Check the load before the washer
- Stop or pause the washer and wait for the lid or door to unlock. Spread out a lopsided load, or take items out if it's packed.
- Try the spin again. If the washer still shakes, check whether it rocks when it's stopped.
- Level a rocking washer so all four feet stay planted. If severe shaking or noise continues with an empty drum, stop testing and book service.
Loud thumping during spin, heavy shaking and clothes that come out unusually wet can all point to laundry gathered on one side. We'd fix the load first because an uneven or heavy load can make the washer stop spinning, and moving the clothes addresses that cause directly.
An uneven load can also move the basket, slow the spin and lengthen the cycle. If the basket is packed, spreading the clothes around may not be enough; take some out.
| What you notice | Try next |
|---|---|
| One load thumps or finishes unusually wet | Redistribute the clothes or reduce the load, then try the spin again. |
| Several corrected loads still shake | Stop the washer and check whether it rocks. |
| The stopped washer rocks from corner to corner | Check its level and make sure all four feet stay planted. |
| Spin will not start or finish | Check that the lid or door is closed, then look for standing water or excessive suds. |
Stop, spread out the clothes and test the spin
Use your washer's stop or pause control before reaching into the drum. On LG washers, press Pause. On Electrolux washers, turn the power off and wait for the lid to unlock. If your controls differ, use your model's instructions for stopping the cycle.
- Stop or pause the cycle and wait for the lid or door to unlock. Once you can reach the laundry, check whether it has gathered on one side or filled the drum too tightly.
- Spread bunched clothes around the drum, or remove some if the load is too heavy. If a single bulky item keeps gathering on one side, check its care label before trying another load.
- Restart the cycle using your washer's controls and watch the next spin. If the thumping stops, check the clothes when the cycle ends. If shaking continues, check the washer's footing.
- With the washer stopped, try to rock it diagonally from corner to corner. If it moves, level it as described below. If it stands firmly but still shakes during spin, continue to the empty-drum check.
For the model-specific pause control, LG's washer instructions (opens in a new tab) are useful beside the machine.
The washer rocks when you push a corner
All four feet should make firm contact with the floor, and the washer should sit level from side to side and front to back. Place a level across the top to check both directions. Adjust the feet according to your model's instructions until it's level, then tighten any lock nuts. Check that the floor beneath it feels firm. Repeat the corner-to-corner rock test before retesting with an evenly spread load.
The feet differ by model. Some Samsung top-loaders have only two or three adjustable legs. On older GE Appliances top-loaders, the front legs adjust up or down and the rear legs level themselves. Use your model's instructions to identify which feet adjust.
If your washer sits in a drain pan, its leveling legs may need adjusting to raise it. If it stands firmly but still shakes during the next spin, continue with the checks below.
A Whirlpool top-loader refills and rocks before an error
On a Whirlpool top-loader, refilling and gentle back-and-forth movement can be the washer's attempt to spread the clothes around. An error appears if that attempt fails. The imbalance error typically appears during spin, after the wash portion has finished.
If the cycle can still be paused on this Whirlpool top-loader, press Start, open the lid once it has paused, and rearrange or reduce the load. Press Start again to resume it.
A Whirlpool top-loader already shows an imbalance error
Use this route when the imbalance error is already showing on a Whirlpool top-loader. The goal is to clear water if needed and correct the load before another spin.
- Cancel the cycle by pressing Start or disconnecting the power cord.
- If water is present, run a drain-only cycle and let it empty the tub.
- Rearrange the clothes, remove some items, or both. Start a new cycle once the load sits evenly and is no longer overloaded.
If washing had already finished and the clothes only need water spun out, run Drain & Spin after rearranging them. Bulky or Heavy Duty is another cycle choice to try when restarting a corrected load. Keep Whirlpool's unbalanced-load steps (opens in a new tab) open if you need the controls beside the washer.
The load is even but the trouble continues
If spin will not start, check that the lid or door is securely closed. If water remains, check the visible drain hose for a kink. These drain and spin checks (opens in a new tab) cover the hose and standpipe.
An empty spin can help separate a load problem from a persistent machine problem on models that provide that test. On LG top-loaders, no noise during an empty spin indicates normal operation. On a GE Profile UltraFast combo, normal operation with no load points back to the laundry.
Persistent grinding or knocking can point to drum bearings or suspension parts that need repair. Check your warranty's labor and shipping terms before booking, and ask what diagnosis will cost if you decline the repair. For example, eligible Samsung US service charges a $155 diagnosis fee plus tax when a customer declines or cancels after the technician arrives. If yours is a Whirlpool washer, you can contact Whirlpool or book service (opens in a new tab).
If the display shows a different code, identify that code before treating it as an imbalance. Our guide to the F21 washer code covers one separate case.
Other load and spin questions
Can too much detergent stop the spin?
Yes. Excess suds can sometimes stop the washer pumping out water and spinning. Measure detergent and use the amount its maker recommends.
Why are clothes wet if the washer did not shake?
A gentle, delicate or handwash cycle spins slowly and leaves more water in the load. Choose a faster spin only if the clothes' care labels allow it.
Can I wash one rug by itself?
Avoid washing a single absorbent item. For a Whirlpool top-loader, two or three similar rugs can balance one another for a better spin.
Should I add water for a heavy blanket?
On a Whirlpool impeller washer, arrange an absorbent blanket around the impeller with its top visible. Extra water can make the load float and reduce the cleaning action.
Keep the next load evenly spread
On a Whirlpool top-loader, add clothes in loose heaps evenly around the basket or agitator. Keep them no higher than the basket's top row of holes, and balance heavier items with lighter ones. Check the care label before washing something bulky; some items require a commercial-style front-loader.
Match the cycle to the laundry. Bulky suits large or oversized items on these washers, while delicate cycles suit lighter fabrics. If you're washing shoes, follow the load advice in our guide to washing tennis shoes in the washer.
Periodically check that every foot still sits firmly on the floor and repeat the diagonal rock test. On the next load, watch the spin and check that the clothes come out without the heavy shaking or unusual wetness that brought you here.
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