Whether in a single household or a family with children, the washing machine is one of the most important major electrical appliances. If the machine suddenly shows a defect and no longer spins properly, good advice is expensive. However, it is by no means always necessary to buy a new machine; often the existing faults can be rectified by the user and the service life of the appliance can be significantly extended.
At the latest when you take a large basket full of laundry out of your machine and it is still dripping wet, it becomes clear that the machine is no longer spinning properly. A moment of shock, after all, the machine is urgently needed. But don’t worry, before you call for service or start looking for a new washer, you should troubleshoot the problem on your own. In many cases, the cause of the problem is harmless and can be remedied with a few simple steps. Save yourself expensive repair fees or a new purchase and simply repair the cause yourself.
There are several possible sources of error if your washing machine suddenly stops spinning properly. Most of these reasons are harmless and can be solved by yourself. The most common faults are:
- Incorrect loading or incorrect location
- Fluff filter is clogged
- Pump clogged by foreign object
- Drain hose is clogged
these faults are harmless and can be treated by yourself. But the first step is to find the cause. With a front-loading machine, you can easily watch the spin cycle and get an indication of the source of the problem. If your laundry comes out of the machine wet, this does not necessarily mean that the machine is not spinning properly, but that the water is not being pumped out. The consequence is that it remains in the machine during the spin cycle and the laundry does not dry despite proper revolutions.
Location and load
The location
often the fault is not in the machine itself, but in the incorrect handling of it. Especially if the washing machine does not spin properly after a move or at a new location, you should check the location. It is important for the proper execution of the spin program that the machine has a secure location. If it is at an angle or if there is excessive movement during the spin cycle, the program may be interrupted and the laundry will remain damp.
With a spirit level you can easily check if the location of your machine is suitable. If you notice any unevenness, however, it is not necessary to move your machine to a different location. There are special mats that give your washing machine the necessary stability and ensure that it spins to the end again in the future.
The load
each washing machine has a maximum capacity of laundry it can hold. If the laundry is dry, the weight is naturally much lower and until the capacity is reached, quite a bit of laundry can be put into the drum. But there are items of clothing, such as down jackets, which soak up a lot of water and have many times their own weight when they are wet. This will overload the machine and the spin cycle will not be sufficient to dry the laundry before it is done.
When loading your washing machine, make sure that you wash very absorbent and large garments separately to avoid overloading the machine. Even with normal laundry, you should pay attention to the maximum capacity of your machine, because a constant overloading of the washing machine leads to poor washing results.
Checking and cleaning the lint filter
Tools needed:
- Possibly a screwdriver
- Old sheets, absorbent rags
- Microfiber cloth
- Lint-free towel
Every washing machine has a lint filter, which collects lint from the laundry that would otherwise get stuck in the drum. Recommendations to follow the sieve should be all two years but in everyday life this little job is often forgotten. A clogged sieve can be the cause of the machine not spinning properly.
The removal
To remove the lint filter from the machine, you must first open the lint flap. This is usually located in the lower left-hand corner of your machine. on the left and on the right you will find two levers which you can push in the direction of the center. Now the sieve can be easily removed. If the machine door is stuck, you can use a screwdriver to remove it. Before doing so, place a thick layer of old sheets or absorbent material on the floor, as residual water may leak out of the chute. Most of the time you can see the dirt with the naked eye, but especially fine lint can also settle in the meshes of the sieve and disturb the functionality of the machine.
The cleaning
You can clean the lint filter under running water without hesitation. First remove coarse dirt with your hands and the shower head, because lint and other debris can get caught. In the fine meshes and stick here quite stubbornly. Once the large pieces of dirt have been removed, take a cotton or microfiber cloth and carefully rub the outer side of the sieve. This removes fine lint that is often invisible to the naked eye.
Important: do not use abrasive cleaners such as scouring agents, as they may damage the material.
After you have already roughly cleaned the strainer, the fine work follows. Pour some water into the bathtub or sink and put the strainer in it. Wait approx. 30 minutes and then carefully rinse the strainer with the shower head. Set the highest possible water pressure to rinse all residues from the meshes of the sieve. Do not allow cleaning products to come into contact with the screen, as this will allow lint to adhere more easily later on. When the strainer is completely cleaned, wipe it dry with a lint-free towel (cotton) and reinstall it in the existing opening.
Tip: in the future, check the lint filter once a year to detect large amounts of dirt.
Checking and cleaning the pump
- Old cloths, rags
- Possibly a toothbrush
- Flashlight
The pump of your washing machine is responsible for pumping out the water. If there is a blockage caused by a foreign body, the pump can no longer do its job and the water in the machine stops. As a result, the spin cycle will no longer have any effect and the laundry will still be dripping with wetness after the wash cycle has been completed. A clogged pump doesn’t need an electrician, you can easily remove foreign bodies yourself and give your machine a new lease of life.
The access
the actual pump is protected by the lint filter and an impeller, so you must first remove the filter to reach any foreign matter. Line the floor with absorbent material or cloths beforehand, because there could be residual water Leak. To do this, open the flap on the front of your machine and remove the lint filter. If you now shine a flashlight into the opening, you can see the impeller, which is located in front of the pump.
Cleaning
this is where foreign matter that has fallen through the machine drum accumulates. With your fingers, you can already remove most of this waste. Whether buttons, large lint or even small stones, completely remove all objects that have no place in the impeller. After you have removed all dirt from the impeller, you can replace the lint filter and close the flap.
Tip: if an object has become stuck, you can often remove it effortlessly with an old toothbrush.
Clean the drain hose
- Screwdriver
- Cleaning bucket
- Degreasing dishwashing detergent
- Bathtub or large tub
If the lint filter and pump are not the cause of your machine no longer spinning properly, the drain hose is another possible source of the problem. This can also be cleaned by yourself in no time at all.
Note: the drain hose is the hose that leads away from the washing machine into the bathtub or down the drain. There, the water is removed after the machine wash. If there is a blockage here, the water can no longer flow away and it accumulates in the machine.
Disconnect the hose
before you start working, please loosen the mains plug from the socket. Pull the machine out from the wall so that you have easy access to the back wall. First, use the screwdriver to remove the clamp that attaches the hose to the drain. Place the loose end of the hose in the bucket, as it probably contains residual water that would otherwise run onto the floor. Now loosen the clamp on the washing machine and pull off the hose. Hold the hose vertically in the bucket so that all the water can drain out.
The cleaning
a thick layer of plaque usually accumulates inside the tube over the years, threatening the formation of a plug. Unfortunately, a simple rinse is usually not enough to completely clean the hose again. Pour water into the bathtub or a large tub and add at least 20 ml of dishwashing liquid add. When choosing a detergent, make sure that it has a high fat and protein dissolving power. Special protein removers are also available in stores, but a standard dishwashing detergent is actually sufficient.
Ideally, you should now leave the drain hose in the detergent solution overnight so that the slag can dissolve. If you can’t take this time, soak the hose for at least five hours, otherwise stuck plaque will not come off properly. After the reaction time, let the water drain off and unscrew the shower head from the water hose. Flush the drain hose thoroughly, using the highest water pressure. dirt and slags are now transported out of the hose, cleaning is completed when only clear water flows through the hose.
Tip: in case of heavy soiling, a bottle brush from the trade will help to remove the slag.