement, or just a fraction. The entire tub may move slightly on its springs – this is normal. What should not be present is the drum moving up within the tub.

❌ Bearings worn

The drum lifts visibly and drops back down. This play should be consistent all the way around the drum if bearings are the cause. Play at one specific point only suggests a drum spider fault (see below).

Rust Patch Underneath the Machine

A brown rust stain on the floor beneath the machine, or on the inside of the base plate, is a further sign of bearing failure. There are two small drainage holes at the back of the bearing housing – when the bearing seal fails and water enters the bearing, it trickles out through these holes carrying rust and grease with it. The stain is not always present, but when visible it is a reliable indicator.

Is a Drum Bearing Replacement Worthwhile?

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Many modern machines have sealed drums that cannot be repaired

For many years, most washing machines have been built with plastic outer tubs where the bearings are moulded into the tub itself, requiring specialist extraction tools and a full tub replacement rather than a bearing swap. More recently, some models have completely sealed outer casings where the entire heavy tub must be removed to access anything. Before committing to a bearing repair, confirm whether bearings are available and replaceable on your specific model. On many machines, the repair cost exceeds the value of the machine. See our guide on repairing a plastic outer drum.

Banging or Crashing: Drum Spider Fault

The drum spider is the three-armed metal bracket at the back of the drum that connects the drum to its central shaft. If one of the three arms has broken, corroded, or detached from the drum, it causes a pronounced noise – typically a loud bang or crash on each revolution as the loose arm strikes the inside of the outer tub.

This is distinct from bearing noise. Bearing noise is constant throughout the revolution. Spider noise typically occurs at one or more specific points per revolution – where the damaged arm passes a particular position.

To check: lift the drum and check for play at different points around its circumference. Bearing wear causes play all the way around. A broken spider arm causes play or movement at a specific location only – or a loose, clunking sensation at one point as the drum is turned by hand.

Horrendous Noise on Spin: Coin or Object in the Tub

A coin or similar hard object trapped between the inner drum and the outer tub will make a tremendous noise on spin as it is repeatedly struck by the rotating drum. It typically makes little noise during the wash cycle when drum speed is low, but becomes loud on spin.

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This is serious on machines with plastic outer tubs

Most modern washing machines have plastic outer tubs. A hard object being struck repeatedly by the inner drum at spin speed can punch through the plastic tub, destroying the machine entirely. If you suspect an object is trapped in the tub, do not run the machine on spin until it has been retrieved or confirmed to have fallen clear.

Evidence of a past or present obstruction includes dents or creases in the inner drum surface. However, these may indicate a historical obstruction that has since fallen into the sump hose or filter rather than one still present.

To check whether an object is still inside, drain the machine fully, then tilt it from side to side or tip it gently backwards and forwards. A loose object may slide and reveal its presence by sound. Objects sometimes fall through the hole in the base of the inner tub into the sump hose, where they can be retrieved by removing the filter or the sump hose. See our guide on removing something stuck in the drum.

Noise Only When Draining: Pump Obstruction

Buttons, hair grips, bra wires, and small plastic objects can find their way into the pump via the filter. A grinding or grating noise that only occurs when the machine is emptying water is the typical symptom of an obstruction inside the pump chamber striking the rotating impeller.

Check the pump filter first – see our guide on washing machine pump filter. If the filter is clear, the obstruction may be inside the pump body itself. The pump’s own bearings can fail, but this is much less common than an obstruction as the cause of pump noise. See our guide on washing machine pumps for full diagnostic guidance.

Noise Only on Wash (Not Rinse or Spin): Recirculation Pump

Some washing machines have a separate recirculation pump that circulates wash water back into the drum during the wash phase. If a strange continuous noise is present on the wash cycle but disappears on rinse and spin cycles – and crucially is still present even when the drum is stationary – the recirculation pump is the most likely source. Worn bearings in a recirculation pump will cause a persistent hum or grinding that is not related to drum rotation.

Light Scraping or Ratcheting Noise: Bra Underwire

A light continuous scraping, ratcheting, or intermittent clicking that appears when the drum turns is one of the most common noise complaints and is frequently caused by a bra underwire that has worked its way out of the fabric and become trapped between the inner drum and the outer tub.

