PURPOSE: To eliminate a troublesome selection by a change-over switch as to whether washing is made with the use of water from a suction pump or from a water supply and to eliminate the problem of forgetting the selection, by controlling a washing machine so as to automatically operate the suction pump in order to suck up water from a bath tub for feeding water during initial washing operation.

CONSTITUTION: If a water suction pump 37 is underwater, when a power source switch 42 is turned on so that an input switch section 50 starts washing, a bath tub water detecting sensor 60 incorporated in the suction pump 37 detects the presence of water in a bath tub, and transmits an input signal to an instruction control section 44 which therefore discriminates a signal from a water level sensor 6. If the water is not full, an output signal from an output circuit in the instruction control section 44 is transmitted through a bass line 49b and is amplified and is subjected to a switching process by a drive circuit section 51. Accordingly, water is from a line 57 through the suction pump 37 and is then fed from a water filling port. When the water becomes full, a signal from the water level sensor 6 is changed over so as to deenergize the suction pump 37 so as to effect a washing step.