Whirlpool Washing Machine Agitator (WP22004042)

The Whirlpool Washing Machine Agitator is the tall, finned post that sits in the center of a top-load washer tub and moves clothes through the water during the wash cycle. It twists back and forth to create the turbulence needed to loosen dirt and detergent from fabrics, working in tandem with the motor and gearcase to deliver a thorough clean.

The Whirlpool Washing Machine Agitator can wear out over time due to cracked plastic from heavy loads, stripped splines that prevent it from gripping the drive shaft, or broken agitator dogs that cause it to move in only one direction. Repeated overloading, washing bulky items, or years of normal use can all contribute to this kind of mechanical wear.

Look for these symptoms to help determine if your agitator needs to be replaced:

- Agitator spins freely in one direction but does not twist back and forth

- Clothes come out of the wash cycle still visibly dirty or poorly rinsed

- Loud clunking or clicking noise during the wash cycle

- Agitator wobbles, feels loose, or moves side to side on the shaft

- Agitator does not move at all during the wash cycle

- Visible cracks, chips, or broken fins on the agitator body