PURPOSE: To automatically close a lid to perform spinning even if the lid is left open carelessly by operating a lid opening and closing means to make the lid to be closed when the lid for opening and closing the laundry inlet/outlet port is opened immediately before a spinning process so as to prevent extension of washing time.

CONSTITUTION: An inlet/outlet port for laundry is formed on a top cover 2 inserted in the upper part of the cabinet 1 of a washing machine to open and close the inlet/outlet port with a lid 3. The lid 3 comprises a front part 3b and a rear part 3a, and the cover is bent at a joint part 3c like a mountain to be opened and closed. A mechanism for opening and closing the lid 3 is disposed in the top cover 2. The opening and closing mechanism is formed by a motor 7, a gear group formed by combination of plural gears and a final fan-shaped gear 9. When a washing machine ends a drainage process and transits to a spinning process, the micro-computer in the top cover 2 detects the open state of the lid 3, and electric power is applied to the motor 7 to operate the opening and closing mechanism, whereby the fan-shaped gear 9 rotates around a spindle 4 to close the lid 3. Thus, forgetting to close the lid can be prevented so as to prevent waste extension of washing time.