Washing machine care - front loading

Your front-loading washing machine needs a bit of upkeep you might not be aware of. You probably know you need to leave the door open a little when it’s not in use. You probably also know there’s a self-clean function you should run once a quarter, followed by a wipe-down of the basin and a rinse cycle. If you’ve dealt with mold or mildew in the past you likely know that’s the time to add bleach to the self-clean cycle.

What you might not know, however, is where the pump filter is located. On front loading washing machines there’s a filter that saves the water pump from being bombarded with debris. If this filter gets clogged it can introduce an unpleasant scent to the washing machine basin and can even contaminate your laundry or prevent the washing machine from draining.

Emptying these filters is really easy. Somewhere on the front of the washer, usually at the bottom, is an access panel. Some of them open with a push, some have a locking knob, and some of them need to be pried a little. Behind that access panel will be a knob or element you can turn to unlock the filter and pull it out. Clear any debris from the port and rinse out the filter with cold water. If there’s mold or mildew present, give it a nice bath in some bleach and warm water before putting it back.

Run your self-clean cycle after cleaning the filter, and do not run the washing machine without the filter installed. Trust me, you’ll have a bad day if you try.

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