Does My Washing Machine Have A Filter

Coin trap filters like this tin be cleaned of any debris. | Photo by Bister Peabody

Virtually people know to clean the dryer lint filter between loads. But did y'all know that some washing machine filters need to exist cleaned also?

If yous take an older washer, this advice might just be for you.

"Height loaders tend to have filters on the valves," said Bister Peabody, Service Manager at Dunnett Inc. The valve filters sift the water going in and out of the pump and hoses.

On a newer superlative loading model, the valves and filters notwithstanding look somewhat the aforementioned. | Photo past Amber Peabody

If you practice happen to have a removable filter, consult your owner's manual on how to properly remove it.

You lot can have a pair of needle nose pliers and gently remove the filter cap from the valve. | Photo past Amber Peabody

"On older washers, the screens aren't removable," said Peabody. "You can take a Q-tip, or a wire castor, and scrub at it through the port. If the screen is removable, you tin use some needle nose pliers to pull the little tab on the side, and pop the screen right out. Rinse it under the sink, and pop it back in."

What does the washing auto filter do?

Like other filters, the washing automobile filter siphons out the things you don't want to collect in your washer — like dirt and lint.

"The filter collects detergent, bits of dirt and soil from your clothes," said Allan Elkin, owner of General Appliance Service in Brewer, Maine. "Generally hot water and a scrub castor will have care of it. It can look disagreeable, simply generally everything is water soluble. The exception would be hard h2o issues — some CLR would be good for that."

If your machine doesn't accept a filter though, there's still hope.

"If your machine doesn't take a filter, you can change the washing temperature or detergent to forbid lint on your clothes," said Elkin.

How to clean a washing motorcar filter

Get-go, you demand to locate the filter.

"Front loaders can have a trap door on the front end of the machine, commonly bottom right," said Peabody.

With the compartment open, the coin trap can exist pulled out. | Photo by Amber Peabody

Take a towel or basin ready in case some water comes out before y'all remove trap door. This is totally normal if it does. It's a trap, with tiny holes that catch bigger things, like infant socks or small underwear, said Peabody. If too much gets in there, the h2o won't drain every bit well. "It stinks after a while," said Peabody.

Don't forget to clean the compartment of any leftover debris, so supersede the cleaned trap within its compartment.

"If your auto doesn't accept a drawer on the forepart, you'd have to lean the washer confronting the wall and do the cleaning procedure from underneath," said Peabody.

What else should exist cleaned in a washing car?

To keep your washing motorcar in tip top shape, there are other places in the washer that should be cleaned. Cleaning the pulsate and the inside of the washing motorcar helps forbid leaner, bad smells, mold and mildew.

"How often yous clean your washer depends on how often y'all do laundry, and how much sediment is in your h2o," said Peabody.

Most machines have a tub clean bicycle. Add some washer cleaner, Affresh works well, and let it run, Peabody said. The cycle and the cleaner take care of lather build upwards and cleans upward the hoses, which extends the life of the washer.

"You can use vinegar, only it's not as effective," said Peabody.

Leave the washer door open afterwards utilise to go on it fresher for longer; it gives the door seal a chance to dry and prevents any leaner from breeding within the drum.

The detergent drawer is another office of the washing machine that doesn't get cleaned as often as information technology should. Consult your owner's manual on how to remove the drawer. If it has a plastic insert, remove it and clean it separately.

"Almost detergent drawers are removable, and should exist washed," said Peabody. "They can get pretty nasty."

While you're cleaning the detergent drawer, don't forget to clean the compartment. Accept a scrub brush and get the rest off, then put the cleaned drawer back in.

What if I have a newer washing automobile?

Every washing machine model is built differently, and newer models tend to have coin traps instead of actual filters. A quick read of your owner'due south manual will permit you know how your washer works, and what kind of filter system it has.

"Some top loaders have no filters," said Allan Elkin, owner of Full general Appliance Service in Brewer, Maine. "Front loaders generally have a filter in the drain pump, which is external to the machine. You'd have to take it all apart to get to the filter. Y'all don't see washing machine filters very oftentimes now."

Maintaining a clean washer extends its life, and keeps information technology working at top chapters. If you utilize information technology oftentimes, you should make clean it more often, but normally cleaning a washing machine one time every iii to iv months is sufficient.