Did you know that your clothes washer has a filter that needs periodic cleaning? Most people are aware that their car has an oil filter that needs regular replacement; likewise, you have to change the air filters on your car and your HVAC intake vents. But most of us don’t think about a filter in the washing machine. Here’s what you need to know, as your machine’s efficient operation depends on it.
Where is the filter?
The location of the filter depends on your washing machine type. Front-loading machines usually have a small access panel located low on the face of the machine, below the loading door. Top-loading models can vary. Some have the filter inside the tub agitator, while others place it along the drum rim or at the back of the drum. Some machines do not have the filter in the machine housing, but they have a filter trap at the end of the drain hose. Your user manual is your guide if you cannot locate it.
Removal and cleaning
It’s recommended that you remove and clean the filter every one to three months, depending on how much you wash and whatever your user manual recommends. Symptoms of a clogged filter include longer wash cycles, water drainage issues, or unpleasant odors.
On machines with a front-facing access panel, place a thick towel on the floor below the panel. When you remove the filter, up to 1 cup of water may drain onto the floor. With the different placements on top loaders, follow the owner’s manual.
Some machines have a cylindrical filter that unscrews and backs out. Others have a small square- framed grid similar to an HVAC filter. You’ll see a pasty gray goop of wet fabric fibers on it, in addition to hair, pieces of grass, and assorted other small debris. Wash the filter in a bucket of warm, soapy water, then rinse and replace.
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