How often do you clean your washing machine filter?

[JofraArchersFastestBall]

I just got an error code on my washing machine and followed some instructions online to check for a draining issue.

Opened the filter up and it was absolutely full of horrible, smelly, grey muck, plus the remains of plastic stickers and all sorts of other nasty little bits. Plus a lot of dirty, undrained water. Grim. I had no idea I had to regularly clean it out, I thought my washing machine would prompt me to do it well before it got this bad.

Is this something normal people regularly do? How have I got to my mid 30s without knowing?

Not often, service washes and empty pockets sorts most out

Husband does ours every couple of months. I'm a sod for leaving crap in my pockets, especially with my work clothes!

Well, I think I'm going to have to be more careful about what goes into to machine, and check the filter more regularly (ie before it's completely solid with filth) in future, because, eugh.

My mum's just said she never checks hers either, so I'll blame her!

I try to clean mine every couple of months but I forget and it is more like every six months.

Whenever I get an error message.

When it starts to smell and I realise I haven't done it for a few months. It's usually clogged with horse hair and tissue dregs.

Gotta be honest I've never cleaned it 😂
Planning on getting a nice, new Samsung one once we move and I do plan on cleaning it regularly then.

dont even know where mine is so never

Every few months.

I'll be honest my first thought was 'there's a filter on my washing machine? ' I think I did vaguely know but I've never cleaned it.

Where is the filter??

I regularly do my tumble dryer one but that is more cos of fire risk

I stick a dishwasher tablet in on a hot wash every few months. Plus I clean the drawer and door weekly.

Learnt my lesson from my last washing machine.

I got this washing machine in 2019 and didn't even know there was a filter on it, to be honest.

Anyone got a solution for cleaning the filter without the stinky wet flood of water that accompanies opening it ? Too low to the ground to put anything but a towel underneath. Is this a design fault or am I just thick ? Even worse when the filter gets clogged and the machine hasn't drained.

Every month and it still ends up smelling like a dirty fish tank when opening it up 🤮

Open it up bit by bit. Don't just open it and let it gush out. That's the trick 😄

My what???

Only when the machine won't empty the water out. It's usually just when someone hasn't emptied their pockets and a small coin or bit of Lego is stuck in it. It's never been horribly gunky so it's only every couple of years or so that there's an issue and thankfully now DC are older we're less likely to have small toys find their way in in the first place.

When the machine tells me to

Mine gets a bit whiffy from time to time so I clean the filter and then it’s all ok again.

Mine has a "clean" cycle - takes about 8 minutes - so I run it at the end of the month, which is about every 15-20 wash cycles. That's probably more frequent than necessary, but it's an easy way to remember. Every two or three months would be fine if you can set some kind of reminder so you don't forget.

If you have manual access to the filter, maybe make a note to check it periodically and clean as necessary? (Also don't forget to check the dryer if you have a separate one - if typically gets filled/ineffective faster than a stand-alone washing machine).

Um, are you meant to? I run a cleaning cycle when the machine tells me to but don't think I've ever emptied the filter.

Had to have the engineer out this week, as the filter wouldn't open. After the engineer took the machine apart, it revealed.....

Strimmer cord (how???), 65p and my OHs hair bands wedged in there.

I swear those bloody hair bands breed!!!

Where is the filter??