Spin cycle issues: unplug and reset or dive straight into the filter?
Honestly, I’m with you on the “unplug first” approach. Modern washers are basically computers that throw tantrums over nothing—half the time it’s just a sensor hiccup. But yeah, if you hear that low growl and there’s water sitting, it’s sock-hunting time. The things I’ve pulled out of filters... coins, hair ties, once even a Lego brick. Manuals can be a pain but they do save you from accidentally breaking something expensive. And yeah, nothing beats that vinegar-fresh smell—almost makes the hassle worth it.
Unplugging first is my default too—just feels safer, especially with all the electronics packed into these things now. I learned that lesson after a power surge fried a control board on our old washer… not fun, and definitely not cheap to fix. Now I’m extra careful about anything electrical, even if it means waiting a few extra minutes for the machine to reset.
That said, I’ve had my fair share of filter surprises. Last year, my kid’s reusable snack pouch cap ended up in there and nearly flooded the laundry room. I try to check pockets and use those mesh bags for socks and small stuff, but things still slip through. Honestly, I wish manufacturers would make the filters easier to access—half the time I feel like I’m disassembling half the machine just to get at it.
I’m big on using vinegar for cleaning cycles too. It’s simple, eco-friendly, and keeps everything smelling fresh without harsh chemicals. Not sure it actually fixes any mechanical issues, but it does make me feel better about running fewer “maintenance” washes.
Manuals are a pain, yeah, but I keep mine in a drawer right by the washer now. After one too many YouTube rabbit holes trying to figure out error codes, it’s just easier to have the paper copy handy.
Anyway, unplug first, check the filter if you’re seeing water or weird noises, and don’t trust that nothing’s hiding in there—there’s always something.
Unplugging is smart, but honestly, I think the filter gets overlooked way too often. I get the whole “wait and reset” thing, but in my experience, if the spin cycle’s acting up—especially if there’s water left in the drum or it’s making that weird grinding noise—it’s almost always a clogged filter or something stuck in the pump. I’ve pulled out everything from coins to hair ties to a Lego head (don’t ask).
I hear you on the filter access though. It’s like they want you to call a repair tech for something that should take five minutes. Drives me nuts. I’ve started keeping a shallow pan and some old towels handy just for those filter checks, because you know it’s gonna leak.
Vinegar’s great for smells, but I’m skeptical it does much for actual gunk buildup. I tried running a hot cycle with vinegar and still had to scrape out a bunch of lint and who-knows-what from the filter later.
Manuals are a necessary evil, but I’ll take flipping through a few pages over watching some guy on YouTube ramble for 20 minutes any day.
Couldn’t agree more about the filter being the real culprit most of the time. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been called out for “mysterious” spin issues, only to find a sock or a wad of lint jamming things up. The design on some of these machines is just ridiculous—like, why make the filter so hard to reach? Drives me up the wall. And yeah, vinegar’s fine for smells, but it’s not magic. You still gotta get your hands dirty if you want things running right. Manuals are a pain, but at least they usually have the diagrams you need... way better than watching someone fumble around on video for half an hour.
- Totally with you on the filter design—some of these machines must’ve been engineered by people who never had to clean one themselves. Crawling around on the floor, flashlight in my mouth, just to pull out a soggy sock? Not my idea of a good time.
- Vinegar’s great for keeping things fresh, but yeah, it’s not gonna unclog a filter or fix a mechanical jam. I tried the “natural” route once and just ended up with a washer that smelled like salad dressing and still wouldn’t spin.
- Manuals are a pain, but at least they usually have the right diagrams. Those YouTube videos where someone spends five minutes just unscrewing the back panel... no thanks. I’d rather scan a confusing diagram than watch someone’s blurry hands for half an hour.
- I do wish more companies would think about maintenance when designing appliances. If they made filters easier to reach, we’d all save water, energy, and a lot of swearing under our breath.
- Quick tip: I keep a little tray under the filter area now. Caught way too many mini-floods from surprise water dumps... live and learn, right?
