7 Common Reasons for Wet Laundry
There are seven common reasons for wet laundry in the washer after the wash cycle. Some are simple fixes or lifestyle changes, and others may require intervention from a professional appliance technician. They are:
1. This spin is Underpowered
A washer removes excess water from fabric using centrifugal force. As the drum spins quickly, water droplets are pushed out and then directed into the drain. But if the spin is underpowered, there may be insufficient centrifugal force to remove the water. When you remove the soaking wet items from the washer, and you can’t see any standing water, this is the most likely cause.
This may be a simple fix. Check the settings on your washer. Have they been changed to a slow spin setting? There could be mechanical issues related to the motor pulley, bearings, clutch, and drive belts. These components are essential to spinning the drum quickly, and if one part is compromised, the performance will be degraded.
2. Improper Draining
If the washer cannot drain the soapy wash water away, it will remain in the tub. The laundry items will sit in a tub filled with water, and as a result, they will be soaked. This could be true even if a spin cycle has taken place.
This might happen for a few reasons, some of which are easier to fix than others. First, the drain itself may be clogged, and this obstruction can be removed if the drain filter is cleared or if a plumbing auger (snake) is used.
The second possibility is a weakened drain pump that should be replaced to restore proper draining. There is also a possibility that the washer has a drain siphoning issue when the washer pulls a specific volume of water back into the tub. If you cannot find the cause, it’s time to contact a professional appliance technician to locate the problem and fix it for you. The underlying cause may be a loose door hatch, control panel failure, a failed inlet valve, or something else.
3. Too Much Detergent
Most modern detergents are designed to be effective and efficient in meeting specific water and energy consumption guidelines. So, if you’re eyeballing how much you use in every load, you’re likely using too much detergent. This can be seen if the weather is overflowing with bubbles that may leak onto the floor.
A common side effect is “suds lock,” which occurs when excess soap bubbles create an air pocket in the tub wall. This creates a barrier between the washer and the laundry items, and during the spinning, some items may slip through the gap. The laundry may be spinning slower than the drum due to friction and a lack of contact.
This is a very simple fix: Pay close attention to the recommended detergent amounts for each laundry load. If you’re using a front-load washer or a high-efficiency model, you should use HE soap. This type of detergent is formulated to form fewer soap suds without degrading the cleaning power.
4. An Overloaded Washer
Many people overload their washers to get the best bang for their buck or because they don’t have much time to spare. This may seem like a sound strategy in the short term, but there can be unintended consequences. This is one of the main reasons the laundry items may still be soaking wet after the wash cycle.
When a machine is overloaded, there’s not enough space for the parts to move around evenly. This can cause some items to not be cleaned and others to become too wet. The spin cycle may not run efficiently, and the items will be wet.
Again, this is a simple fix. Pay close attention to the weight and distribution of items inside the washer. Consider the density of items, too—a wet towel will weigh a lot more than a wet t-shirt! If this is a frequent problem in a home where more people live, it may be a good idea to switch to a machine with a higher capacity.
5. The Washer Won’t Spin
If specific critical components in the washer are failing or have failed, the machine will not spin. This will undoubtedly lead to soaking wet items in the machine, which must be removed before you can investigate further. A common cause is a failed door latch, a built-in safety feature. The washer will not recognize that the door is closed, and it won’t start because this could cause water to be released onto the floor. In some instances, this may only be initiated before the spin cycle; the clothes may be cleaned and rinsed, but the excess water will not be removed. The motor coupling may need replacement, or the drive belt could be frayed or loose.
6. Incorrect Washer Settings
Most modern washers have a wide variety of settings to wash delicate or gentle fabrics more efficiently. If an incorrect washer setting is used, the items may feel wetter than they would be with a normal or other cycle. The reason for this is that some cycles use a slower spin speed, which won’t remove as much water. The purpose is to protect the fabrics that may be damaged by a faster spin cycle.
Pay closer attention to the wash and spin cycles for each laundry load to fix this issue. Remember that hand-wash and delicate cycles are specialized and insufficient for a standard load. In many cases, making this simple adjustment will restore regular washing and spinning functionality.
7. Using an Extension Cord
Many people lack sufficient power outlets for their appliances, and they often resort to extension cords. These handy items are a great way to add more outlets or extend power options further without restoring or rewiring. They can work fine in a wide variety of applications, but an extension cord is not designed to be used with larger appliances. This is especially true for washers and dryers.
An extension cord may not handle the power requirements necessary for these large appliances. This can cause overheating issues, a mid-cycle shutdown, and other problems. The laundry items may be too wet after spinning because there wasn’t enough power to achieve the necessary spin cycle speed to remove excess water.
Look behind your machines; if there’s an extension cord, unplug it and plug the appliance into the outlet. If the power cord does not reach, contact an appliance technician to extend it for you or consider a power outlet upgrade.
How to Approach the Problem
When many people are confronted with wet laundry items in their machines, they tend to become confused or even panic. This is natural, but it’s important to remain level-headed and adopt an analytical approach. As you can see from our list of seven common problems, some solutions are more simple than others. In fact, it’s often possible to get the washer running properly again with some lifestyle changes.
If the problem cannot be resolved using less detergent or smaller and better-balanced loads, it’s time to delve deeper. The first step must be to remove the wet clothes from the washer and place them in a sink where they won’t drip water on the floor. Then, turn off the power and look at the machine to see if there’s an obvious problem. You don’t need to be a trained appliance technician to see if the drain hose is cracked, broken, or kinked to prevent efficient draining. Perhaps the washer is connected to the power outlet via an extension cord, which does not supply enough power to the appliance?
In Conclusion
As you can see, there are at least seven common reasons why wet laundry items soak in your machine after the spin cycle. Some of these issues are very simple to fix with no special tools, knowledge, or experience. Some other problems are more complex; the best option is to contact an appliance repair technician. They will be able to identify the cause quickly and get you up and running again in the next few minutes.
If you’ve checked these issues and your laundry is still soaking wet, it may be time to call the professionals. A number of issues, including problems with the inlet valve, a loose door latch, or a control panel malfunction, need to be addressed. Fortunately, you can rely on the expertise of a professional appliance repair technician to determine the underlying issue and provide an effective solution.