Washing machine will not spin heavy bedding after multiple engineer visits

[user1471505356]

My washing machine after 18 months will not spin with a heavy duvet cover just turns slowly aimlessly, a light load no problem, have had 6 engineers visits.

Is it too heavy?

I'd say it's too heavy for the machine. Mine won't spin properly if it's overloaded. Does your machine have a maximum weight? Because wet duvet covers can weight a lot!

What brand is it my MIL is having similar probs

What's the size of the machine?

What do the engineers say?

Just stop trying to wash heavy duvets in it.

Most towns now have those giant washing machines that you can use to do duvets, I've only just discovered they exist. Usually at petrol stations but some places still have launderettes.

@FancyLilacHare I think the op is only washing the covers, not the duvets.

I am answering on this basis too. I have one duvet cover (not exceptionally large, it's only King Size) that is immensely heavy when wet and I presume it's that sort of circumstance. My machine will attempt to spin it but it's never properly spun when I get it out.

IME modern washing machines won’t spin if the load is too heavy or too unbalanced. Sometimes only having one item makes it too unbalanced to spin, even if it’s well under the weight limit for the machine. I find that particularly noticeable with towels, but perhaps a large heavy duvet cover has the same effect. Maybe try chucking a couple of sheets in as well?

Washing machines can be a bit temperamental. Too heavy. Unbalanced load. If mine doesn’t like the weight of distribution it won’t do the final spin. I have to take out a towel and try the spin again. That does it. Just don’t over load.

modern machines will not spin if the load is on one side of the drum. It is a supposed safety feature to protect the machine but in reality it is a pain in the bum because it wont spin large heavy items as you have discovered. You can try to get round it by cramming dry stuff in to fill the drum completely such as towels or dry washing waiting to go in. That often works but sometimes even that doesn't help. Also I squeeze as much water out by hand before attempting the full drum approach.
Good luck

Mine does this too

take it to the launderette

Out of balance load? Can you put some smaller things in as well to give it a chance of balancing up? They go slow when trying to balance and if they can't don't go on to full spin. If you can open the door and try to spread it out a bit and then spin again.

I have a few items that cause my washing machine to not spin. DD’s baggy school sports hoodie is a repeat offender. It gets so heavy that the machine just won’t spin. A couple of blankets I have do the same. Even on the maximum load cycle.

The only solution is to remove the offending item, wring it out over the bath to remove as much water as possible, then pop it back in. The washer then is able to spin properly. It’s a faff but doable.

I do find that washing machines with fancy load detectors are the most troublesome.

Edited to add: my washer does manage my super king duvet covers but I would be wary of covers that are not cotton (e.g the “teddy bear” fleece style covers).

This. Mine won't spin one large item. It's really annoying but does usually work if you put other things in.

I often have to do several spins on very heavy bedding. I thought that was pretty normal and not a sign of the machine not working.

I also rebooted mine to reset the programming, for mine turn of at the fuse board wait ten minutes and turn back on, that did seem to help, it wasn't transitioning properly from drain to spin I think so wasn't doing the balancing part of the program properly and then failing to spin fast.

Yes, mine is the same, won't spin one large item because its ends up in an unbalanced clump on one side of the drum. When this happens, I spread evenly on the drum, and bulk the centre with dry towels to keep it in place and it's happier.

I also put dry towels in when this happens and then It works fine

I have the unbalanced load issue with a particular throw, like a PP, I have to wring it out to reduce the weight and put it back in to spin.

OP, I have had my washing machine a long time. Very occasionally it does this. What I do is reload the item in the machine and then put it on a low spin. After the low spin has finished I then put it on a high spin. It is usually because the cover and water together weigh too much.
Also what @AvogadrosNumber suggested

When this happens i set machine to drain and spin a few times to get rid of excess water. Stop it before spin and set to drain again

Mine is so old it doesn't have 'programming', just a dial and a few buttons! I can't open it during a cycle either, so I have to wait for it to finish and open the door, then take out the offending article, shake it and put it back on a 'spin only' cycle.

So it's not only new machines that are a pain.

Thank you all for such a response, its a Bekko 8 Kgs, the engineers cannot find a fault, why would this happen after 18 months, I agree the machine is trying to balance the load evenly. I like the ides of filling out the load with dry towels, will give that a try will be a while before I report back thanks again.

My Miele is similar only it’s bath mats it dislikes, very annoying!