Washing machine not spinning? Why it happens and how to fix it

Open the door to a drum of sopping clothes and the spin clearly never happened. Before you assume the worst, there's one thing to rule out first, because won't drain or spin is the single most common washing machine fault our engineers attend, at around 22% of recent repairs, and the two problems are joined at the hip.

Rule out drainage first

A machine won't spin until it has pumped the water out. It's a safety feature. So a machine that won't drain will also refuse to spin, and the fix is completely different. If there's water sitting in the drum, start with our guide on a washing machine not draining, clean the filter and sort the drainage. If it drains fully and still won't spin, read on.

The real spin faults

With the water gone and the drum still not turning up to speed, it's usually one of a handful of things.

Worn motor carbon brushes are the common one. They wear down over years of use and are among the parts we replace most. A machine with worn brushes often washes fine but has no power to spin, sometimes with a buzz or a faint burning smell. Caught early, new brushes can save the motor.

On belt-driven machines, a snapped or slipped drive belt lets the drum turn freely by hand but never spins under power. Beyond that it's the motor itself or a control fault stopping the spin command reaching the drum.

One thing worth trying before any of that. A single heavy item like a towel or a duvet can throw the balance so far off that the machine refuses to spin up to protect itself. Redistribute the load and run it again.

What it costs

Once drainage is out of the picture, a spin repair usually lands in the £75 to £160 band, with any parts quoted separately and the price confirmed before work. The engineers carry common parts like brushes and belts, so about 95% of repairs are done on the first visit.

Book a washing machine repair

If it drains fine but won't spin, book a washing machine repair or find your local washing machine engineer.

Frequently asked questions

Why won't my washing machine spin but it drains fine?

With drainage ruled out, it's usually worn motor carbon brushes, a snapped or slipped drive belt, or a motor or control fault. An unbalanced load can also make it refuse to spin.

Why are my clothes still soaking?

Either the machine didn't drain, so it wouldn't spin, or it drained but the spin failed. Check for standing water first. No water means it's a genuine spin fault.

Can I fix it myself?

Redistributing an unbalanced load is worth a go. Anything past that, brushes, belt or motor, means opening the machine up, which is an engineer's job.

How much does it cost?

Usually £75 to £160 once drainage is ruled out, with parts such as brushes or a belt quoted separately.