Why Does Your Washing Machine Keep Adding Minutes?

It might not be broken. Many washing machines adjust the time left as they check the load, fill, drain, and prepare to spin. The number on the display is an estimate, which would be more obvious if it didn’t look exactly like a countdown.

First, watch what the machine is doing when the minutes get added. If it pauses, turns the drum a few times, and tries to spin again, the load may be uneven. A single heavy towel or blanket can throw things off. Wait until the washer has stopped and unlocked, then spread the wet items around the drum. Don’t force the door open.

If you see lots of foam, the washer may be taking extra time to deal with suds. Check the detergent label and your washer’s instructions for the right type and amount. More detergent doesn’t mean cleaner clothes. Sometimes it just means the machine has to spend longer getting rid of your enthusiasm.

If water is still sitting in the drum when the washer should be draining, that’s a different clue. Check that the drain hose behind the machine isn’t visibly kinked. Some washers also have a drain filter you can clean, but the location and procedure depend on the model. Follow the manual, unplug the machine first, and be ready for water. Don’t start opening panels because a stranger on the internet said there was probably a filter in there.

An occasional extra few minutes, especially before the final spin, usually isn’t a reason to replace anything. But if the machine repeatedly adds time without making progress, leaves water in the drum, shows an error code, or can’t finish an ordinary load, look up that code in the manual and arrange service if the basic checks don’t solve it.

Watch the washer, not just the clock. If it’s working through a lopsided load, give it a chance. If it’s stuck doing the same thing over and over, the countdown has stopped being useful information.