Electrical appliances can malfunction at any moment. If you have a washing machine at your home chances are that you have experienced loud, irritating noises coming from it. Don’t worry, a lot of homeowners face a similar issue.
If you have already researched the issue, you must have come across various ways to reduce the noise that a washing machine produces. Often people get confused seeing the numerous ways to quiet a washing machine. If you too are confused and looking for a proper guide, you have come to the right place.
But, before we jump into the step-by-step noise reduction methods, we would first examine what’s likely to cause the noise.
A washing machine can produce loud noises due to various reasons. Sometimes, the way you use your machine is wrong and that’s what causes the noise. Sometimes, the machine is too old to perform efficiently. Other times, it might need to be repaired.
Your machine might be in contact with the walls or hard surfaces and when it spins, it strikes with the surfaces, causing rough noises. That’s another cause of a washing machine noise.
General research shows that front-loading washing machines tend to make more noise than top-loading ones. However, the intensity of the noise irrespective of the type of the machine depends on its cause.
This guide talks about the various ways in which one can reduce washing machine noise. Most of the methods listed below are budget-friendly. Let’s go through the methods one by one quickly.
9 Ways To Quiet A Noisy Washing Machine
This is a step-by-step guide on washing machine noise reduction. We have listed the ways to quiet a loud washing machine sequentially. Let’s see what one should do first.
Do not overload or underload the washing machine
Usually, people know this rule but some do not. While buying a washing machine you must go through the manual that comes with it. Follow the instructions as written in the manual. Every washing machine has a capacity. Do not overload it.
Needless to say, different machines have different capacities. Some of the latest, top-loading models of washing machines have a capacity of about 13 pounds. There are some front-loading machines too that have a capacity of 18 pounds.
Now, we do not always carry a scale to measure how full is the washer. That’s when you need to know a few rules. The washer should be full but shouldn’t burst. Remember that the clothes will rotate around inside the washer. If you overload the machine with excess clothes, the machine will have a tough time doing its job and that will produce a louder noise.
At the same time, underloading the washing machine also affects its longevity and mechanism. It also produces loud noise because there’s a lot of empty space inside the washer to rustle while it spins. Also, if the clothes have any metal parts attached to them like buttons, zippers, etc. they would strike against the metal barrel and produce rough unpleasant noises.
That’s why you must ensure that you have filled the washer appropriately as per its capacity.
Inspect your machine and assess its condition
If you are sure that you aren’t overloading or underloading the machine, then the cause of the noise is something else. Maybe the machine is too old to function efficiently and you need to replace the old washer with a new one. But, the question is how would you determine if the machine is too old to function properly?
One mustn’t ignore loud washing machine noise. It’s not only an indication of a malfunctioning washer but also a potential hazard. Washing machine sounds or noises can arise from a variety of reasons.
Firstly, what you can do is peek inside the machine. Is any component in the barrel loose? For a closer inspection of the barrel, take it out and check the interior parts of the machine. We would advise homeowners to call a professional for a proper inspection of the machine.
Sometimes a faulty pulley is the cause of loud noise. The pulley is a component of the barrel and is responsible for spinning it. Sometimes, the pulley malfunctions. Usually, the issue can be fixed.
Very rarely though, replacing the entire washer with a new one is recommended. If you intend to buy one, go for top loading machines as they tend to be quieter than front-loading ones.
After inspecting the machine thoroughly, if you see nothing wrong, it’s time to try out some soundproofing methods to muffle the loud noise. We have discussed several useful techniques to soundproof washing machine. Go through them one by one below.
Close the door properly and fill the gaps and cracks, if any
You must know that a washing machine wouldn’t work unless the door is properly closed. But, do you know sometimes the door can become loose or wobbly and that’s why when the machine vibrates while spinning, it produces a loud noise. That’s why we advise homeowners to stop the machine and close it tightly and switch on the machine again.
If you see that the door is getting loose repeatedly, you must inspect the area surrounding the door. Look for gaps or cracks and if you find any, attach a door draught stopper to the outer frame of the door.
You can easily get a door draught stopper from the market. It’s like a long strip of foam, with an adhesive on one side. You must cut it short and stick the backside of it wherever necessary. If you didn’t find a door draught stopper, you can stick a sponge on the cracks or gaps by using double-sided tape. For more details, refer to the next point.
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Use Kitchen Sponges
This is a brilliant alternative to door drought stoppers. We usually find sponges on our homes lying here and there. You can pick one and stick it on the gaps and cracks present on the outer frame of your washing machine’s door. Sponges will make your washing machine quieter.
