The invention discloses a washing machine and a method for balancing clothing, wherein in the dewatering procedure of the washing machine, at least two clothing balancing modes are set according to the water absorption rate eta of the clothing to be washed. In addition, the method for balancing the clothing comprises the following steps: S1, acquiring the non-immersed weight m and immersed weight n of the clothing to be washed, and deriving the water absorption rate eta of the clothing to be washed; S2, calling the clothing balancing mode corresponding to the absorption rate eta, and executing the clothing balancing mode; and S3, after the clothing balancing mode ends, performing high-speed spinning dewatering in an inner cylinder. Through the above technical scheme, the condition that the clothing is concentratedly accumulated in a certain position in the inner cylinder when dewatered and forms imbalance which causes the consequence that the whole outer cylinder generates abnormal vibration and noise is avoided, and simultaneously, because clothing balancing is completed before high-speed dewatering, power consumption in the process of dewatering of the washing machine is saved, convenience is brought to users and the user experience is further improved.