If you’ve ever noticed your washing machine starting to move on a laminate floor during a washing cycle, you need to address the problem right away.
The best way to stop a washing machine from moving on a laminate floor is to ensure the load if even, the washing machine is level on the ground with an even floor and that you use anti-vibration pads.
Let’s see why exactly washing machines can move on a laminate floor and what the best ways to deal with it are.
Why Can A Washing Machine Move On Laminate Floor?
Washing machines naturally vibrate during operation as they contain a spinning drum that spins at a standard rate of 1200rpm to 1400rpm whilst containing a load of washing.
The drum will vibrate during operation which can be transferred to the surrounding case and, in some cases, lead to a washing machine moving around during operation. This is particularly common if you have loaded the machine incorrectly or the space underneath the washer being uneven – or sometimes the washing machine itself can be uneven.
Uneven Load
Every washing machine has a recommended weight for each load that you place in it to achieve the right amount of vibration.
It’s always important to stick to this guideline because if you load your washing machine unevenly, whether that be by adding too much or too little weight, it can result in too much vibration which can lead to your washing machine moving around.
This is something that is usually picked up through using your washing machine regularly, so the best advice is to keep an eye on this when you first use your washing machine and then you should be fine in the long term.
Appliance Levelling
You can quickly check if your washing machine is level by placing a spirit level on top of it. If it is not level, this can be due to either the appliance legs or the floor beneath it – both of which can cause movement during a washing cycle.
To alter the appliance itself you’ll need to lean the machine back and let it sit on a pry bar. Once it has been tilted back you should have access to the legs, which you can adjust and then secure by tightening the locking nut so that they don’t move during operation.
The rear legs will self adjust, but this can sometimes be affected by a build-up of lint and dust. You can simply tip the machine back and then to the normal position and this should re-adjust the rear legs due to the weight going through them during the tipping motion.
Uneven Floor
Just like the appliance levelling, an uneven floor can have exactly the same effect even if your appliance is perfectly levelled itself.
An uneven floor is usually the result of poor installation or some kind of sub-surface damage, but again a spirit level can be used to quickly check if your floor is uneven. If you discover your floor is uneven then it is best to move the washing machine to an even level if possible.
If this isn’t possible then it could be worth considering using anti-vibration pads, which we will talk about in more depth later. Otherwise, you might have to consider having your floor repaired.
How To Stop A Washing Machine From Moving
Aside from following the above guidelines, there is another option you can consider to keep your washing machine from moving around on a laminate floor that is our personal favourite.
Anti-vibration pads have been around for a while now and can work wonders to stop your washing machine from moving around. This is our number 1 option because it’s super simple to do and is very cost-effective.
It also doesn’t require any repairs to be made to the floor or even the washing machine itself.
Do Anti-Vibration Pads Mark The Floor?
Anti-vibration pads have a base that is usually made from rubber, a material that is known for marking laminate flooring.
The good news is that a rubber mark is really easy to clean up and, let’s be honest, your washing machine will be hiding this for a long time anyway. It’s only when you come to replace or move your washing machine that you would notice the marks.
Washing machines themselves can cause more serious marks to your floor in their own right so a rubber mark is a small price to pay.
Our personal recommendation is these washing machine feet pads by Voimekas as not only are they affordable, but they absorb the impacts from the washing machine that leads to reduced vibration and noise.
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Do Washing Machines Only Move On Laminate Floor?
Although laminate floors are more prone to letting washing machines move around on them, it is actually not just limited to these types of floors.
Wooden floors and vinyl are both also prone to washing machines moving around on them. It all depends on how much vibration your washing machine is experiencing depending on the factors above.
Tiled floors are less prone to this as the grooves between tiles can act as a barrier to stop movement, but it can still occur in some cases.
The quality of your flooring installation will also play a big role – if your floor isn’t even, regardless of what type of flooring it is, then it is likely your washing machine will move around.
Final Thoughts
Washing machines are very prone to moving around on laminate flooring due to the vibrations that they spin at, which can be made worse by factors such as an uneven floor or an uneven washing load.
If you have any other questions relating to how to stop a washing machine from moving on laminate then please let us know here.