If laundry in a Miele W1 comes out wet, Miele's manual gives the reason in plain terms: the machine detected an imbalance during the final spin and reduced the spin speed automatically, so the laundry has not been spun properly. Wash large and small items together to get a more even load distribution. A message to Align the washing machine at the end of the program means the smoothing process could not be carried out properly: check the machine is level and that the maximum delivery height of 39 in (1 m) has not been exceeded. The Drainage message covers a blocked drain that stops the spin.
Differential
Likely causes of “Miele W1 WXF980 washer will not spin or leaves clothes soaking wet”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
An imbalance in the final spin
What separates it The laundry is still wet and the spin speed is lower because of an imbalance in the final spin
How to confirm Mix large and small items, and run the spin again
- 2
An unlevel machine
What separates it The Align the washing machine message shows because the machine is not level
How to confirm Level the four feet and tighten the counter nuts
- 3
A drain that is blocked or too high
What separates it The Drainage message shows and there is water in the drum because the drain is blocked or too high
How to confirm Clean the filter and pump; keep the drain height under 39 in
- 4
Rinse hold or a program without a final spin
What separates it There is water in the drum and no spin because Rinse hold or a program without a final spin was chosen
How to confirm Select the spin or drain option; Miele lets you omit the final spin
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The message shown at the program end
- The spin speed that you selected for the program
- Whether water is left in the drum
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedRead the end message
ReversibleRead the end message, and confirm it with OK once you have read it, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Balance the load
ReversibleBalance the load, by washing large and small items together in one load, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Level the machine
ReversibleLevel the machine, by placing a spirit level on the top, and adjusting all four feet.
Check the drain height
ReversibleCheck the drain height, which is 39 in at the maximum, and clean the filter and the pump if water remains.
Check the spin settings
ReversibleCheck the spin settings, and confirm that the final spin was not omitted, as it is with Rinse hold.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Spin cycle options
- The spin cycle section lets you choose the final spin speed in the wash program, use a rinse-spin, omit the final spin (Rinse hold) or deselect the rinse-spin and final spin. A load that is wet at the end may simply have had a lower final spin or Rinse hold chosen, which is a setting, not a fault.
- Smoothing at program end
- At the end of a program the washer runs a smoothing process to reduce creases. If it cannot be carried out because the machine is unlevel or the delivery height is over 39 in, the Align the washing machine message appears and functionality is reduced until the cause is corrected.
- Miele parts for this problem, part numbers and prices
- For a machine that will not spin because of the drain, Miele's own shop lists the drain pump DPS25-375, part number 10908780, at $92.00 (the 220-240 V version, so match voltage and model) and the filter insert, part number 4731981, at $36.00 (prices change). A wet load is usually an imbalance or level problem, not a part.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the W1 WXR960 washer.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If Align the washing machine returns after levelling, the machine still works with reduced functionality; contact Miele Technical Service
- !If the drum will not turn, call service
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Miele's own manual lookup for the US, where the WXF and WXR W1 instructions are listed by model.
Miele's own US spare-parts shop, prices and part numbers; prices change.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why is my laundry still wet?+
The machine reduced the spin speed because it detected an imbalance.
What does Align the washing machine mean?+
The smoothing process at the end of the program could not run properly; check levelling and drain height.
Can I still use the washer with that message?+
Yes, you can still use the washer with that message, but with reduced functionality.
What is Rinse hold?+
A setting that omits the final spin, leaving the water in the drum.
What do I do about a wet single item?+
Add other items to balance it.