Your washing machine should hum quietly in the background while it handles your laundry. So when it starts banging against the walls, grinding through spin cycles, or squealing loudly enough to hear from across the house, it gets your attention fast — and for good reason.
Not all washing machine noises are equal. Some are harmless and easy to fix yourself. Others point to a failing component that will only get worse over time. Here's what the different sounds typically mean.
Banging or Thumping During the Spin Cycle
This is one of the most common washer complaints we hear at Mend It. A washing machine that bangs or thumps loudly during the spin cycle is usually an unbalanced load — clothes bunched up on one side of the drum — which is harmless and easily solved by redistributing the laundry.
However, if the banging persists even with balanced loads, or if it has suddenly gotten much worse, you may be looking at:
- Worn or failed drum bearings — a deep, rumbling bang that gets louder over time
- Damaged shock absorbers or suspension springs — the drum is not being held in place properly
- A damaged or loose drum paddle/baffle — hitting the drum wall on every rotation
Grinding Sounds During the Wash or Spin Cycle
A grinding noise almost always indicates a mechanical problem rather than a simple fix. Common causes include:
- Foreign objects caught in the drum — coins, buttons, or underwire from bras can get lodged between the drum and the tub
- Worn motor bearings — a grinding or metal-on-metal sound that worsens over time
- Failing water pump — a grinding or humming during the drain cycle can indicate the pump is struggling
Quick test: Put your hand on the drum and rotate it manually with the washer off. If you hear or feel grinding, you likely have worn bearings — a repair best left to a professional.
Squealing or Squeaking Noises
High-pitched squealing or squeaking from a washing machine is most often caused by a worn or slipping belt (on older belt-driven models), a failing motor, or worn drum glides — the small plastic pieces that support the drum. Squealing can also come from a water inlet valve that's not fully opening or closing.
In most cases, squealing signals a worn component that should be replaced before it fails completely. If ignored, a worn belt or bearing will eventually cause the machine to stop mid-cycle.
Loud Clicking or Rattling
Clicking during the wash cycle is often a small item like a coin, button, or zipper pull that got into the drum. Before calling anyone, check the drum carefully — look inside the drum holes and around the gasket on front-loaders.
If you've checked and there's no obvious foreign object, clicking could be a loose drum or tub, or a failing lid switch on a top-loader. Rattling during spin is sometimes caused by improperly installed shipping bolts on a recently moved machine — always make sure those are removed.
Vibrating So Hard It Moves Across the Floor
An excessively vibrating washing machine that "walks" across the floor during spin cycles usually comes down to two causes: an unleveled machine, or worn shock absorbers/suspension. Check that all four feet are firmly on the ground and that the machine is level. If it's leveled but still moving excessively, the shock absorbers may need replacement.
🔧 Washer Still Noisy After Checking These Things?
If you've checked the simple causes and the noise persists, it's time to call a professional. Call Mend It Appliance Repair at (818) 588-2183 — we offer same-day washer repair across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Our $50 diagnostic fee is applied toward the repair.
When to Stop Using Your Washer
Stop using your washing machine immediately and call for repair if you notice: sparking or burning smells, water leaking from underneath, or a noise that has suddenly become significantly louder or changed character. Continuing to run a washing machine in these conditions can cause further damage and, in rare cases, poses a safety risk.