Imagine your Whirlpool washer not spinning clothes dry! It must be frustrating, especially considering the clothes will take longer to dry and may not come out clean. Right?
A Whirlpool washer often fails to spin the clothes dry because of a power failure, wrong cycle or spin speed setting, unbalanced washer, poor loading, excess suds, failed drainage, or component failure.
Concerning component failure, it could be the lid switch, drive belt, drive motor, shift actuator, or main control board. If any of these components fail, either from wearing out or damage, the clothes will come out wet after the spin cycle.
Overall, all seven issues are problems you can diagnose and troubleshoot DIY. All you need is the right troubleshooting guide, and that’s where this post comes in. We’ll discuss addressing the seven issues to get your Whirlpool washer back spin-drying the clothes.
But first, below is a summary of the seven issues and their Troubleshooting!
Whirlpool Washer Not Spinning Clothes Dry – Quick Troubleshooting Guide
| – | Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
| 1. | Power Failure | Reset and restart the washer. |
| 2. | Wrong Cycle or Spin Setting | Choose the correct cycle and a ‘high-spin’ setting. |
| 3. | Unbalanced Washer | Position the washer on an even surface and level/tighten its feet. |
| 4. | Poor Loading | Don’t overload the washer, and evenly distribute the laundry. |
| 5. | Excess Suds | Use the correct detergent, and don’t use it in excess. |
| 6. | Failed Drainage | Unclog the drain filter, hose, and pump, maintain the correct drain hose position (39-96 inches), and flatten out any kinks on the drain hose. |
| 7. | Component Failure | Replace the lid switch, drive belt, drive motor, shift actuator, or main control board if defective. |
Why Is My Whirlpool Washer Not Spinning Clothes Dry?
Generally, here are seven issues to consider when your Whirlpool washer fails to spin the clothes dry:
1. Power Failure
In the event of a power failure, while the washer is running, the washer will fail to run at full speed. Once that’s the case, you can expect the washer not to spin dry the clothes. And since diagnosing the fault is challenging, it automatically comes as a first suspect.
Fix
Consider resetting your Whirlpool washer in case of a recent power failure you don’t know about. You then have to restart the cycle.
Here’s how to do it:
Option 1 – Flip the circuit breaker for at least 60 seconds and flip it back on before powering it back to restart.
Option 2 – Consider unplugging the washer for about 30 minutes, then plug it back in and power it on.
2. Wrong Cycle or Spin Setting
You must pick the correct setting to match the laundry you are washing. For example, you cannot expect your washer to spin dry bulky laundry if you use a Delicate or Normal setting. In such a case, you should use a Bulky setting.
Similarly, don’t use a Gentle or Normal wash cycle on bedding, as such items require the Bedding setting.
But besides choosing the correct wash cycle, you must also select the right washer spin speed. Your Whirlpool washer won’t spin dry the clothes if you choose a no-spin or even a slow-spin setting. You’ve to opt for a high-spin setting for that to be the case.
Fix
First, ensure you match the laundry type with the correct wash cycle. Then, choose the right ‘high spin’ setting to match the laundry.
3. Unbalanced Washer
Your Whirlpool washer must stay still to allow the drum to spin gently. If it’s unstable, the clothes will likely be thrown out of position, forming heaps that may hold excess water. So, the laundry will probably come out soaking wet in heaps.
The problem could be due to positioning the washer on an uneven surface or a case of loose or unlevelled feet.
Fix
Ensure you position the washer on an even surface. While at it, adjust and tighten the washer’s feet to ensure it sits still and stable.
4. Poor Loading
It’s vital that you load your washer properly. If you overload the washer or unevenly distribute the laundry, the washer won’t spin dry.
In the case of an overload, the washer may fail to spin at all, and in the case of uneven loading, the items will form heaps, which will come out soaking wet.
Fix
Consider reloading the washer correctly. Don’t load it more than ¾ full, and ensure you evenly distribute the articles in the drum for uniform spinning and spin-drying.
5. Excess Suds
Is your washer forming many suds? Then that’s likely the reason the washer won’t spin dry.
The problem with excess suds is that they soak the clothes more since they force the washer to draw in more water. In some cases, the excess suds interfere with the drainage, and if the washer doesn’t drain properly, the extra water will stay in the tub, and the laundry will soak in it.
Overall, the problem could be that you are using too much detergent. And if that’s not it, it could be due to using the wrong detergent.
For example, if you have a Whirlpool top-loader, it’s advisable to use a high-efficiency detergent, not a non-high-efficiency option. That’s because the latter forms excess suds more than the former.
