Do you have a front load clothes washing machine?  Have you every wondered what happens to that spare change you occasionally forget to take out of your pockets before washing your jeans?  If so, this is the tutorial for you.

Most front load washers have a drain pump filter which we should check and cleaning out regularly.  This is the place where all your pocket goodies end up if they are not in the barrel when a load finishes.  I clean out my drain pump filter monthly as advised by my washer manual.  To know where to start and find out if this is a tutorial you will need, first check your washer’s instruction/info manual.  If you do not have it handy, I recommend getting your washer’s model number and looking the manual up online.  Normally, your machine’s model number can be found on a sticker near the drum on the inside of the door of the machine.  You can see mine here:

Read your manual to know if your machine has such a filter and how to clean it.  I researched several manuals from several different manufacturers online and each had very similar instructions for emptying and cleaning the drain pump filter.  They also each had similar reasons that this upkeep is important.

Failure to clean the filter may cause:

Clothes to still be wet after the final spin of a wash

Excessive vibration

Longer than usual cycle times

Unusual pauses in the washing cycle

The washer door to remain locked with clothes inside for unknown reasons

Fortunately, all of these issues are easy to prevent.  Simply follow these guidelines:

1. Locate your drain pump filter.  It is often concealed by a small door on the lower half of the front of front load washers.

2.  Open the cover/lid to the filter area.

3.  Prepare to drain the access water from the washer.  To prepare for this step, place a container under the area where you will be removing the filter.  Also, keep a towel or paper towels handy to wipe up excess water that escapes.  My washer is on a stand, so the filter is high enough off the ground that I can drain water into a tall bucket.  If your washer is not on a stand, use a shallow baking dish or other shallow container to catch the water.

4.  Drain the water.  Each washer has a slightly different procedure for draining excess water.  On my Kenmore, I have a capped hose that is used to drain the water.  To do so, I unclip the hose and turn it downward toward my bucket.

Once your hose is pointed so water will pour into your container, remove the plastic cap on the hose; however, make sure to keep that cap in your hand.  Should the water get close to the top of your container, you will need to recap the tube, empty your container, and then repeat until the washer is empty.  It is normal to drain about a quart of water from the bottom of the washer during this process.

Replace the hose cap and return the hose to its original clipped position.

(For other washer models I researched, a drain tube may not be present.  Instead, your washer may have a pour spout you flip down inside the door.  Then, you simply loosen the drain pump filter slowly until water starts pouring out.  The water will pour down the pour spout and into your bucket.)

5.  Slowly turn the drain pump filter counter clockwise, while holding a towel or paper towel underneath to catch water which may dribble out.

Once you have unscrewed it, pull the filter straight out toward you.

6.  Pull solid materials (pocket goodies) out of the filter and then rinse it clean in the sink.

7.  Replace the filter by screwing it clockwise into its original position, close your filter door, and you are ready to wash again!

I would like to thank my very home savvy brother for teaching me how to clean my washer’s drain pump filter!  Thank you!