How to Clean the Drain Filter in a Washing Machine |Step-by-Step Instructions

Cleaning the washing machine filter is one of the regular processes required for the correct operation of the drain pump. Debris clogging the filter prevents water from being pumped out, stagnates in a humid environment and begins to emit an unpleasant odor that can be transmitted to the laundry and all parts of the washing machine. Lint, hair and wool gradually create a plug that makes it difficult for water to pass through. In addition, large objects that get into the pump (change from pockets, buttons, coins and other solid debris) can deform it, and the consequences range from a drain leak to a complete breakdown of the pump.

How often should the filter be cleaned?

It depends on several factors:

• How often do you use your washing machine
• The amount and length of hair of household members whose clothes are being washed
• The presence of pets and the thickness of their fur
• The type of fabrics you wash (for example, washing wool regularly in the winter should result in more frequent filter cleaning)
• Some items, such as pillows and down jackets, require filter cleaning immediately after washing.

Instructions for cleaning the drain filter of a washing machine

Turn off the power to the washing machine and turn off the water supply.

When working with a washing machine in any way, especially when disassembling it, it is necessary to disconnect it from the power grid. The proximity of current and water threatens short circuits.

Find filter

Due to the peculiarities of the washing machine drainage system, in all models - even with vertical loading - the filter with the pump is located at the bottom of the body. From the outside, it is covered with a small hatch or a removable panel to preserve the drainage system and protect it from external dirt.

Provide access to the filter

The panel covering the pump is usually held on with latches or hooks. It is enough to simply pry it off with something flat and wide (a knife or a screwdriver). In some models, the panels are secured with bolts, and then the screwdriver will have to be used as intended. Sometimes the false panels are removed by sliding them to the side (most often from right to left).

Protect yourself from water

A small leak is inevitable - water is pumped out completely only from the washing machine tank. In addition, if the filter is clogged, the water drain could be difficult, and some of it remains in the drainage system. The panels of some washing machine models are equipped with a small gutter through which water should flow into a container, but we recommend in any case to place a flat tray under the washing machine or put a rag under it to avoid flooding.

To prevent the water from flowing out suddenly and in large quantities, you can slightly release it before starting work. Carefully turn the plug that closes the drain filter 50-60 degrees counterclockwise and put a container or rag under it so that the water flows there. You may also have to unscrew the filter plug.

Remove filter

If your washing machine model has a filter plug, you need to unscrew it first, and then the filter itself. Unscrew carefully, especially if you are using tweezers or pliers, so as not to deform the part. You need to twist counterclockwise, with gentle but constant pressure.

Clear filter

Remove large debris, foreign objects, clumps of hair and wool manually. We recommend using rubber gloves. The filter surface can be cleaned with a regular sponge. If it consists of two meshes, you need to remove one of them and rinse all the parts thoroughly in running water. Make sure that the water is slightly warm and in no case hot - otherwise, the filter plastic may deform, and the sealing cuff will become less elastic and, as a result, cause a leak.

Clean the filter socket

Sometimes large debris remains in the washing machine after the filter is removed. If it consists of two meshes, the outer one may remain in the nest. To remove plaque and small dirt, it will be enough to simply wipe the nest with a damp sponge several times, rinsing it thoroughly.

Check the pump

The drain pump may also contain debris, such as clumps of hair that can tangle and break the impeller blades, or large objects that prevent the drain from working. Look carefully, use a flashlight to illuminate it. After checking, turn the impeller with your hands, making sure that nothing is interfering with its rotation.

Put the filter back in place

It is important to screw the part tightly, evenly and without distortions to avoid leaks during operation. At the same time, do not forget about caution so as not to damage anything in the drainage system. Tighten the filter plug clockwise, if necessary, screw in the fixing bolt.

Check for leaks

Before you start using the washing machine in the normal mode, run a test rinse. It is better not to close the panel or hatch before this, so as not to let drops of water through. If there is no leakage due to the plug, you can assemble the machine completely and use it in the normal mode.

What to do if the filter still leaks after cleaning?

Sometimes this may not appear immediately - after several washes, water seeps through the decorative panel. This may be due to the following reasons:

• The filter is screwed in unevenly or loosely. If you insert it with the slightest distortion, you can get a shift in the thread, and the cuff will not fit tightly enough. Fixing a filter with a plastic thread is a very delicate matter: it must be tightened tightly enough to prevent water from leaking, but carefully so that the thread does not break. If the filter is inserted unevenly and is not screwed in tightly enough, you need to remove it and carefully install it so that water does not leak. When manipulating the drainage system, do not forget to put a rag underneath.
• The cuff or gasket that seals the contact point of the filter with its socket is damaged. Rubber gaskets wear out over time, cracking and drying out, and also due to severe blockages or careless cleaning. For example, it could have been damaged when removing the filter with pliers or from boiling water if you washed the filter with it. Glue, even special glue, will not help for long, so the cuff - separately or together with the filter - must be replaced.
• Damage to the filter or socket. If you apply too much force when removing or unscrewing the part, you can damage the threads or damage the walls of the snail in which the filter is located. Also, do not tighten the plug too much - damage in all these cases will disrupt the contact between the parts, and its tightness will not be enough to contain the leak. In this case, you need to replace either the filter itself or the filter and snail together.

What to do if the filter cannot be removed?

Sometimes this happens. The filter handle won't turn, or it's stuck tightly in its socket, and it doesn't seem possible to pull it out. Applying excessive force means damaging the part, and possibly the socket for it. What should you do?

Sometimes, if the problem is a large object that is stuck, a simple scheme can help - you need to tilt the machine back slightly and tap on the filter plug . The foreign object will change its position and, perhaps, it will be easier to remove the part.

If the part is tightly tied with a lump of hair and wool, it makes sense to try to carefully use pliers. The fibers of the matted debris can break, and then the filter can be easily removed.

In cases where these methods do not help, in addition to filter clogging, there may also be problems with scale on the thread and gasket, which have “glued” the part to the socket. In this case, you can try to remove the entire pump and soak it in a solution of water with citric acid. If you do not want to disassemble the machine or there is no opportunity, you can run a preventive wash with citric acid.

This method is dangerous because the effect of acid on rubber can be harmful. The filter cuffs, hatch, and possibly the bearing seals of the washing machine will suffer. Therefore, if the filter is tightly stuck, it makes sense to call a technician - attempts to independently remove the filter from the socket can damage the socket itself, the replacement of which costs a pretty penny, and disassembling the washing machine without experience is fraught with breakdowns inside the mechanism itself.

To avoid such situations, the filter must be cleaned regularly - the more often, the better. With this instruction, the procedure will be simple, and the machine will continue to please you with its smooth operation and the pleasant smell of fresh laundry. We also recommend checking the laundry for foreign objects before loading the laundry, and removing heavy dirt (clumps of hair or wool) before loading the laundry.

Who should I turn to for help?

Removing a stuck filter yourself at your own risk is pure gamble. Will you get lucky or, on the contrary, will the situation only get worse? And in general, cleaning a drain filter is not the most pleasant task: it smells, gets dirty and is full of debris - especially if it has been cleaned rarely or not at all before. Fortunately, like many other problems, this can be delegated to a specialist in their field - among all our services, removing blockages is especially popular.

Don't complicate your life. Trust the washing machine service of their craft and enjoy the result.

You can call a technician by phone +9597694428 or by filling out the form below.