There are many reasons why you should clean your washing machine filter out. I would suggest doing this every few months. I try and clean mine out every 3 months or so. We have a family of five here, so the washer and dryer go non stop. If you don’t do laundry as often, you can probably stretch out that time some. If you notice your clothes are not coming out as clean, water is not filling up as fast as normal, clothes are not spinning as well or you notice a smell on your clothes, then its time to clean your filters. Most filters are located in your washer hose. My filter does not come out, but it’s located at the back of my washer. I have seen others that are located in the tube at the bottom of the washer. Here is what I do to clean my washing machine filter.
Step 1- Star by filling your washer up with hot water on your lowest clothes setting. Add one cup of vinegar and half cup of baking soda to the water. Let the washer run its normal course. This will help loosen all the crud in your hoses.
Step 2- Turn off the water supply to the hoses. Unplug the electrical outlet. Pull your washer out, so you can reach the back of it. Take off the hot and cold water hose. Make note of which is which, so you don’t confuse the two. Now I take my dryer vent brush, I have two of them, and stick the brush into the back of the washer where the hoses came from. Run that brush around each opening for a few minutes to help loosen stuck debris on the hose holes.
Step 3- Using only a shop vacuum, because other vacuums can shock you since you have water left in these hoses. Take the shop vacuum hose and stick it over one of the holes. Suck out any debris in there. Move to the next hole and repeat.
Step 4- Plug your washing machine back in. Place your hoses back on where they belong, and turn you water supply back on. Check for any leaks. If you have a leak, tighten the hose up. When you are done with that, put your washer back where it belongs.
Step 5- Now go to the front of your washer and remove the bottom kick panel. Take your vacuum and clean this completely out. Pay attention to the motor here. You want to keep this clean as well, so it will run correctly. Be careful when down here, there are lots of wires that you do not want to disconnect. Once clean down there, replace kick panel and your finished.
By following these few steps every few months, your washer will run better and last you a lot longer.
