The invention discloses a washing machine and a control method thereof. The control method comprises the following steps of: weighing clothes to obtain the weight of the clothes, carrying out initial water filling until the height of water reaches an initial preset height, and acquiring initial water filling time, wherein a water intake quantity corresponding to the initial preset height represents an initial water intake quantity; calculating a water intake flow rate, carrying out primary water filling until the height of the water reaches a first preset height, and acquiring first water filling time, wherein a water intake quantity corresponding to the first preset height represents a first water intake quantity; after washing the clothes for preset time, carrying out secondary water filling until the height of the water reaches a second preset height, and acquiring second water filling time; according to the initial water filling time, the first water filling time, the second water filling time and the water intake flow rate, acquiring a second water intake quantity; and according to the first water intake quantity, the second water intake quantity and the weight of the clothes, calculating water absorption of the clothes, and determining the material of the clothes according to the water absorption of the clothes and a preset value so as to control the washing machine according to the material of the clothes. According to the invention, the material of the clothes can be identified so as to implement reasonable control on the washing machine and improve use experience of a user.