Washing bulky items in a washer the wrong way, such as a comforter on a regular cycle, one bath rug by itself or a waterproof cover stuffed in with towels, causes off-balance spins, poor cleaning and extra strain on the machine. Three changes cover it: the Bulky cycle, a little balancing weight for heavy items, and a look at the care label before anything goes in.
Mistakes at a glance
| Habit | What it leads to | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Washing a comforter on a regular cycle | A wad of wet fabric that won't rinse or spin out evenly | Select the Bulky cycle for large or heavy items |
| Cramming a comforter into a drum it barely fits | Poor cleaning and a strained, lopsided spin | Check the washer's capacity; if it only fits by force, it is too big for that washer |
| Washing one bath rug on its own | A heavy, absorbent lump that spins off balance | Add two or three other items to balance the load |
| Tossing a waterproof cover in with everyday laundry | Water trapped inside the fabric, which makes the load hard to balance | Wash water-resistant items on their own on the Bulky cycle, if the care label allows |
| Skipping the care label on pillows and bedding | Damaged items, or items not made for machine washing | Follow the label; Whirlpool suggests a gentle, cold cycle for pillows |
| Restarting the same lopsided load again and again | Repeated hard spins on an unbalanced drum | Stop, spread the item out, and run a drain and spin |
The ones that matter most
Using a regular cycle for a comforter
Bulky cycles are built for large items. Whirlpool says to always select the Bulky cycle when washing large or heavy items, and that knowing your washer's capacity is key to avoiding overloads. It also says that loading bulky items properly matters both for a good wash and for preventing damage to the washer. A comforter that only fits after pushing and folding it into the drum leaves no room to move, so it can't clean or balance well.
Washing one rug or one heavy blanket by itself
A single absorbent item soaks up water and sits on one side of the drum. Whirlpool's top-load HE guidance uses exactly this example: don't wash one rug, and add two or three garments so the load can spin well. Check the rug's label before washing it at all; rubber-backed bath mats also matter for the dryer, as explained in what not to put in the dryer.
Mixing waterproof items into a normal load
Mattress pads, rain jackets and similar items are made to hold water out, which also means they can hold water in. GE Appliances notes that bulky, waterproof and water-resistant items can be difficult to wash effectively, and says to use the Bulky cycle for mattress pads and water-resistant items on models that have one. On models without a bulky cycle, GE points owners to the manual and the item's care label.
Signs it's already caused a problem
- The washer bangs, walks or stops with an unbalanced-load message whenever you wash bedding
- The drum knocks against the cabinet during spin, even with ordinary loads
- Water is left in the tub, or the cycle stalls before the final spin
- The washer leans or the drum sits off center when empty
- A new squeal, grind or thump during spin after a heavy load
If those symptoms continue with normal laundry, the suspension or drive parts may need attention. ProFix San Antonio technicians serve homes across North San Antonio and the rest of Bexar County.
Sources
- Whirlpool: Washing Large Loads or Bulky Items in a Washer
- Whirlpool: Top Load HE Washer is Unbalanced or Overloaded
- GE Appliances: Washer, Bulky, Waterproof and Water Resistant Items
Habit to keep: Use the Bulky cycle, and never send a rug or heavy blanket through alone.
When every bulky load turns into a banging spin, or ordinary loads start doing it too, ProFix San Antonio can check the washer at (210) 761-6006.