In an agitating type washing machine a washing drive motor is run reciprocally in opposite directions to rotate an agitating wheel within a washing tank alternately in one and the other directions to perform intended washing. The washing machine comprises a rotational angle detector for detecting an angle of rotation of the agitating wheel, and a control for controlling the motor in response to a detection signal from the rotational angle detector. The control controls such that an angle of rotation of said agitating wheel by energization of the motor during running under a load is made smaller than that during no load running and that changing over between running under a load and no load running is automatically effected in response to a detection signal from the rotational angle detector, and controls rotation of said agitating wheel to an angle equal to or less than 360 degrees including rotation by energization of the motor and rotation by inertia whether during running under a load or no load.