Make the washing machine quieter – 9 tricks that really work

What is in most households either in the bathroom or in the kitchen, makes noise, rumbles, wobbles and vibrates for hours several times a week? – Sure, the washing machine! Especially when spinning, their noise can annoy not only us, but also the neighbors.

However, there are a few things you can do to make your washing machine significantly quieter. What exactly, you will find out in this article.

The easiest way to make a washing machine quieter is to put anti-vibration mounts or an anti-vibration mat under it. You should also make sure that the washing machine is completely upright. This reduces erratic vibrations, making it less wobbly and quieter.

Why washing machines make so much noise

On the one hand, we definitely don’t want to do without them. On the other hand, washing machines can make a lot of noise. The noise is particularly annoying when it’s not our own washing machine that spins so loudly, but that of the neighbors.

For a harmonious coexistence in the neighborhood it is all the better if everyone invests a few minutes to muffle the noise of their washing machine.

With spin speeds of often up to 1600 revolutions per minute, a washing machine can achieve impressive performance. This ensures that our laundry only needs a little time to dry. However, the intensive spinning also causes the whole machine to vibrate.

The washing machine oscillating and vibrating is perfectly normal and cannot be stopped completely. However, it becomes problematic when the vibrations take on an extent that goes beyond normality.

Then the washing machine starts moving across the floor and bumping into the walls. The loud banging can then often be heard throughout the house. In addition, the vibration noises are easily conducted through the building via the floor and are very audible, especially on poorly soundproofed walls.

However, you may be surprised at how much you can do with simple means to make your washing machine significantly quieter. Here are nine tricks that really work.

1. Do not overload the washing machine

Perhaps you have already noticed that when the washing machine is particularly heavily loaded, it tends to wobble and vibrate even more during the spin cycle. Then she might bump into the walls and make a lot of noise.

So the solution is very simple: Load the washing machine so full that you can still fit a fist between the laundry and the drum wall.

This tip applies especially to older washing machines. As a rule, newer models should be able to cope better with a full filling

2. Make sure the washing machine is level

In order for a washing machine to oscillate as little as possible, it must be aligned correctly and have all four feet on the floor evenly.

Use a spirit level to check if the washing machine is tilted. The feet are height-adjustable on almost all machines. This ultimately allows you to adjust the washing machine so that it is perfectly centered and vibrations are minimized.

3. Place an anti-vibration mat under the washing machine

This trick often works wonders and is a good idea in almost every case. Anti-vibration mats * are made of special rubber and ensure that the vibrations of the washing machine are absorbed and thus dampened.

The result: the washing machine spins much more smoothly and no longer hits the walls.

Sometimes anti-vibration mats are also referred to as “insulation mats”, “soundproof mats” or “anti-slip mats”.

4. Attach vibration dampers

Anti- vibration mounts* are small pieces of plastic and work in much the same way as anti-vibration mats. They can be attached to the feet of the washing machine and also have the effect that the vibrations of the machine are dampened.

Compared to anti-vibration mats, vibration dampers have the advantage that they are usually a little cheaper and are not so visually noticeable. In addition, some anti-vibration mats tend to give off a slightly stronger rubber smell, which is rarely the case with vibration dampers due to their small size.

5. Is the transport lock still installed?

Is your washing machine brand new and making extremely loud noises when spinning and bouncing all over the room? – If so, then you should check whether the transport lock is still installed.

The transport lock can be easily removed from the back of the machine. How exactly this works is well explained in this video .

6. Select a lower spin speed

Sometimes you still need to do a load of laundry urgently, even though it’s late in the evening. In order to still make as little noise as possible for the neighbors, you can reduce the spin speed a little. Because the higher the speed, the more the washing machine vibrates and “works” and the louder it is.

In principle, one should think about whether the 1600 revolutions per minute are really always necessary. Although the clothes dry faster after a stronger spin cycle, you are usually not in such a hurry.

In addition, the clothes come out of the washing machine more wrinkled and the power consumption is significantly higher at high spin speeds. So there are some good reasons why you should spin your laundry at 1000 or 1200 revolutions per minute – not least because the washing machine then makes not quite as much noise.

7. Do not place hard objects on the washing machine

Hard objects, such as flower vases or spray cans, also vibrate during the wash cycle. If they bump into each other, it can make a lot of noise.

It is therefore advisable to store softer things on the washing machine, such as towels. They may even help to dampen the vibrations of the machine a little.

8. Have a technician look at it

If all of the above tips don’t help, or if the washing machine doesn’t seem to be running properly, a technician may need to come and check the washing machine.

Like many other technical devices, washing machines wear out over time and may need a spare part here and there. A technician can usually assess well why the washing machine is making more noise than usual. He can then offer advice as to whether the damage might be repairable or whether the last tip on this list is all that’s left.

9. Get a new, quiet washing machine

Sometimes there is no way around it. The washing machine has long since seen better days and unfortunately has to go.

When buying a new washing machine, you can then make sure that it is a quiet machine. You can use the specified volume values ​​as a guide for this.

CONCLUSION

There are a few simple ways you can effectively make a washing machine quieter. First of all, it’s a good idea to make sure the machine is really level. In addition, it is worth placing vibration dampers or an anti-vibration plate under the washing machine. Lower spin speeds are also useful to reduce noise. If the noise is extremely loud, it is possible that the transport locks are still installed. Alternatively, there could be a defect that should be checked by a technician.