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?

Around every 6 months. Generally it doesn't need cleaning but I do run a hot wash with machine cleaner every month and I am good at checking pockets for things.

When the machine stops draining properly. Fluff central.

Pull the machine out half way. Tilt it back on the back edge so that the top wedges under the work surface. The top of the machine is now sloping back towards the wall.

You now have enough room to put something under the filter hole. (I was shown this my machine engineer. Be careful not to tilt too far back - you don't want it to tip over, and don't let it crash down either.)

I only ever clean mine if there is an error message.

Only when it refuses to spin

Just bought a new machine - instructions handily say every 3 months for the filter.
Given past history, it’ll get done when the machine plays up somehow. Fwiw this time the filter has a handy door and an outlet pipe which is just high enough to get a tub/bowl underneath. No more grabbing of towels to prevent a deluge. !!

Monthly - I clean the filter and run a maintenance wash

Do the same for dishwasher and empty crumbs from the pull out bit of the toaster - all in the ten minutes that the kettle descaler is working .

Every couple of months. Never that bad, and I do could probably leave it longer.

Never with the one I have. I can’t get the thing to turn, it’s rock solid. It was in the house when we moved in so I have no manual either.

Maybe this is why my washing machine smells so horrible.

Please can someone give me idiot-proof instructions about where this filter thing is likely to be?

When it shows an error. I made £4.20 last time, it was like a disgusting slot machine going off.

Well, this thread prompted me to clean out the filter. Surprisingly, there was very little in it after four years of use. But I didn’t screw the cap back on properly after having to unscrew it with a spanner because it was so tight. Result, the floor under about one inch of water. Took me an hour to mop it all up. God knows the damage it’s done to the flooring.

Watch instructions on you tube. That’s what I did. I have never done it in my life before.

There’s a filter????

This might explain the smell that doesn’t go away even though I clean the machine every couple of weeks.

Its nearly 20 years old. Never knew there was a filter.

Also you should run your machine on 90 degrees wirh soda crystals in the dispenser to clean it once a month or so.

On the first of the month like clockwork. Prompted by an awful discovery when it had been forgotten for various reasons. Grim. Now it's never much, a rinse under the hot tap sorts it. Problem solved

My machine has a reminder , but I last did it when I washed a load of brand new towels , they shed a lot .

Every six months or more often if it is clogged and machine won’t drain. Ours gets full of hard scale.