What to check, in order
- Front-loaders: check the clothes
If they aren't dripping wet, nothing needs doing.
- Rearrange the load
Top-loaders: cancel, run a drain-only cycle if there's water in the tub, then rearrange or take out some items. Use the Bulky or Heavy Duty cycle for big items.
- Don't pack it tight
And add a few garments to a single bulky item so it can balance.
When to call an engineer
Only if it keeps happening with normal loads.
Checked against
Last reviewed September 2026. Manufacturers update their pages, and your manual is the final word.