A sponge is a great absorber of sound. For effective washing machine noise reduction, this trick is worth considering. A sponge muffles vibrations greatly and that’s why you can find them in recording studios. Industrial workers who work amidst loud noises also use sponges as earmuffs to prevent ear damage due to prolonged exposure to loud noise.
Besides sticking a sponge on the cracks and gaps, you can also stick it on the four corners of the washing machine. However, for this, you might need someone to lift the machine. After sticking the sponges, you would notice that the echo produced by the motor or the drum has greatly reduced.
If regular sponges aren’t enough to reduce washing machine noise, you must try out the other tricks mentioned below.
Use soundproofing blankets to cover the machine
There are various soundproofing tips one can try. One of the easiest ways to silence a washing machine is by wrapping it up in a soundproof blanket. These blankets are usually thick and specially manufactured to absorb vibrations of sound passing through them.
If you cannot buy a new soundproof blanket from the market, any thick old rag in your house would do the trick. If you care about how your machine looks, you can modify the rug as per your choice.
If you intend to buy new soundproofing blankets, two would be enough to cover all sides of the machine and effectively muffle the noise it produces. The blankets are long enough to cover the machine from top to the bottom. Use two blankets, one on each side. That would be sufficient for washing machine noise reduction.
Use other soundproofing materials to wrap the washer
There are other alternatives to soundproof blankets that one can opt for. They too efficiently muffle the noise coming from the washing machine. Such materials include Mass Loaded Vinyl. These materials are proven to offer washing machine insulation. Attach them to the sides of the washing machine and you can see how they effectively reduce the noise.
Another way to reduce the noise produced is by attaching MLV or fiberglass panels on the surface of walls that are closer to the machine. A few homeowners prefer to do both. That surely makes a noticeable difference.
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Attach pads on the sides of the washing machine
If you have covered the sides of the machine with soundproofing blankets or materials like MLV, you might not need padding to reduce the noise further. But, if you haven’t opted for the previous sound reduction tips, you must try this one out.
If you have placed your washer in a small room, it might strike against the walls as it spins, causing a lot of noise. In that case, covering the machine with blankets isn’t effective. Apply thicker padding for effective results.
For the padding, one can use different kinds of insulation material available in the market. You can use insulation panels as well as acoustic foam panels. If you aren’t ready to buy expensive insulation materials from the market, make the optimum use of sponges.
You can simply encase your machine with sponges! It’s a DIY process that involves the minimum labor, resources, and time. After you have made the soundproof case or box with sponges, use double-sided tape or an adhesive to attach it to the machine.
Soundproof the laundry room
Another way to reduce washing machine sound is by soundproofing the laundry room. In this case, soundproofing the floor, doors, and walls of the room is important.
The floor comes first because it’s the contact point of the machine. Therefore, the maximum vibrations pass through the floor. That’s why it’s important to soundproof the floor in the first place. The easiest way to do that is to place a carpet or old rug on the floor and then place the machine over the carpet.
The next point through which noise can travel or escape easily is the door. Inspect the door of the laundry room properly. Look for gaps around the door frame. If you find any, fill them with sponges or use a wood filler. To reduce washing machine noise furthermore, hang heavy blankets from the top of the door.
Sometimes, doors have a huge gap at their bottom. Installing a door sweep is, therefore, a must. Temporarily, you can fill the gap using a long piece of cloth. The bottom line is you mustn’t leave any gap for sound vibrations to travel easily.
Lastly, you must also soundproof the walls of the laundry room. There are various ways to do it. For instance, you can attach mass-loaded vinyl sheets or acoustic panels. If you care about appearances, you can cover the walls with attractive soundproof curtains.
Call a professional
If none of the above-mentioned tips worked out for you, it’s time to call a professional and let him find out what’s wrong with your machine.
We advise homeowners to take recommendations from at least two professionals before making a decision. Also, if you see that a professional cannot guarantee to fix the issue, probably it’s time to save and buy a new washing machine.
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The bottom line
We have listed some of the most effective methods to soundproof a noisy washing machine. If you follow these above-mentioned tips, your washer is expected to function effectively, with minimal noise. It’s sure to become as quiet as possible.
So, the next time you come across a washing machine making annoying noises, do not panic. Try to find out what’s wrong before you call a repairman.
Firstly, you must check the insides of the machine. Examine each of its components to see if they need to be repaired. Next comes soundproofing. You must start from the surface that’s closesr to the machine or in touch with the machine. Therefore, soundproofing the floor and the walls are necessary.