Unlike the banging of a coin, the underwire is flexible and not usually strong enough to cause serious damage – though it can snag clothing and may eventually work its way into the pump and cause a blockage.

  1. Check the inner drum surface for a wire poking through one of the drum holes. If visible, it can sometimes be pulled back in from inside the door.
  2. Check under the machine with the sump hose removed – the wire sometimes ends up in the base of the outer tub and can be retrieved from there.
  3. Remove the dispenser hose and slowly rotate the drum by hand. If the wire has moved within reach of the dispenser hose opening, it may be retrievable.
  4. If none of these methods work, the machine may need partial disassembly to retrieve the wire. Leaving it in place is an option if the noise is minor – it is unlikely to cause structural damage, but monitor it.

Need a Qualified Engineer?

Drum bearing replacement, spider arm failure, and objects inside the tub can all be difficult to address without experience. A competent engineer can diagnose and advise quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my washing machine so loud on spin?

The most common cause is worn drum bearings – identified by a constant rumbling throughout the spin that is also audible when the drum is spun by hand with the machine empty and unplugged. Other causes include a coin or object trapped between the drum and outer tub (causing intermittent banging), or a cracked drum spider arm (causing a bang or knock at a specific point in each revolution).

How do I know if my washing machine drum bearings have gone?

Open the door and spin the drum firmly by hand. If you hear a constant rumbling or roaring throughout the spin, the bearings are likely worn. Also check for excessive play by grabbing the top of the drum and trying to lift it – worn bearings allow the drum to move up and down. A rust stain on the floor beneath the machine is a further indicator.

Is it dangerous to keep using a noisy washing machine?

It depends on the cause. A coin trapped between the drum and a plastic outer tub is potentially very serious – it can punch through the tub on spin and destroy the machine. Worn bearings left too long can cause the drum shaft to fail completely. A bra wire scraping is less urgent but can cause clothing damage and eventual pump blockage. Any noise of unknown cause should be investigated rather than ignored.

What is a drum spider and how do I know if it has broken?

The drum spider is the three-armed metal bracket at the rear of the inner drum that connects the drum to its central shaft. A broken arm causes a bang or knock at one or more specific points per revolution rather than a constant rumble. Grab the drum and check for play while rotating it – a broken spider shows up as movement or clunking at a specific position rather than uniformly around the drum.

Last reviewed: April 2026.

Discussion

52 Comments

Grouped into 30 comment threads.

Dave 7 replies I have looked at my washing machine after it was making a noise when it was running, I have also looked at faults in the book and I think that the drum / spider at the back has broken or come away, any idea how to check this as I can't see how thanks

I have looked at my washing machine after it was making a noise when it was running, I have also looked at faults in the book and I think that the drum / spider at the back has broken or come away, any idea how to check this as I can’t see how thanks

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Likely replying to Dave

Hi Dave, I mention this in the article, “Lifting the drum checking for excessive play but turning it all the way around and checking in different spots can often reveal a broken or loose drum spider, which sometimes only occurs at certain points round the drum (the spider has three arms and is bolted to the drum at three points)”. Other than that you’d have to strip it completely down. Many washing machines have sealed tubs these days so you can’t strip them down or the drum spider is not available as a spare. Check on Spares4Appliances to see what spares are available for your washing machine.

Sarah

Likely replying to Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Thank you Andy…. I have fixed my machine by virtue of your clear instructions…

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Likely replying to Sarah

Thank you Sarah. I try to cover all possibilities, which can make some of my articles quite long. The problem these days is most of us rarely sit and carefully read articles, particularly on the Internet. So many of my articles are not going to help unless you read them properly, which is hopefully what you did. :)

Liz Templar

Likely replying to Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Hi Andy-
I ended up here just wondering if there was anything I could do about the noise levels of my brand new Whirlpool WWDC7440. It’s all firmly seated on the floor and doesn’t move around when in use, the packing bolts were removed etc, and so it seems to just be a noisy machine.
It makes quite a racket when the water fills, but the main problem is the constant ‘chugging’ noise – esp when it’s getting ready to spin, which in itself is pretty piercing. A few reviewers of this machine have said that it has a noisy pump, although, oddly, most reviewers have said that the machine is very quiet! Go figure.
I’m guessing I’m just going to have to live with it until I can save for a new – and hopefully quieter – machine?

