How to Sell a Broken Washing Machine

A broken washing machine is still worth selling — typically £20 to £75 at For Parts, against £80 to £300 in working order.

Can you sell a washing machine that does not work?

Yes. Repairers, people replacing one component and buyers who want a project all shop deliberately at this end. None of them will accept a fault they discover after paying.

What actually goes wrong with washing machines

These are the faults that move a washing machine down the grades, and the first things a buyer will ask about:

Bearing noise, which effectively ends the machine’s life
Door seal mould, which buyers see immediately
Error codes on any cycle
Ground-floor-only access, which limits who can collect

Grading it honestly

Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £36 to £135. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £20 to £75. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.

Working out what you actually have

Establish the fault properly rather than guessing at it:

Run a full spin cycle and listen for rumbling or grinding
Note the model number from the door frame or rear panel
Check the door seal and drum for mould and limescale

Photographing the fault

Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:

The whole machine, front, in place
The drum interior and the door seal, clean and clearly lit
The model and rating label
The mid-cycle display running, which proves it works better than any description

What to state in the listing

Alongside the fault itself, buyers of broken washing machines want these confirmed:

Brand, model number, drum capacity in kg and spin speed in rpm
Freestanding or integrated
Approximate age, and any repairs or replaced parts
Whether transit bolts are included, which matter for safe moving

Brand, capacity and spin speed are the search: “Bosch 8kg 1400rpm Washing Machine, Working”. Capacity in kilograms matters to families and is often left out. If it is integrated rather than freestanding, that must be in the title — it fits an entirely different kitchen.

What buyers will ask

Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:

“Does it leak?”

Run a full cycle on a dry floor and check. Answer with what you observed rather than a general reassurance — this is the buyer’s real fear.

“How old is it?”

Give a year if you know it or an honest estimate if not. Machines over about eight years old are priced as a gamble and buyers want to make that judgement themselves.

“Can I see it working?”

Say yes and mean it. Offering a demonstration at collection is the strongest thing you can do for a used appliance listing.

Is it worth repairing first?

Usually not, unless it is cheap and you can evidence it. What lifts the price is condition and completeness, which a repair rarely restores:

A drum with no bearing rumble on the spin cycle
Recent purchase with proof of age
Higher spin speeds and larger drum capacities
Original hoses and any remaining warranty

If the work would cost more than the gap between £75 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is broken and let the buyer decide.

When to list it

Sells quickly year round because it is a distress purchase — people buy when theirs has died. A working machine with a demonstration offer often sells within days.

Getting it to the buyer

Collection only in practice: heavy, plumbed in and impossible to post economically. Drain it fully and fit the transit bolts if you have them, and be clear whether you will help carry it.

WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.

Ready to list it? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full washing machine selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.

Frequently asked questions

Is a broken washing machine worth anything?

Yes — typically £20 to £75 at For Parts against £80 to £300 working. Repairers and people harvesting one component buy deliberately at this end. Bearing noise, which effectively ends the machine’s life

Should I repair it before selling?

Usually not, unless the repair is cheap and you can evidence it. The things that genuinely lift the price are a drum with no bearing rumble on the spin cycle and a repair rarely restores those.

What do buyers ask about a faulty washing machine?

The fault itself, in detail. Run a full cycle on a dry floor and check. Answer with what you observed rather than a general reassurance — this is the buyer’s real fear. The listing that answers it before being asked is the one that sells.