The short answer
For dirty laundry, check the dose, the load size and the program temperature. For soaking laundry, check whether the spin actually ran, because an unbalanced load or a restricted drain stops extraction without stopping the cycle.
Which one is yours
- Clothes still marked after a normal wash — A washing problem.
- Clothes clean but dripping wet — An extraction problem.
- White residue or streaks on dark fabrics — Too much detergent.
- A stale smell in clean laundry — Residue and a machine that needs cleaning.
- Only heavy items stay wet — Load balance during the spin.
- Not this fault: a cycle that never starts — Read the will-not-start page.
Ranked for household washers
- Detergent dose wrong for the machine and the water — First for cleaning complaints.
- Overloading, so the load cannot move — Second.
- Spin interrupted by an unbalanced load — First for wet laundry.
- Program or temperature unsuited to the soil — Fourth.
- Drain restricted, so the spin cannot extract — Fifth.
- Worn drum bearings or a slipping drive — Last, and it announces itself with noise.
Work through it in this order
- Decide whether the laundry is dirty or merely wet — The two paths share nothing.
- Halve the detergent dose and run the same load again — It settles most residue complaints.
- Wash a smaller load as a comparison — Overloading defeats any program.
- Watch whether the machine reaches full spin — Listen for it rather than assuming.
Owner checks
- Measure the detergent rather than pouring it — Doses are far smaller than most people use.
Tools: measuring capAbout 10 min
- Run the same load with a smaller fill — Clothes need room to move through the water.
About 60 min
- Redistribute a load by hand and restart the spin — Unbalanced loads abort extraction.
About 20 min
- Clean the drain filter at the front of the machine — A restricted drain limits the spin.
Tools: shallow tray, clothAbout 25 min
- Run a maintenance wash at the hottest program with the drum empty — It clears accumulated residue.
- Stop before opening the cabinet for the drive or bearings — Mains wiring and water share that space.
Water, detergent and mains
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Turn off the water supply taps before disturbing a hose. Never mix cleaning products in the drum, keep detergent and additives away from children, and do not force a door open during a cycle.
When to call
Call when the dose and the load are right, the drain filter is clear, and laundry still comes out dirty or soaked. Persistent poor extraction with no unbalanced load points at the drain, the pressure sensing or the drive; poor cleaning with correct dosing points at fill temperature or the water valve. Mention which of the two you have when booking.
Other faults on this washer
Scope of this page
Generalized across washer families under this badge; where a family-specific or model-specific page exists it is the narrower answer. Not here: dosing tables, water hardness figures, program temperatures and spin speeds.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
