Washing machine expert needed

[ApplianceInNeed]

Behold, the most boring post I’ve posted on mumsnet!

I mostly use two settings on my washing machine. One is 30 degrees, 20 mins, 1200 spin. Recently it’s started making a very, very alarming rattling noise towards the end of the cycle when it’s spinning. Second cycle is 40 degrees, 1h40, 1200 spin. No rattle!

So… should I worry about the rattle? Can I just use the cycle which doesn’t rattle alarmingly, but can I actually trust that is ok, or do I need to get an engineer out before the whole thing implodes? I could really do without the expense of an engineer, but a new machine would be worse!

Is the balancing OK?
If you put your hand inside the machine and hold the drum and wobble it does it clunk and feel loose?

My 20 minute wash is described as a ‘light wash to freshen things up’ and has a recommended limit of 1/4 of a normal load. So if you are using it as a normal wash, maybe you are overloading it? The fact you say the longer wash is fine (with the same amount of clothes) makes me feel this is the answer.

No, it seems normal.

Hmm, this is possible. I don’t use that wash for a full load, but could still be overloading it a bit. The machine is ten years old so the manual is long gone, but I’ll look it up online and see if that gives any clues.