The filter in the machine and why it has to be emptied
Short answer: The filter at the bottom of the machine catches coins, hair and lint. If it is never emptied, the machine pumps worse and the laundry is not rinsed properly. Here is where the filter sits, how to empty it and what you can expect to find.
What the filter does
The filter sits between the drum and the pump and catches everything that should not go on into the drain. That means coins, hair, hairpins and lint. Without it, those things would end up in the pump and the hoses and cause trouble. It is a small, cheap safeguard, but it needs cleaning or it stops doing its job.
Where it sits
The filter sits behind a small hatch at the bottom front of the machine. Open the hatch with a fingernail or a coin. There is often a hose next to it for draining the leftover water before you unscrew the filter. Put a cloth and a flat dish underneath, because water comes out when you open it.
Step by step
Switch the machine off and pull the plug so it cannot start. Drain the leftover water through the hose into the dish. Then unscrew the filter and rinse it under the tap until it is clean. Screw it back in firmly so it sits tight, and close the hatch. The whole job takes a few minutes if the cloth and dish are ready.
What you find in there
Coins, hairpins, lint and the socks that went missing. You may also find a lost underwire from a bra if it has worked its way out of the fabric. That is a good reason to wash delicate items in a laundry bag. Take a look at bamboo bras without underwire, for example, where you do not have that risk at all.
How often to empty it
Two to four times a year in an ordinary household. If you wash a lot, or have pets or long hair in the home, it is better to empty it more often. A good sign is when the machine gets slower at pumping the water out.
What happens if you do not
The machine pumps more slowly, and the water stays in the drum longer than it should. In the end the machine may show an error message and stop in the middle of a program. The laundry is also rinsed worse because the water does not drain cleanly. That includes bamboo towels, where leftover detergent otherwise stays in and makes them stiff.
Does a lot of water come out
Up to a litre of water can come out when you unscrew the filter. Use the hose first and unscrew the filter slowly so the water comes out gently. If there is no hose next to it, hold the dish close under the hatch and be ready for a little water on the floor.
The socks that disappear
Socks are the items that most often escape from the drum and end up in the filter. Wash them in a laundry bag if you want to stop them disappearing. Take a look at bamboo socks for men, for example, which are easy to wash together in a bag and find again afterwards.
Make it a fixed habit
Put the filter clean on the same list as cleaning the machine and the detergent drawer. It then becomes part of the upkeep, and the machine runs better and lasts longer. A clean filter means the water drains freely, the laundry is rinsed properly and you avoid unexpected stops in the middle of a wash.
Frequently asked questions
How often should it be emptied
Two to four times a year in an ordinary household. If you wash a lot, you can empty it more often. If the machine is slow to pump the water out, that is a sign the filter needs cleaning.
What happens if you do not
The machine pumps more slowly and may eventually show an error message and stop in the middle of a program. The laundry is also rinsed worse, because the water does not drain cleanly from the drum.
Does a lot of water come out
Up to a litre. Have a cloth and a flat dish ready, drain the leftover water through the hose first, and unscrew the filter slowly so the water comes out of the hatch gently.
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