A washing machine is a vital tool to have in your home. There is no denying that washing machines are pretty amazing, they make cleaning clothes a hundred times easier, and they are generally very efficient at doing their job. But, there is one major downside to washing machines, and that is the noise that they make.
When it comes to home appliances, washing machines are undoubtedly one of the noisiest that exist. They are so loud, that many people choose to keep their washing machine outside their home, instead of keeping it in a shed or garage.
They produce huge rattling noises while they wash your clothes, and this rattling can even cause your washing machine to move around during this process.
It might sound dramatic, but the level of noise that washing machines produce is actually infuriating. It can cause a major distraction if you are trying to be productive, and can actually disrupt everything that you are doing in your home.
So, it is incredibly likely that you have thought about different ways to reduce the noise of your washing machine. Sadly, it is impossible to completely eliminate the noise produced by your washing machine.
But, it is possible to significantly reduce this noise, and most people choose to do this through the use of anti-vibration pads and mats.
In this guide, we’ll be taking a look at what makes washing machines so noisy, what the best ways to reduce noise are, and how to use these tools to reduce washing machine noise. So, with no further ado, let’s get started.
Why are washing machines so noisy?
We have briefly mentioned some of the key factors that cause washing machines to be so noisy, but let’s take a deeper look at this. All washing machines will produce a certain level of operating noise, but there are lots of different factors that can drive this noise right up.
Generally speaking, brand-new washing machines will produce a much lower level of noise than older washing machines. This is simply because they are new, so they will not have any of the wear and tear that older machines have.
Newer washing machines also tend to produce less vibration when they are doing this job, and this will also make them less noisy. Something else that can make washing machines excessively noisy is the flooring that they are laid upon.
Often, washing machines are used upon tiles or hardwood flooring, and this will increase the level of noise that they produce. Hardwood and tile flooring will simply intensify the vibration of a washing machine, causing it to produce more noise when operating.
Part of the reason washing machines produce so much noise is that the vibrations that they produce will travel around your home. The vibrations from the washing machine will travel to your floor joists, and from there they can travel all around your home.
This is a frustration if you live in a house, but it can become a real issue if you live in a flat, especially if it is an upstairs flat. If you have a washing machine in an upstairs flat, the vibrations from it will travel through the floor joists of your home, all the way downstairs to the flat below.
So, reducing the vibration of your washing machine is incredibly important. But how do you do this? Let’s take a look at the two main options available to you.
What is an anti-vibration pad?
The first method that you could use to quieten your washing machine is anti-vibration pads.
Anti-vibration pads are stuck to the feet of your washing machine, and they reduce the amount of vibration that your washing machine makes. They do this by absorbing the vibrations of the washing machine, ensuring that a large amount of the vibration does not travel into the floor joists.
This means that less vibration will travel around your home, therefore producing less operating noise. When people consider using anti-vibration pads, they only really consider the impact that they will have on the noise of your washing machine. But, this isn’t the only benefit of anti-vibration pads.
Anti-vibration pads are also great because they also help protect the structural stability of your home from these vibrations. If you use your washing machine a lot, then it is possible that this could cause damage to the joists of your home, or the flooring beneath your washing machine.
But, anti-vibration pads absorb the vibrations made by washing machines, ensuring that the amount of vibration that travels into the joists/flooring is very limited. This will protect your flooring and home from the vibrations.
So, anti-vibration pads do a lot more than just reducing the operating noise of a washing machine. But, these aren’t the only solutions available to you. In fact, there is another very good way to reduce the operating noise of your washing machine, so let’s take a look at that.
What is an anti-vibration mat?
Now that we’ve taken a look at what an anti-vibration pad is, let’s take a look at what an anti-vibration mat is. As you probably expect, anti-vibration mats are actually very similar to anti-vibration pads. Especially in terms of the way that they operate.
Anti-vibration mats operate almost identically to anti-vibration pads, because they also absorb a large amount of the vibration produced by your washing machine.
But, they differ from anti-vibration pads in a lot of ways, too. Anti-vibration pads are generally stuck beneath the feet of your washing machine to reduce the amount of noise that it produces.
Of course, this noise is reduced because the pads absorb the vibrations in the same way that an anti-vibration mat does. However, an anti-vibration mat covers a lot more than just the ground beneath your washing machine’s feet.
