washing machine filter

dumpy

I'm taking a couple of days off work soon and one of my plans is to have a sort out of the house. One of the things I think I may need to look at it the washing machine as it doesn't seem to be rinsing as well as normal.

Could this be due to the filter being dirty? I've skimmed through the instruction booklet for the machine and it sounds an interesting job! Although it says you CAN clean the filter it doesn't say how often/if at all this needs doing.

Anybody done this? Any tips?

Oh and I do wash quite a lot of muddy/hairy stuff (these pets who'd have 'em).

MrsTinks

Ooooo that reminds me I should realy get OH to do ours...

I think the washing repair man that came out said that as ours don
t do much "hard work" *cough* then cleaning it every 2 months should be fine... (as in this is what he recommends to stop it blocking up and getting smelly and yucky and this will prolong the life of the washing machine too) but before that I hadn't done it for uhmmm about 8 months... I would say if you have a lot of hairy muddy stuff try doing it every 4-8 weeks It will help the machine work less hard and it should smell less too

dumpy

Every two months!!! eek. I've had it two years and never thought of cleaning the filter before now....

Dumpy slinks off looking embarrassed at the state of her washing machine. It doesn't smell, just doesn't rinse well, probably got all its hoses jammed tight with yuck.

I'm so embarrased.....

dannahaz

There is a great product which you can run through your machine, and it clears out all the gunk. It'e especially important to do this if you use a lot of 40 degree washes.

I get mine from Lakeland (I know, I'm alwaysrecommending Lakeland, I don't have any affiliation with them, I just shop there a lot...) let me just get the link...
http://www.lakelandlimited.co.uk/product.aspx/!20348

Also, if you have problems with you WM there is a fab site called UK Whitegoods. It has a forum where you can search, and post your questions - just like this one in fact - but dedicated to each product type. The replies are given by proper service engineers, they're usually really helpful.

Here's a link specifically to the WM forum http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewforum&f=34

Strepsy

dumpy wrote:

I'm taking a couple of days off work soon and one of my plans is to have a sort out of the house. One of the things I think I may need to look at it the washing machine as it doesn't seem to be rinsing as well as normal.

Could this be due to the filter being dirty? I've skimmed through the instruction booklet for the machine and it sounds an interesting job! Although it says you CAN clean the filter it doesn't say how often/if at all this needs doing.

Anybody done this? Any tips?

Oh and I do wash quite a lot of muddy/hairy stuff (these pets who'd have 'em).

Just be armed with a peg for your nose. It is the stinkiest slimiest grossest stuff ever to clean. Or maybe that's just mine

elljay20

Can you get that anywhere else? We don't have alakeland near us.

MrsTinks

you could order online and re the 2 months... I've NEVER done it that often either lol... but it could explain the yucky smell

I don't think it will ever block up in 2 months but after 2 months things probably start getting yucky

MrsTinks

As for cleaning it out then run the machine on a HOT wash with nothing in it apart from some vinegar... or biological washing powder It does break things down really well

dumpy

Thanks strepsy I have a nice clothes peg that will do the job.

Dannahaz I'm gutted I didn't post this last week as I was in the Lakeland in Cardiff last weekend. I won't be going again for months.... Sods law isn't it.

So how do I clean out this disgusting pipes then, do I need to get a brush on a wire or will it flow out? I assume buckets and bowls would be VERY useful.

I can't believe I've never though of doing this before or that everyone else seems to be doing it and I've never realised.

Will I be thrown off the OS board?

abbecer

My hubby always run our washer on longest boil cycle with small amount of bleach added. It works well.

Rebecca x

P.S he was a domestic appliance engineer for 8 years.

dumpy

Just reporting back, weirdly there was no slime/ grease/ or nastiness in the filter (and I've washed a horse blanket in there so I thought there might be something) but there was 92p in coins and a few nails and screws.

I gave it a nice hot wash as a treat and it seems to be quite happy now.

So next time I'm diving down the back of the sofa looking for change I'll have to check the filter as well!