How often should you clean a washing machine filter?

The short answer

every 3 months

Every three months. The drain filter sits behind the small hatch at the bottom of the front panel and catches whatever gets past the drum before it reaches the pump: coins, hair grips, buttons, lint.

Five minutes, no tools. It is the most common cause of a machine that will not drain, and the easiest to avoid.

Signs it is overdue

The machine takes longer to drain, leaves water in the drum, stops on an error code near the end of a cycle, or returns laundry wetter than usual. A smell when you open the door often comes from the same place.

What you will find

Water, always. Half a litre to a litre stays in the circuit, which is why the towel goes down first. Then compacted lint, hair, and whatever was left in pockets.

A coin that reaches the pump rattles for a few cycles before it breaks an impeller.

The rest of the upkeep

Wipe the door seal after washes and check its fold once a month; rinse the detergent drawer at the same time. Two or three empty hot cycles a year keep greasy residue out of the drum.

The steps

1. Unplug the machine

   The filter is handled with the power off and the cycle ended.

2. Lay down a towel and a shallow tray

   Half a litre to a litre of water always comes out.

3. Open the hatch and unscrew the cap

   Turn it anticlockwise, slowly, so the water drains as it loosens.

4. Rinse the filter and feel for the impeller

   Warm water and a finger in the housing clear the lint and free the blades.

5. Screw it back until it stops

   A cap left loose leaks on the next cycle, without warning.

Common questions