Why Is My Washing Machine Not Spinning?

If your washing machine has stopped spinning but everything else about the cycle seems normal — it fills, it washes, it just doesn’t spin at the end — there are a small number of usual suspects.

1. A worn or snapped drive belt

On machines with a belt-driven motor, a worn or snapped belt is one of the most common causes of a drum that won’t spin. You may also notice the machine sounds different during the wash cycle, or the drum turns freely by hand with no resistance.

2. Worn motor carbon brushes

Over years of use, the carbon brushes that make contact with the motor wear down. Once they’re too short, the motor loses power and the spin cycle either slows dramatically or stops altogether.

3. A door interlock that isn’t registering as closed

Most washing machines won’t spin — for safety reasons — unless the door interlock confirms the door is properly closed and locked. A faulty interlock can prevent the spin cycle even if the door looks closed.

4. An unbalanced or overloaded load

Sometimes it isn’t a fault at all. A heavily unbalanced load can trigger the machine’s safety systems to reduce or skip the spin cycle. Redistributing the load and running a shorter spin cycle is worth trying first.

What to do next

If redistributing the load doesn’t help, the fault is most likely mechanical or electrical rather than something you can fix by adjusting the wash. See our washing machine repairs page for more on diagnosis and repair, or get in touch to have it assessed.