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Likely replying to Liz Templar

Hello Liz. Whirlpool tend to be a budget washing machine. In the UK they are not particularly sturdily built. Your problem is trying to decide if there is an actual fault, or it’s just a noisy machine. The water pump on all washing machines tends to be relatively noisy, but of course the cheaper machines are likely to be the worst. Ironically as motors have quietened down the water pump noise is much clearer. This effect is most noticeable on really high build washing machines where the main motor is almost silent so all you can hear is the pump. Pumps do not need to be noisy, they could be built much better, but in most machines they are cheap and noisy especially when pumping air.

In other words whilst ever water is rushing through the pump it isn’t so bad but as soon as most of the water has gone pumps can make a horrible chugging and slurping noise.

When you say it makes a racket when the water fills the only thing happening when it’s filling is water going into the machine so it shouldn’t make any noise other than the noise of the water rushing in. If you have high water pressure you can try turning the pressure down a bit by adjusting the washing machine tap. It may be possible to drastically reduce the noise this way. The reviewers that say the machine is very quiet may be speaking relatively. In other words if their old washing machine was extremely noisy and worn out compared to the old one it may very well be pretty quiet. :-)

David

Likely replying to Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Hi Andy. Thank you for producing such an excellent source of helpful information.
As our Zanussi Jetstream 1600 (which has done exceptionally well for over a decade) is now starting to whine all the time, I am torn between replacing the bearings, or buying new.
With a nod to build design and quality, which brands or models do you recommend without access to an unlimited budget.

Thanks again.

David

jayne smith 5 replies just got a new to me hotpoint aquarius extra wma40-42, the spin cycle is really loud, it's not unbalanced, there's no loose change, the feet are even- it just sounds like a normal spin only a really loud one. any ideas

just got a new to me hotpoint aquarius extra wma40-42, the spin cycle is really loud, it’s not unbalanced, there’s no loose change, the feet are even- it just sounds like a normal spin only a really loud one. any ideas

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Likely replying to jayne smith

Hello Jayne. It’s probably wear in the bearings, possibly the motor or the drum and motor. Depending how old it is they may just be noisy now.

Jenny

Likely replying to Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Hi Andy
I wonder if you can help me. My 3 year old washing machine has started making a knocking noise. It seems to knock once for every revolution, irrespective of whether the drum is spinning, washing, full, or if I do it by hand when it is empty. It is a very hollow kind of knocking noise – definitely not the bearings.
It is a Hoover DYN 9164 DPG

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Likely replying to Jenny

Jenny, main suspect would be a loose drum weight. Unplug machine and take the lid off then shake the drum about to see if you can make it do the knocking noise and identify where it’s coming from. There are often concrete drum weights on top of the outer drum, underneath and or bolted to the front. They often come loose and if left can destroy the outer drum.

paul

Likely replying to Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Hi Andy,
Very interesting to read all the comments, and problems. Our Hoover washing machine has once again started sounding like a jet engine when spinning. I say once again, as I actually changed the drum bearings about 5 years ago, and what a mamouth diy job it was. I won’t be attempting it again, so was wondering how long have I got to decide, buy, and get delivered a new washing machine, before the bearings go catastrophically wrong.

Thanks
Paul

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Likely replying to paul

Hello Paul. Thanks for posting your experience. Yes it is a massive job to replace drum bearings and one I definitely don’t advise attempting it as a DIY job unless you are really hard-core DIY. To make absolutely sure it is the drum bearings you need to disconnect the drive belt clear from the drum pulley at the back and then spin the drum from inside using one of the drum paddles. If the noise is there then it’s definitely the drum. Believe it or not I once did actually strip down drum bearings and replace them because I was in too much of a rush and too complacent but it turned out to be the motor bearings which sounded remarkably like drum bearings. I only ever did it once but it just proves that it is possible for a motor to develop bearing faults that sound very similar to drum bearings. I also know of another engineer who ordered an entire new drum and bearing kit for a customer which I went out to fit and I found that the rumbling noise was coming from a very badly worn drive belt and the drum bearings were perfectly okay.

