Laundry
The One Thing You Should Be Cleaning for *Way* Better Laundry
Yes, your washing machine has a filter. Yes, you should clean it.
Anyone who does their own laundry likely knows that dryers have lint traps that should be cleaned regularly (ideally, after each use). All this requires is peeling off the layer of purple-grey lint that has accumulated on the trap to prevent pesky pieces of lint from sticking to your freshly washed clothing. What you probably didn't know is that your washing machine has a filter that you should be cleaning, too. Don't feel bad if this is the first time you're hearing of this...I wasn't exactly aware of it until recently, either.
Pump filters provide a similar service to the lint trap in a dryer, collecting (you guessed it!) lint, in addition to stray hairs, crumbs, rogue clothing threads, and more. Sounds pretty gross, right? If you're anxious to start cleaning, there's a step before that! You first need to find where the washing machine filter is located! According to Readers' Digest, any owner's manual is your best bet for locating it, but if you've misplaced that (haven't we all!), there are a few likely places where you'll find the filter: in the front of the machine behind a small latch, at the very bottom of the drainage hose, or under the cover of the agitator (the tall spindle in the middle of the machine that helps to move your laundry through the soapy water).
Once you've located it, TikTok user speedcleaningqueen recommends draining the hose of any old, stinky water before removing the trap. "You'll thank me later," she says. Once the hose has been drained, discard the water, pull out the trap, and soak it thoroughly in hot water for at least 10 minutes in order to remove every bit of dust, dirt, and grime—and then scrub it clean. If it's not possible to remove the filter, which may be the case for some top-loading models, scrub it hard with a brush (an old toothbrush works great!) and use a wet cloth or damp paper towels to ensure that you're cleaning every nook and cranny. Soon, your filter will look shiny and new again and you're back on track to getting cleaner-than-ever laundry.
Cleaning the filter will help to get rid of any pesky smells (we all know the ones) so that your washing machine actually smells like a basket of fresh laundry. Experts also recommend running your washing machine with hot water every four to six weeks to rid it of excess soap and scum left lingering after dozens of washes. Deep-cleaning your washing machine (think: wiping down the exterior, scrubbing the gasket, and running empty cycles with bleach and vinegar) is also key for maintaining your model's efficacy. However, some newer models may have a self-cleaning function that requires no bleach or vinegar at all and can be run effortlessly on a monthly basis.
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Written by: Kelly Vaughan
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