Dear washing machine: STAY!

[Aragarthiel]

Our washing machine likes to travel across our laundry room when it hits spin cycle. The only time it doesn't is when it's actually overfull, in which case, I think the weight of the load keeps it in place, but we can't always do that. It's a pain in the butt to try to move back into place and some of the flooring underneath it has come up.

We've tried door stops to get it to stop moving but those were ineffective. Standing in front of it doesn't totally help either (has anyone ever tried to fight an angry washing machine full of laundry?). The only thing that seems to help every time is to have someone sit on top of it, and I can't take the time out of my day to babysit the washer like that. If we could, we'd adjust it so that the only place it could go would be into the side of the dryer, but the connections aren't designed to let us do that. The washer and dryer are on adjacent walls, with a gap big enough for another machine in the corner (because whoever remodeled that part of the house years ago was smart).

Anyone have any ideas we can try?

[lordlundar]

You need to attack the root of the problem which is that the load isn't balanced. you need to distribute the laundry around the drum properly so one side isn't overly heavier than the other. To add, when it starts to "walk" as it were you need to stop it, shift the load around to re-balance it, then start it up again.

[wolfie]

Top or front load? LordLunar's suggestion will work for top load, but if it's a front loader the load keeps getting re-distributed in an unbalanced manner while the machine is operating.

[dawnfire]

would something like this work https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Feet-A.../dp/B001JBLFWQ
It's supposed to limit vibration/machine walking

[It's me]

Make sure you aren't overloading the machine.....

[Luna Baby]

Another possible solution would be to adjust the feet. You might have the right size load, properly distributed/balanced, but the machine itself is not level and that alone will allow for the unit to move and walk from it's original spot. Most machines have small rubber/plastic feet that you can adjust by turning. They are attached to the machine with a threaded part and you just turn them to go up or down depending on how you need to adjust the machine.

[Ophbalance]

Maybe an internal dampener has failed? I know mine has oil filed struts inside that help limit vibration.

[taxguykarl]

If all else fails, find a bar that races them.

[dalesys]

It's undead! Put a stake through its pump before it drains you!

[dendawg]

Better put it out of your misery before this starts happening.

[NorthernZel]

The lazy approach, assuming that you don't have a machine with the lid on top: Place a heavy load of, say, detergent boxes, fabric softener bottles and other stuff on top of the washer. at least that keeps OUR washer from dancing around during a spin cycle + we have all remedies ready for use!.

Having said that though, I also recommend looking at whether the washer is properly leveled.

[Trixie]

Pretty sure there was an episode of the Simpsons where either Homer or Bart had washing machine races. Something to keep in mind to earn some extra cash?

[Aragarthiel]

So it turns out it was missing one of its feet, and combined with the fact that the house isn't level, we're pretty sure we figured out how to fix it. As a temporary fix we stuck a board under the corner where the foot is missing, and I've got a load of laundry in now to see how it works.