My washing machine appears to be taking itself for a walk...

[lucysmam]

So far, it's bounced about 1/2 a foot towards my kitchen door

I wonder how much further it plans to go

You need to nip these things in the bud.

Teach it 'sit' and 'stay', perhaps with the treat of a Calgon tablet?

Perhaps it’s bored of just washing clothes, can you find other things for it to do?

Vibration mats are great for this.

Ours did this. It was also so so loud, it sounded like an excavator when it was spinning. It was 14 years old so I took it as a sign that it might be time to let it go to the great washing machine scrapyard in the sky as there was no point spending any money on it (apologies if yours is a mere pre-schooler in comparison, not a mardy teen and you were hoping that it was going to last a long while yet).

I'd got used to it's disruptive ways, so the quietness of the new machine and the fact that it doesn't chase me round the utility room is a revelation.

Mine shakes my whole floor downstairs in my house. When I sit in the armchair when it's on a 1400 spin, it's like having a fancy massage chair.

Ours did this and it was infuriating. We got a vibration mat from Amazon which is good and does reduce the noise and likelihood of it walking, but I still only put it on 1000 spin instead of 1400

is that a new thing it does?
or are you washing something bulky?

a friends machine went walkabout and locked itself into the kitchen.
they had to saw the door off to enter the kitchen!

Ours did that once. Turned out it had ripped up all the floorboards underneath as it went...

That sounds like one of the big counterbalance weights (often concrete) has come adrift. They are often supported on metal springs, one may have come unhooked or the spring broken. Or you've washing a big heavy towel...

It should have little adjustable feet which you use to make to stable. If it's a spung wooden floor it may need a solid piece of wood to stop vibration.

Wouldn't you if people kept throwing their dirty pants in your face!

It is new? Have you cut the packing bands?

Otherwise, no suggestions and I too think it’s trying to do the runner to find something more interesting to do with itself.

Check it’s legs haven’t fallen off. Mine went for three leg sprint last year

Mine did this and we couldn't open the internal utility room door! Had to get a locksmith to get us in through the locked back door as the key was in the lock!! It got a stern telling off and was told to stay put!!!

@bluefoxmug that image did make me chuckle

It's not a new thing, & I've only got my bedding in it.

It's less than 3yo :( I suspect the back right foot needs levelling a bit but can't get to it when it's where it should be & doing it when it walks doesn't seem to help.

I'll look at vibration mats now.

@WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat I missed your comment; how do I get into it to see? I'll have a google of that too.

If you are sure it was not caused by an unbalanced load...(perhaps try washing some other items) maybe watch it (if there's nothing better on telly) mine made an lot of banging too. Anyway on my machine I had to drag it out of its slot in the kitchen. Bear in mind there are hoses for water supply and the drain behind and you should switch it off and unplug it. There were two screws at the back for the top. I undid those and I could slide the top back a bit and then it lifted off. I could see that a there was a loose spring but it needed a lot of effort to stretch it and fit it back into its locating hole.

ask around if you haven't got one - but a foam exercise mat does just the same as a pricey 'anti vibration mat'.

we've got a crappy new machine, went for a 6kg model but didn't realise that doesn't mean square footprint. So it is permanently out of balance and walks. We've stopped this by fencing it in with a piece of wood and putting an old exercise mat above it, wedged under the worktop. Prospect Indesit Mytime buyers, beware!

@mencken you may find that one or more of the feet at the front unscrew to allow you to level up the machine.

I watched it (there's nowt on telly I really watch & the girls were doing school stuff), it looks like something's banging on the front left side as you look at it.

Conveniently, it's shifted itself far enough that I can investigate and see if I can get the top off to have a look inside.

It'd be handy if it was just something loose that I could sort - it needs a new drawer but the walking & banging has me considering a new one.

Well it's a nice day, perhaps it wants to go out for a bit?!

mine crossed the kitchen in an attempt to mate with the cooker - worst of it was, it's an integrated machine, and hauled the plinth covering with it. Thankfully not too much damage (rented flat!), but that'll teach me to not fasten the duvet cover so it cant eat the rest of the bedding and tie itself into a nice sopping wet lump.

Our old machine did that, the first time it happened we went out to look at it and found the cat looking VERY shocked at getting an impromptu ride across the kitchen Top of the machine was his favourite spot to nap in the sun, he'd sleep through a regular spin cycle but I don't think he ever went on it again after that!

You can buy inflatable cushions that you wedge between the top of the machine and the worktop to prevent vibrations and movement. Works pretty well ime.

Well, investigation proved fruitless. All looks ok (from my base of zero washing machine knowledge...no obvious loose bits).

However the banging may be down to the loss of a shock absorber, after some googling, and it turns out the funny looking thing I swept up and chucked last week was probably the missing shock absorber .

It looks way beyond my capabilities to replace it, and I couldn't find them to buy anyway, so I'll probably just carry on as it is for the mo. It still washes ok 🤷‍♀️