A washing machine control method, the washing machine includes a housing, an outer tub, a drum for holding clothes, a drain pump for draining water, and a water level detection device for detecting water volume, the control method includes a washing program, a rinsing program, and a dehydration process. program, wherein the dehydration program is divided into a drainage process and a dehydration process. During the drainage process, the load detection of the drainage pump is carried out and the detection and control process of controlling the switching action of the drainage pump is performed according to the detection results. When the current of the drainage pump jumps and the difference reaches the set value △I, stop the working time of the drainage pump, stop the time T or detect that the water level exceeds the minimum set value, continue to drain and detect, and complete the dehydration program in this cycle. The invention also relates to a washing machine using the method. By improving the control program and circuit, the invention has simple structure, low cost, easy implementation, effectively solves the problem of high noise of the washing machine, meets user needs, and is more humanized.