Embodiments of the invention disclose an impeller and an impeller type washing machine. The impeller comprises an impeller plate and a plurality of washing blades arranged on the end face of the impeller plate. Each washing blade extends to the far end close to the edge of the impeller plate along a radial direction from the near-end close to the center of the impeller plate. The radial distance between the near-end of each washing blade and the center of the impeller plate gradually increases according to a clockwise or anticlockwise sequence. Compared with the prior art, since the impeller radial distance between the near-end of each washing blade and the center of the impeller plate gradually increases according to a clockwise or anticlockwise sequence, the impeller can generate centrifugal forces in different directions in a rotation process, and water forms flow characteristics in different forms, being beneficial for relieving winding intensity of clothes, and reducing clothes winding phenomenon to a certain extent.