If the drum bearings are causing the noise it is difficult to guess how long they will last. As you could imagine depends very much on use but also if the bearings are failing because water is leaking into them, which is the most common cause of drum bearing failure, then it depends exactly how much water is getting onto them. Drum bearings can rumble on noisily for many many months or they can suddenly decline. One marker is play in the drum. The more you can lift the drum up and down on its shaft from the front lip the less grease there is left and the more wear there there is on the bearings and drum shaft – and the more they are likely to collapse.

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp) 3 replies I've never heard of a washing machine catching fire caused by drum bearings, or drum bearings causing a flood. However, running the machine with an obviously serious fault has risks and you never know what might happen. If desperate I would advise not letting it spin much at all because it's on spin where most of the damage and friction takes place. I would also keep a close eye on the machine and not leave it unattended.

I’ve never heard of a washing machine catching fire caused by drum bearings, or drum bearings causing a flood. However, running the machine with an obviously serious fault has risks and you never know what might happen. If desperate I would advise not letting it spin much at all because it’s on spin where most of the damage and friction takes place. I would also keep a close eye on the machine and not leave it unattended.

Mancho

Likely replying to Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Hey Andy, amazing article and interesting comments. I cannot find an answer anywhere though, so hope you can give me some fast help. We bought a new Indesit IWCN 61051 X9. It’s a budget machine but didn’t expect it to make such noises from the very beginning. Transportation bolts have been removed and I had to balance the machine with one of the legs since the floor seems uneven. Trying to move it back and forth and side to side by hand and it seems stable.

The problem appears at the end of the wash and rinse cycles when the machine does some load balancing and light spinning. The moment it starts the spin, the machine vibrates quite a lot and squeaks. The squeaking seems to be coming from the back left side (sounds like a shock absorber, but go figure). Usually squeaking when starting and stopping the spin at the lowest rpms.

During the spin cycle though it does not vibrate so much and the squeaking is gone. I am absolutely clueless as to what it might be…

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Likely replying to Mancho

Thanks Mancho. When troubleshooting a noise like that you need to disconnect the washer from the main and take off the top and back panel. Then manually bounce and move the tub around to see if you can create the noise. After that it’s literally down to working out where the noise is coming from. Include in you checks the chassis to make sure it hasn’t got a loose weld and the feet.

Mancho

Likely replying to Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Andy, thank you for the swift reply. I couldn’t wait for your answer so opened the machine’s top and back and started moving the drum. Well it is one of the suspension springs causing the squeaks. Put some WD-40 on it and now is as good as new, but I think the WD-40 won’t last for too long. Any recommendations on what lubricant to use? Silicon one seems to be recommended all over the internet for squeaking springs of any kind.

Thanks once again for your help!!!

emma gallagher 2 replies Hi, the bearings have gone in my machine to which I have an engineer coming out to fix, I was just wondering if there is any way to prevent this from happening again in the future as the machine is only 3 years old and I cant keep up this repair business every 3 years?

Hi, the bearings have gone in my machine to which I have an engineer coming out to fix, I was just wondering if there is any way to prevent this from happening again in the future as the machine is only 3 years old and I cant keep up this repair business every 3 years?

Andy Trigg

Likely replying to emma gallagher

Hello Emma, sadly there is nothing you can do other than not overloading the machine. Drum bearing failure is usually caused by water getting into them when the seal protecting them fails. In my opinion, it’s poor design and build quality to blame. In the old days drum bearings did not used to fail like they do today. It would be highly unusual for a three year old washing machine to have drum bearing failure. Sadly these days with some machines it’s relatively common and combined with the fact that they are often designed to be unrepairable without replacing the whole outer drum (or the back half) many washing machines gets scrapped when the bearings fail.

emma gallagher

Hi Andy,
Thanks for your quick response. That’s a shame to hear, thankfully I have taken out extended warranty which is covering the repair this time but I think I shall look into a new machine next time. Which brand would you recommend for future reference?