Fix
Ensure you are using the detergent that the washer manufacturer recommends. In the case of a top loader, consider a high-efficiency option. Furthermore, ensure you apply the correct amount of detergent, preferably less than recommended.
6. Failed Drainage
Proper drainage is critical to a washer’s successful spin-drying performance. If the washer doesn’t drain properly, the laundry will soak into the water that remains in the tub. Thus, it’s highly likely that the clothes will come out dripping wet.
As far as poor drainage goes, it could be due to any of these issues:
- Kinked or clogged drained hose – Inspect the drain hose for kinks or folds and dirt clogging as they could interfere with the drainage.
- Obstructed drain filter or coin trap – The drain filter or cold trap could also accumulate dirt. It could be foreign objects like coins, pins, or jewelry if it’s not dirt.
- Clogged or faulty drain pump – The drain pump won’t pump out water if dirt-clogged or broken down.
- Wrong drain hose height – Ideally, the Whirlpool washer drain pipe height should be 39-96 inches. If that’s not the case, the washer will have difficulty draining and, as a result, may fail to spin-dry the clothes.
Fix
Flatten out any kinks on the drain hose; clean it if it is clogged. Also, clean the drain filter and coin of dirt and manually remove any trapped foreign objects. Clean the drain pump, too, but replace it if it’s damaged.
Moreover, position the drain hose about 39-96 inches off the ground.
7. Component Failure
Lastly, your Whirlpool washer might not be spin-drying the clothes because of a component malfunction. One major component could be worn out or damaged, interfering with the spin-drying performance.
The said component could be any of the following:
- Lid switch – If the washer’s lid switch fails, the lid won’t shut correctly, and once that’s the case, the washer won’t complete a spin cycle. This typically applies to Whirlpool top loaders.
- Drive belt – Your Whirlpool washer won’t spin properly, or it may fail to turn entirely if the drive belt is defective. It could be that the belt is stretched or broken.
- Drive motor – Expect the washer not to complete a spin cycle if the drive motor malfunctions.
- Shift actuator – This is another consideration if you’ve a top loader. If the shift actuator malfunctions, the washer stays on the agitating cycle and won’t proceed to the spin cycle.
- Main control board – Lastly, your Whirlpool washer won’t spin dry clothes if the main control board fails. In fact, most operations will halt if the control board is damaged.
Fix
Test the lid switch with a multimeter and replace it if it shows no continuity. If the washer belt is defective, replace it too.
Inspect the drive motor and shift actuator for damage and replace any of them if that’s the case. However, if you rule out all the components, consider replacing the main control board as your last resort.
Troubleshooting a Whirlpool Top Load Washer Not Spinning Clothes Dry
A Whirlpool top loader won’t spin dry clothes for different reasons. The most notable ones include power failure, poor drainage, incorrect setting, laundry overload, or washer imbalance.
But still, it could be due to excess suds (due to misuse of detergent) or a damaged shift actuator. But if that’s not it, it could be due to a failed motor, washer belt, or main control board.
Troubleshooting a Whirlpool Front Load Washer Not Spinning Clothes Dry
Your Whirlpool front loader won’t spin clothes dry due to different issues. It could be due to a recent power failure, an incorrect wash cycle or spin setting, bad drainage, laundry overload, or an imbalanced washer.
If that’s not it, it could be due to a damaged or worn-out component such as the drive belt, drive motor, door lock, or main control board.
Whirlpool Duet Washer Not Spinning Clothes Dry
Consider that your Whirlpool Duet washer won’t spin dry clothes due to any of these reasons:
- Possible power failure
- Drainage failure
- Wrong spin speed or wash cycle
- Damaged washer belt
- Poor laundry distribution or overload
- An out-of-balance washer
- Too much detergent
- Failed motor, lid switch, or control board
Whirlpool Cabrio Washer Not Spinning Clothes Dry
If your Whirlpool Cabrio washer won’t spin dry the clothes, it’s likely to be due to one of these issues:
- Recent power failure
- Bad drainage
- Incorrect setting or wash cycle
- Drum overload
- Unbalanced load or washer
- Defective washer belt, motor, or control board
Concluding Thought:
Now you know how to troubleshoot a Whirlpool washer not spinning clothes dry. It starts with resetting the washer in case of a power failure and ensuring you use the correct cycle and spin setting.
It’s equally important to balance the washer and correctly load it. While at it, don’t overuse the detergent and fix any drainage problem. If still unsuccessful, you may have to inspect the lid switch, drive belt, drive motor, shift actuator, and main control board for fault and replace the faulty one.
Also Read: