Washing Machine Shaking or Walking? Causes and Fixes

A washing machine shaking violently on the spin cycle is almost always caused by an unbalanced load, feet that are not level, or transit bolts left in after delivery, and all three you can check and fix yourself in a few minutes. Redistribute the washing so it is spread evenly around the drum, make sure all four feet sit firmly on the floor with the machine dead level, and confirm the shipping bolts were removed when it was installed. If the washing machine is still shaking, vibrating or walking across the floor after those checks, the fault is usually inside the machine, in the suspension or drum bearings, and that is a job for a technician. This guide walks through each cause in order, easiest first.

Some vibration on spin is normal, because the drum is turning at high speed. What is not normal is a washing machine shaking hard enough to bang the cabinet, rock the whole unit, or slowly walk itself out from under the bench. That level of washing machine shaking puts stress on every part inside and needs sorting before it damages the machine or the floor.

Why is my washing machine shaking?

A washing machine shaking on the spin cycle comes down to one thing: the drum is spinning fast and something is stopping it from spinning smoothly. That something is either the load inside it, the way the machine sits on the floor, or a worn part in the suspension that is meant to absorb the movement. The trick is to rule out the simple, free causes first, because those are behind most cases of a washing machine shaking, vibrating or walking, before assuming the worst about the machine itself.

Cause 1: An unbalanced load

This is the number one reason for a washing machine shaking, and the easiest to fix. When washing bunches to one side of the drum, or you spin a single heavy item like a towel, doona or bath mat on its own, the drum becomes lopsided. At spin speed that imbalance throws the whole machine around. That imbalance makes the machine lurch, thump and shuffle, often with a loud banging as the drum hits the sides.

Pause the cycle, open the door, and spread the washing out evenly around the drum. Break up any tangled, twisted bundles. If you are washing one bulky item, add a couple of smaller items to balance it. Avoid stuffing the machine right to the top, since an overloaded drum cannot distribute weight and will always be prone to a washing machine walking across the room. Redistributing the load fixes the majority of shaking complaints on the spot.

Cause 2: The machine is not level

If the machine is not sitting dead level on all four feet, it will rock and vibrate on spin no matter how well the load is balanced. Press down on each corner in turn. If the machine tips or rocks, a foot is not touching the floor or the machine is off level. Uneven or soft flooring makes it worse, and this is a common reason for a washing machine moving on a timber or slightly sloped laundry floor.

Level it by adjusting the screw feet. Loosen the lock nut on each foot, wind the foot up or down until the machine sits flat and solid with no rock, then tighten the lock nut back against the body so the setting holds. A small spirit level on top of the machine makes this easy. Once all four feet are firm and the cabinet does not budge when you push a corner, the washing machine vibrating from an unlevel stance is solved.

Cause 3: Transit bolts left in place

Every new front loader ships with transit bolts, also called shipping or transport bolts, at the back. These lock the drum solid so it cannot move and get damaged in transit. They are meant to be removed before the first wash. If they are left in, the drum cannot float on its suspension and the machine shakes and bangs hard from the very first spin. This catches out plenty of self-installed machines.

Look at the back panel for three or four large bolts, usually with plastic collars. If they are still fitted, unscrew them with a spanner and keep them in case you move house. If you had the machine delivered and installed and it has always shaken badly, the transit bolts are the first thing to check. Removing them lets the drum move freely again and stops the violent shaking straight away.

Cause 4: A worn part inside the machine

If the load is balanced, the machine is level, and the transit bolts are out, but the washing machine shaking has not stopped, the cause is now inside the machine. Persistent washing machine shaking at this point, sometimes with the machine vibrating or walking as well, points to a worn part rather than anything you set up wrong. Front loaders use shock absorbers and suspension springs to keep the drum steady, and over years of use these wear out and stop damping the movement. Worn drum bearings are another cause, and they usually come with a loud rumbling or grinding that gets worse over the spin. A shifted or failed counterweight can do it too.

These are all internal parts that sit around a drum full of water and are held under tension, so replacing them means dismantling the machine. That is not a DIY repair. A licensed technician can diagnose which part has worn and replace it safely, and it is worth doing promptly, because running a machine with failed suspension lets the drum batter other components. If your machine is also struggling to spin at all, our guide on a washing machine that is not spinning covers the related checks.

Stop the damage before it spreads

A washing machine walking across the floor is not just annoying. Each time it moves it drags on the hoses behind it, and a hose pulled tight or off its connection is a common cause of a leak. If you notice water as well as movement, our guide on a washing machine that is leaking runs through where to look. Sorting the washing machine shaking early protects the hoses, the floor and the machine itself.

That is where our team comes in. CAI Appliance Services repairs washing machines across Perth, with fully qualified mobile technicians who come to you. We are an authorised service agent for Bosch and Electrolux and their affiliate brands, and we regularly repair LG, Fisher and Paykel, Samsung, Miele, Smeg and Westinghouse machines too. If you have run through the checks and the washing machine shaking continues, call CAI on 0415 343 413 to book a technician.

Frequently asked questions

Sorting out the laundry? Read our related guides on a washing machine that is not spinning and a washing machine that is leaking, or book a Perth technician with CAI.