LAUNDRY TREATING APPLIANCES AND METHODS OF CONTROLLING THE SAME TO BALANCE SMALL LOADS

Laundry treating appliances and methods of controlling the same to balance small loads are disclosed. An example method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotating drum defining a treating chamber in which laundry is received for treatment according to at least one cycle of operation, and at least one balancing ring to counteract an imbalance of the rotating drum includes determining whether a small load is present in the treating chamber, substantially aligning the small load and a moveable mass of the balancing ring(s) when the drum is substantially stationary, and accelerating rotation of the drum based on a viscosity of fluid in the balancing ring(s) to position the small load substantially opposite the moveable mass.