How to Stop a Washing Machine From Vibrating on a Wooden Floor

One day, out of the complete blue, your washing machine decides to start dancing around your home while cleaning your clothes. Sure, this may seem like a good sign to just replace the thing with a new one but wait for a sec. Put that wallet back in your pocket and hear us out: there are certain measures you can take in order to stop your appliance from vibrating every time you turn it on.

So, if you are a person who…

• owns an old washing machine;
• just bought a new appliance, but a cheaper one;
• has an unsecured wooden board floor;
• is a landlord looking to save a bit of cash from a new washing machine;
• will be moving out in a few months or so,

Then this post is definitely for you.

Why is my Washing Machine Rocking In the First Place?

Here are the most 5 most common reasons why your washing machine is vibrating:

The transit bolts are still attached to the appliance

If you just got a brand new washing machine and it started vibrating with the first wash, you most probably have some shipping materials still attached to the appliance. Typically, one shipping bolt is installed on the bottom centre on a top-loading washer and three more on its back. Also, there are additional spacers and metal clamps attached to the appliance. In some cases, specific models have even more transit materials installed on them. Make sure to check the instructions for your washing machine in order to remove the shipping materials before turning it on. If you skip this step, these bolts and clamps can cause your new machine some serious and, at times, irreversible damage.

Your washing machine is not levelled

One of the most common reasons for a vibrating washing machine is that the appliance isn’t levelled properly. When this happens, the machine starts rocking during spin cycles which causes it to lose balance. You need to make sure that all four legs of the appliance are firmly grounded. Also, if your washing machine is placed on a carpeted area or on a pedestal of sorts, the vibrating can get even worse if not balanced right.

The dampening system isn’t set properly

You see, clothes, sheets, towels and even stuffed toys just don’t distribute evenly in your washer, which creates an imbalance load. When this imbalanced load starts spinning at over 1000rpm, it creates a specific wobble that has to be absorbed by the dampening system. So far, so good. Here is where the problem occurs: If your dampers are set to absorb vibration from a concrete floor, not a wooden one, the dampening system reacts a lot slower because of the extra movements. All of this leads to the ”bouncing” washing machine.

The washer is on the cheaper side

The purchase of cheaper household appliances comes with its positive and negative sides. One of the bigger disadvantages is that they tend to be a bit on the lighter side in comparison to more expensive models. That detail in the construction of a cheaper washing machine makes it more prone to movement and vibration. Washers use a spring at the top to lift the tub back up, while in the meantime, the dampers that are located at the bottom part take care of the vibrations. Often times cheaper machines have only two springs and two dampers that don’t do much for the whole rocking situation. Overall, the more expensive washers have better suspension, which makes them a whole lot more stable.

The floor under the machine is not stable

So, your washing machine is brand new, expensive and you have removed all of the shipping materials. It’s also levelled perfectly and you’ve carefully distributed your clothing items inside, yet it still rocks around. Well, sometimes the appliance isn’t the one to blame. If the area on which you have placed the washing machine is unstable, so will be the washer. Does the floor near the machine shake and make squeaky noises when you walk over it? If yes, this may be the actual culprit for the vibrating issue.

How to Reduce Washing Machine Vibrations

Now that we’ve covered the reasoning behind the vibrations of your washer, it’s time to talk about solutions. Below you’ll find three effective methods on how to reduce washing machine vibrations on wooden floors and on other types of surfaces.

Tips on balancing your washing load

If your laundry consists of both large and small items, make sure to wash them at an even number.

Don’t overload your washing machine. Try washing fewer clothing items to see if the rocking stops. If it does, overloading is definitely the reason for your washing machine vibration problems.

Avoid underloading the appliance. If you want to wash bigger items like, for example, a blanket, make sure to add more pieces. This way you balance out the load.

Don’t put too many items in the front-load washer. Yes, there is more space in the front-load washer than in the top-loading one, but you still have to make sure not to overpack it because it may unbalance your appliance.

Arrange the clothes in your washing machine in a looser manner, rather than just stuffing them. This way you make sure that your clothes get cleaned better while enjoying some peace and quiet.

How to level your appliance

Purchase washing machine vibration pads or mats

An easy and cheap solution to your rocking washing machine problem is to buy washer pads. There isn’t a special technology behind the product. They are just small pads made from rubber which you put under your washer. The bottom part of the mat sticks to the floor while the top half is shaped like a pocket that grips your appliances feet. These rubber socks are extremely easy to put on and really do absorb the vibrations from your machine. All you need to do is place them beneath each foot of your washer and make sure they stick to the ground. This solution also protects your floor and increases the life of your washing machine.

Get help from a professional

If you tried everything we advised you to and your washing machine still continues to run around your house, the only thing left to do is get help from a professional. We here at Fantastic Services offer washing machine repairs near you that can put an end to your washer noise problems. The specially trained and insured technicians we work with can fix all models of any brand of washing machines on the market in zero time. Give us a call today and we will be more than happy to schedule you an appointment! If you need some laundry cleaned in the meantime you can always take advantage of our laundry services. All your clothes will be taken, cleaned and delivered back to you within 24 hours of booking.

Takeaways

• Not every washing machine out there is made the same.
• Some have more specific configurations and while one solution can work for a particular model, it may not work for another.
• That’s why we advise you to call an expert to inspect the appliance for you.
• This way you save a lot of time and most importantly – you don’t risk hurting yourself.
• Although not directly related to the vibrations, you should regularly clean the washing machine to prolong its life.

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We hope you found this post helpful and don’t forget to share your experience on how to reduce washing machine vibrations in the comment section below.

Image source: shutterstock / Africa Studio