Help! Washing machine spin cycle-strange smell! Burning?!

[fedup21]

I washed out bath mat this morning and did a short ten minute spin cycle to get the excess water out as it was still pretty wet and afterwards, the machine, the room and the bath mat all smelt strange-like a cross between a drain smell and a burnt smell.

I rarely use the spin cycle but it’s never done this before.

Now I’m not sure what to do! Do I try the machine on a normal cycle to see what happens? Is it likely to burst into flames on me?! Do I ring a domestic goods engineer and ask for advice before using it? Will they charge me?!

[Evidencebased]

First, is the machine actually on fire? V unlikely, but not impossible. Unplug. Watch. Listen.

Much more likely, something's burning out in the motor. I'd get an engineer in to look, as continuing to use it will almost certainly cause damage in the motor.
Local chap recommended by neighbours likely to be both cheaper and more effective than big company. Check if its still under warranty.

[fedup21]

No-it’s not actually on fire and not under warranty, sadly.

A good idea to find someone local-I’ll ask on my local FB group.

Thank you.

[theneverendinglaundry]

Could it be the bearings? Has it become noisy? My old machine gave off a funny smell when the bearings went, and it was very noisy when it spun.

[cannaethink]

Did you have any luck with this?
I had a burning smell from my machine, it was under warranty so got someone out. He said that particular machine had a smaller than standard gap between the drum and the rubber around it (apparently so socks don’t get sucked in and lost), so wee bits of fluff (I’d been washing a fluffy jumper) get caught then the friction of the spin causes it to smell a bit burnt.