End of cycle? 5 signs your washing machine may need replacing

Washing machines are a household essential for many of us, and they're not cheap, so if yours starts making strange noises or no longer seems to clean your clothes properly, it can be worrying. 

According to Which? Trusted Trader Alastair Gibbs, director of Apex Appliance Experts Ltd, a repair service in London, the average lifespan of a washing machine is about 10 years. The older a machine is, the more likely parts can wear out. 

The good news is some issues can be fixed easily. For more help with these, see our guide to common washing machine problems and how to fix them.

But others are less easily resolved and could leave you in a spin. Below, we’ve listed five of the most common reasons your machine might have spun its last cycle.

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1. Washing machine makes an unusual noise

Washing machines are noisy, especially when it comes to the spin cycle. That's why we assess how noisy they are as part of our rigorous lab testing. 

But if you start to hear an unusual grinding noise, this may indicate the bearings – steel balls that help support the rotation of the drum – are no longer keeping the drum stable.

'If your machine is incredibly noisy when it’s spinning, coupled with the drum wobbling around on its axis inside the machine, it may mean the bearings have gone,' said Alastair of Apex Appliance Experts Ltd. 'We tend to ask customers for a rough estimate of the age of the machine, and if it’s around 10 years old, it makes us suspect the bearings are the problem.'

Unfortunately, most modern machines don't have replaceable bearings, so you'll have to bear the cost of a more extensive fix. 'You’d have to replace the whole drum, which can make it beyond economical repair,' said Alastair. 

While it can be tempting to squeeze more tees into your wash, Alastair said the best way to look after your bearings is not to overload your machine. 

'It’s conceivable the bearings could go in a machine that’s just one or two years old but hopefully that would be covered by the warranty,' he added.

If it's time for a new one, use our filtered reviews to choose a washing machine that scores four or five stars for quietness

2. Washing machine doesn't turn on

If your washing machine won't turn on, it could be down to a blown fuse. 

Before you start investigating further, switch the machine off at the wall. From here, you can check the power plug and breaker to find out if this is where the problem lies. You should also look for any obviously broken knobs or controls and test whether the door is closing properly.

However, if there are no obvious faults and your machine still won’t work, it could be due to a failure of your machine’s electrical board.

'This is a typically high-cost part to replace and so it may well be time to replace your machine,' said Alastair. 

Do remember, though – if you're within your warranty period, it's worth contacting your manufacturer.

Need a replacement? Compare all the models we've tested in our washing machine reviews or skip straight to the best washing machines

3. Burning smell coming from washing machine

Any smell coming from your washing machine should be investigated. Check our guide on how to clean a smelly washing machine for advice on ousting offensive odours.

But if you smell burning, rather than something musty, this could be a potentially dangerous issue, so turn your washing machine off immediately and seek a qualified tradesperson to examine it.

'A burning smell is usually caused by the inner drum rubbing on the inner door gasket,' said Alastair. The gasket is the rubber seal that prevents water from flowing out of the machine when you use it. 'You sometimes see bits of rubber flaking onto the laundry, too. Again, this can be a sign that the bearings on your machine have gone and your machine needs to be replaced.'

Be sure to get a professional to check your machine is safe before attempting to use it again.

Make sure your next appliance is one that goes the distance. Check out our guide to the most reliable washing machine brands 

4. Washing machine needs frequent repairs

All appliances experience wear and tear, but if your washing machine needs frequent repairs, especially for different issues, it might be time to replace it.

This can happen when the machine is located in a rental property or a student residence and is regularly used by multiple people with different laundry habits. 

'If we are seeing three or four call-outs to the same machine during the course of a year, we would normally advise that this is becoming uneconomical for the householder and the machine is approaching the end of its life,' Alastair said.

If you need help diagnosing the problem, use Which? Trusted Traders to find a reputable local trader who has passed our rigorous assessments:

5. Changes to household size

You might also seek to replace your machine if the size of your household increases or decreases. 

This is because the more people in your household, the more laundry there's likely to be.

'We tend to advise that 5-7kg washing machines are appropriate for single or two-person households,' said Alastair. 'But families of three to five people should look for a machine with a 9-10kg drum.'

Of course, these are guidelines. If you're a smaller but more active household, you might find a larger drum suits you better. But be sure not to under-fill your machine as this is uneconomical and can cause unbalanced loads, especially on the spin cycle.

Which? members can filter our washing machine reviews by capacity – search for extra large capacity (10+kg), large capacity (9-10kg) or medium capacity (7-8kg) machines.

Not yet a member? Join Which? today for instant access to thousands of reviews across our website.

What are my rights if my washing machine breaks?

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you have rights to a refund, repair or replacement if you buy a faulty product.

If you notice a fault with a product within 30 days of owning it, you can ask for a full refund, repair or replacement. Or if you notice the fault after 30 days but within six months, you're entitled to a repair or replacement.

Your faulty goods rights against the retailer last up to six years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (and five years in Scotland). But, after the first six months, the onus is on you to prove a fault was present at the time you took ownership of the goods. Your rights under the Consumer Rights Act are against the retailer – the company that sold you the product – not the manufacturer, so you must take any claim to the retailer.  

Most appliances will also come with a free manufacturer warranty, which will have its own policies on repairs and replacements.

If you have a defective appliance or piece of tech, you can start your claim by using our free faulty goods tool.

Most washing machines offer product guarantees of 1-2 years as standard, but there are a handful of brands that offer a more generous length of cover, including:

• Blomberg – three-year guarantee as standard.
• John Lewis – three-year guarantee as standard.
• LG – five-year guarantee on selected laundry products, so check before you buy.
• Siemens – extended 'lifetime' guarantee against water damage caused by a defective AquaStop system, if you buy a machine with AquaStop technology.

Many manufacturers also offer extended guarantees on washing machine motors as standard, most often around 10 years. Some will also cover your labour costs for longer than 1-2 years, but you'll have to pay for the parts yourself.

If a manufacturer or warranty company is refusing to pay out for something that's covered, it will be in breach of contract. You could claim the cost of getting a third party to carry out the work, but you must first let the warranty provider know you'll be seeking back the repair costs if it continues to refuse to honour the warranty. You can use our letter template to write to your warranty provider, requesting that it fulfil its contractual obligations.

How can you recycle your washing machine?

Many retailers offer a paid-for pick-up scheme, where your old machine is collected at the same time a new one is delivered or a free drop-off scheme. You can find more information about the schemes in our piece on how to recycle electrical items. 

If your washing machine is still in working order, you could also consider donating it to a charity. The British Heart Foundation will take larger items, including washing machines. The Salvation Army accepts electrical items at its larger shops and donation centres. Some British Red Cross shops also accept washing machines.

If you're trying to hand over a large item, your local district council should offer help in the form of a bulky waste collection service. This service will usually cover large appliances such as washing machines and fridges.

Based on data we've collected from thousands of washing machine owners, our guide to the most reliable washing machine brands reveals which brands are less likely to let you down