Can You Make a Washing Machine Quieter

Doing laundry is just one of those things that has to be done, usually at least once a week.

Sometimes, though it can get in the way of your everyday life, especially if your washing machine happens to start making a lot of noise.

This can be really annoying and distracting if you’re trying to watch TV, listen to music or get work done.

There can be a lot of reasons why your washing machine might be loud when it’s running. Usually, this will be something you can fix yourself at home, especially if it’s a noise that’s only recently started. If the washing machine has been loud from the start, then this may be a more complicated issue with the machine.

In this piece, we’ll look at possible reasons why your washing machine might be running loud as well as methods you can use yourself to make your machine run quieter.

Why Your Washing Machine Might Be Loud

There can be a lot of reasons why your washing machine is running loud.

A lot of these come down to your washing machine either being on an uneven surface or loose parts rattling around.

Washing machines spin the drums at such high speed that if there is even one small part which happens to be loose, the rattling from this can end up being pretty loud.

Your washing machine could also be pressed against a surface on the side, such as the wall or another appliance.

As the machine vibrates, it could slightly “walk” across the floor, meaning that when you first installed it, there was no other noise.

If the washing machine is pressed against something else, then the vibrations will cause the entire machine to knock against this surface, which can be very noisy.

The door of the washing machine, especially front loading models, can often rattle quite loudly if the catch isn’t sitting quite right.

Using a higher powered washing setting, such as one with a faster cycle, will exacerbate any noise that the washing machine is making, causing it to become overwhelming.

If the washing machine is a new model, or recently installed, then these smaller, easily fixable issues are the most likely culprit, which is good for you!

However, if the washing machine is older, then it could be a sign that it needs proper repairs from an engineer or even replaced.

A lot of these issues are things you can take care of yourself, or with the help of a friend or family member (for lifting), at home, so let’s look at how to fix them.

Ways You Can Make Your Washing Machine Quieter

These are tips to prevent your washing machine from making noise in the first place, as well as solving problems which will cause your machine to make noise.

Don’t Overload Your Washing Machine

All washing machines will have instructions on the capacity at which they can wash.

It is always best to stick to this capacity when doing laundry, as both overloading and underloading can cause many problems with your machine.

Overloading the machine will cause a lot of noise when washing, as the machine is heavier, causing any vibrations happening to be much louder and more intense.

The machine should be full of clothes, but there should still be space in the drum for the clothes to get spun around. If it’s too full, the machine will strain to get the clothes washed, which will cause a lot of noise.

Similarly, underloading will create a lot of noise as the amount of space left in the drum will allow clothes with solid parts like zippers to rattle around.

Use Kitchen Sponges on the Bottom

This can sound a bit weird, but this trick can help a lot with dampening.

Ideally, you want to be able to get a sponge under each of the four corners of the washing machine.

You’ll definitely need someone else to help you lift the machine off the floor for each corner.

Lifting from each corner and placing a sponge under the machine will dampen the vibrations from the machine, which will prevent a lot of noise from going through your home.

You don’t need to lift the entire machine off the ground (this can be very very heavy), but just need to tilt it enough to slide the sponges under.

Anti Vibration Pads

These are the much higher end version of the sponge trick shown above.

If your washing machine has small feet on the bottom, then these will work pretty well.

These pads are small rubber bits that attach to the feet of your washing machine and work to dampen vibrations a lot.

The prices of these range from £5 – £60 so you have a lot of choice.

Based on reviews, the mid range pads work really well and shelling out the slightly extra money for these is worth it.

The rubber these pads are made from is pretty durable so they will last you a long time.

Cover the Washing Machine with Blankets

This method will look a bit ridiculous, but it’s proven to work.

When the washing machine is running, you can cover it completely with moving blankets.

These blankets should be large enough to cover the machine from top to bottom, all the way to the floor.

Any blanket will work, but a lot of the advocates for this method use moving blankets, which are pretty cheap to pick up.

Double layering will really help the noise reduction that this method provides.

When covering the machine, make sure you don’t cover up any vents or openings at the back, as this could cause a different issue.

Pad the Sides of the Washing Machine

If it’s the sides of the machine, rather than the bottom, that are causing the noise issues, then blankets or floor pads won’t really do the trick.

Just like before, kitchen sponges can be used to dampen the noise here.

Use double-sided tape to attach the sponges to the sides of the machine, which will prevent the machine from bashing against the sides of furniture or other appliances.

Acoustic foam is the better option here, as this material is specifically designed to reduce noise and these pads are larger, covering a bigger area of the washing machine.

Summary

So there are a lot of reasons why your washing machine might be making more noise than normal.

Luckily, a lot of this noise can be reduced by you using household items to dampen vibrations.

Following the loading guidelines given by the manufacturer will also help reduce noise, as well as keep your washing machine in good working order.

Always call a professional, however, if there are things that you just aren’t sure about.