What to do if your washing machine is tearing laundry – causes and repairs

A washing machine is the most important assistant in any home.

It is impossible to imagine our existence without this technology.

She washes the laundry, rinses it, wrings it out thoroughly and even dries it.

This is a huge time saver for the owners.

If things are damaged by the washing machine

While your electronic assistant is working, you can calmly do other useful things or just relax.

However, sometimes the washing machine gets tired of being perfect and starts acting up. When you take the laundry out of the drum, you suddenly discover holes in it.

Why does my washing machine tear laundry? It's worth finding out.

Any washing machine, no matter what brand, should be gentle on clothes. And especially, it shouldn't tear them.

If this happens, it means that the equipment has developed a malfunction that needs to be fixed quickly.

First, let's look at the possible causes of failure. The most common ones are:

• things get damaged by sharp buttons, zippers, and fasteners;
• the surface of the drum inside is damaged, which is why snags and holes appear on the laundry;
• There are sharp plastic parts, springs and other elements inside the washing machine hatch;
• the drum in the machine shifts;
• the wrong setting is selected for certain types of fabric and the washing machine tears the laundry;
• incorrectly selected detergents.

To better understand each of these cases, let's look at them in more detail.

Causes that you can fix yourself

There are many reasons why your washing machine tears clothes. Knowing them can help you quickly resolve any issues that arise.

If small parts of clothing spoil things

Any owner of an automatic washing machine should know how to properly load clothes into it.

Any metal parts on clothing must be hidden.

The easiest option is to turn all items inside out.

Use a laundry bag

There are wardrobe items that cannot be turned inside out.

A laundry bag will help in this situation.

It fits your items, and not a single button, lock, or rhinestone will cause serious damage to the fabrics when washed.

It's important to check pockets before loading clothes into the wash. Remove everything, even small items like sunflower husks.

Those who like to leave various pins, screws, and paper clips in their pockets risk not only tearing the fabric of their clothes, but also damaging the washing machine.

For example, a simple underwire from a woman's bra, if dropped into a washing machine, could easily puncture the tank, leading to more serious consequences.

Check the cuff

Tearing laundry during every wash indicates that a small, sharp object is stuck between the cuff and the drum. What should you do in this situation? There's only one solution: carefully inspect the gap between the drum and the cuff, especially the top.

Don't forget to listen to your washing machine. Stuck objects often make themselves known by grinding, banging, or ringing sounds.

If you have selected the wrong washing mode

After purchasing a washing machine, it's important to carefully read the instructions included with it and follow all the instructions.

Sometimes, the washing machine tears laundry simply because it was washed on the wrong cycle. For example, delicate fabrics on the intensive cycle.

It sounds stupid—what sane person would do that? But it turns out it's one of the most common mistakes people make when washing clothes in a washing machine today.

There's a simple rule that can help you avoid accidents when washing: if you have even the slightest doubt that an item might be damaged in the washing machine, wash it by hand.

Reasons that are difficult to fix on your own

Factory defect of the washing machine

Is your washing machine tearing your clothes right after the first wash? Then it's time to look for a manufacturing defect.

Burr in the drum

Most likely, there is a defect in the form of a burr on the inner surface of the drum.

It can be spotted by visual inspection. If not, there's a surefire way.

Put on nylon tights and inspect every millimeter of the drum. If there's a hangnail, it will be immediately apparent.

How to eliminate such a defect in a part?

It's best to return a recently purchased washing machine under warranty to the store and get your money back.

If you have the desire and opportunity, exchange it for another device. It's possible that one manufacturing defect may not be the last.

How to solve the problem yourself?

The burr in an old washing machine is removed with sandpaper. This must be done very carefully to avoid damaging the entire drum surface.

Broken bearings tear laundry

Laundry can get caught between the drum and the tub during washing and tear. The drum spins very quickly.

If the item gets caught between the tank and the drum, the result will be a chewed up, torn rag instead of a new, beautiful shirt.

We are used to thinking that clothes have nowhere to go from the drum.
The drum in a washing machine moves thanks to bearings, which also ensure proper horizontal alignment without any deviations. If a bearing fails, the drum begins to rotate out of alignment.

What will this lead to?

This creates a gap between the tub and the drum. The seal won't help in this case. Favorite items get caught in this gap and are completely ruined during the wash.

A broken bearing is a fairly serious problem that can lead to a complete breakdown of the automatic washing machine.

To replace the bearing, you need to do the following:

1.  remove the top cover from the machine;
2. the counterweight also unscrews;
3. remove the back cover;
4. disconnect the pump from the engine;
5. remove shock absorbers;
6. remove the front panel together with the cuff;
7. detach the washing machine tank and split it in half;
8. replace the old worn part with a new one.

The process is quite complex and should not be attempted by someone unfamiliar with the procedure. It's best to call a professional and not delay, as the damage is quite serious.

If you suspect that the breakdown is serious, you should call a technician immediately!

This will save you from a bunch of other problems that may arise in the future.