Generally, an anti-vibration mat will be installed beneath your washing machine instead of flooring. They are installed similar to how carpet is installed and can be used beneath washing machines to absorb vibrations. But, their usage does not stop at washing machines.
In fact, you can install an anti-vibration mat beneath pretty much any machinery that will produce vibrations. The installation of this mat will protect your floor joists and flooring in the same way that anti-vibration pads would.
So, the two best ways to reduce operating noise of your washing machine are to use anti-vibration pads and anti-vibration mats. But, how do you install these? And what is the best method for reducing the noise of your washing machine? Let’s take a look.
How to Reduce Washing Machine Noise
Option #1 – Use anti-vibration pads
The first option that you have is to install anti-vibration pads alone. You might expect the process of installation for these pads to be difficult, but it is actually a lot easier than you think. The key to making installing these pads easy is preparation.
So, let’s start there. Before you even think about installing your anti-vibration pads, you need to give the area a good clean. Begin by cleaning the floor beneath the area where you are going to place your pads, and then move onto cleaning the places on your washing machine where you will be attaching your anti-vibration pads.
It is important to clean the area if you want the adhesive of the anti-vibration pad to stick firmly to your washing machine. With the areas clean, you can then move on to sticking your anti-vibration pads in place.
Most anti-vibration pads will come with self-adhesive pads, so you can simply peel the cover off of these adhesive pads and stick them to your floor. You will also find a primer in the packet of your anti-vibration pads, so next apply this to the pads.
Once you have done this, simply add the pads onto the adhesive pads and press them into place. Then, all you have to do is lift your washing machine back into place, ensuring that the pads are beneath the feet of your washing machine. Then you can use your washing machine like normal, and the pads will do their job.
Option #2 – Use anti-vibrations mats
The second option is to use anti-vibration mats underneath your washing machine. If you are renovating your home, or building a new home, then this might be the ideal solution for reducing washing machine operating noise.
As we said earlier, anti-vibration mats are installed beneath washing machines and other household appliances to significantly reduce the amount of noise that they make. This noise is reduced as a large amount of the appliance’s vibration is absorbed by the anti-vibration mat.
We also said earlier that anti-vibration mats can be used in place of regular flooring, this is the main reason why this is a better option for houses that are having a remodel.
If you are giving your laundry room a remodel, or have decided to move your washing machine to the garage, then you might choose to use anti-vibration mats. These mats can be easily installed and can be used in place of regular flooring.
This is perfect for a laundry room, as you will likely have multiple household appliances stored in this room, all of which produce operating noise.
To install anti-vibration mats in your home, simply buy the correct amount of mats to cover the floor space that you want to cover, and install them beneath your household appliances.
You might need to have someone help you with this, as you will be required to move the appliances to place the anti-vibration mats beneath them.
But once the mats are down, you can simply place your appliances back on top of them, and the mats will do their job the next time you use your washing machine.
Additional Methods to Consider
While both anti-vibration mats and pads are highly effective in reducing operating noise from your washing machine, they will not be able to completely remove this noise.
So, if you find that the level of noise produced by your washing machine is still annoying, then you can take additional steps to reduce the noise. Below, we have given you just a handful of additional methods to consider.
Invest in a soundproof blanket
This might seem like a strange option, but you could invest in a soundproof blanket to further reduce the level of noise that your washing machine produces.
Whenever you use your washing machine, you can then take the soundproof blanket and cover your washing machine with it. This will reduce some of the noise that your washing machine produces.
Alternatively, you could invest in 2 soundproof blankets and wedge them down the sides of your washing machine to further reduce the noise.
Assess the health of your washing machine
As we have said, younger washing machines don’t actually produce that much operating noise. So, if your washing machine is suddenly producing an excessive amount of noise, this could be a sign that something is wrong.
Likewise, if your older washing machine is producing more and more noise every time that you wash it, you might want to consider the possibility that your washing machine is past its best. In which case, replacing it might be the only option.
Summary
In short, this has been a complete guide to how to reduce washing machine noise through the use of anti-vibration pads and mats. So, if your washing machine is producing an infuriating amount of noise, consider investing in these tools to make it quieter.