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp) 1 reply A crackling noise can be caused by worn brushes in the motor which is mentioned at the bottom of part two of my noisy washing machine causes .
Lesley

Likely replying to Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Hi Andy, I have a 6 month old Samsung EcoBubble washer & it’s started making a very loud high pitched noise on the spin cycle. I’ve tried several speeds & different wash cycles but problem persists. It also didn’t seem to wash the clothes as effectively on last few washes. I’ve wiggled the drum as you’ve recommended to others on previous posts & it doesn’t appear to be loose. I’ve checked the filter too & that was debris-free. There’s no visible obstruction inside the drum either. Wondering what it could be before I call out a repair person in case it costs the earth. Thanks

Michelle 1 reply Hi there, I have a Hotpoint Futura which I've had for about 2 or 3 years. For the last couple of weeks the spin has been noisy, it doesn't feel smooth to rotate by hand . I'm not sure if it's the bearings or something easier to fix as although the drum is loose it's not moving up or down. It swings from back to front. Can you advise ne on possible causes please? Thanks

Hi there, I have a Hotpoint Futura which I’ve had for about 2 or 3 years. For the last couple of weeks the spin has been noisy, it doesn’t feel smooth to rotate by hand . I’m not sure if it’s the bearings or something easier to fix as although the drum is loose it’s not moving up or down. It swings from back to front. Can you advise ne on possible causes please?
Thanks

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Likely replying to Michelle

Hello Michelle, you need to take off the drive belt. When you turn the drum by hand you are moving the drum, the drive belt, and the motor, so the noise could be coming from any of those three. By removing the belt and making sure it isn’t catching on anything you can then turn the drum and see if the noise is definitely caused by the drum or not. If it is, then unless you can sense there is something stuck inside it is most probably worn drum bearings.

Stacey Kuzan 1 reply I had a swan washing machine delivered yesterday, it's making noise when drum is turning it's a high pitched noise and got worse as day went on,any advise would be appreciated.

I had a swan washing machine delivered yesterday, it’s making noise when drum is turning it’s a high pitched noise and got worse as day went on,any advise would be appreciated.

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Likely replying to Stacey Kuzan

Hello Stacey. It’s very rare for a brand-new washing machine to be noisy. The first thing is to make absolutely sure all of the transit packing has been removed in case the motor is catching on something.

caroline 1 reply Hi i have a swan washing machine and it was making a noise when spinning, then just stopped....i pulled the machine out and the belt was on the floor, could that have caused the noise or do i need a new washing machine.

Hi i have a swan washing machine and it was making a noise when spinning, then just stopped….i pulled the machine out and the belt was on the floor, could that have caused the noise or do i need a new washing machine.

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp)

Likely replying to caroline

Hello Caroline, if it’s been rumbling on spin for a while it could be the drum bearings have been going and have finally collapsed. If the belt came off quite quickly after the noise started it could be just the drum pulley has come loose. Belts sometimes just come off for no apparent reason. Check my article here out – Belt Keeps Coming Off Washing Machine

Clare 1 reply Hi My Hotpoint Ultima WT761 has for the last month sounded like an airplane taking off so after reading your article, i am assuming it is the bearings. It has been with me for 8 years and 4 of those including the daily chore of washing children's clothes so generally i think it's done well. I was wondering in your opinion how long a machine should last these days with an average once a day use, will check out your recommendation article as that was going to be my next question for the next purchase. Thanks Clare

Hi
My Hotpoint Ultima WT761 has for the last month sounded like an airplane taking off so after reading your article, i am assuming it is the bearings. It has been with me for 8 years and 4 of those including the daily chore of washing children’s clothes so generally i think it’s done well.
I was wondering in your opinion how long a machine should last these days with an average once a day use, will check out your recommendation article as that was going to be my next question for the next purchase.
Thanks
Clare

Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp) 0 replies If the drum is stiff or stuck combined with being very noisy before the suspects are an obstruction jamming the drum, worn or collapsed drum bearings or a fault on the drum itself. Use the article advice starting at, "Washing machine rumbling, and very noisy on spin" to try and determine which one it is.

If the drum is stiff or stuck combined with being very noisy before the suspects are an obstruction jamming the drum, worn or collapsed drum bearings or a fault on the drum itself. Use the article advice starting at, “Washing machine rumbling, and very noisy on spin” to try and determine which one it is.