How to clean your washing machine's water inlet filter for better washing performance
How do you know the filter needs cleaning 5 steps to clean your washing machine's water inlet filter Shut off the water Disconnect the inlet
How do you know the filter needs cleaning 5 steps to clean your washing machine's water inlet filter Shut off the water Disconnect the inlet hose Pull out the filter Give it a proper rinse Put it back in tight How often should you actually clean it? Why bother keeping up with this Is your washing machine taking ages to fill up lately? Or maybe your clothes come out of a full cycle still looking a bit grubby. Before you call a technician, check one small part first: the water inlet filter. It's a little mesh screen tucked away where the machine connects to your water supply pipe, and its only job is to stop dust, sand and mineral bits from getting into the machine along with the water. Over time, these particles build up on the mesh and choke off the flow, which is usually why you end up with slow fills, weak washes and the odd error code flashing on the display. The fix takes a few minutes, and you don't need a single tool.
It's worth checking both inlet valves if your machine has separate hot and cold connections, since each has its own filter and grime can build up unevenly depending on which supply line carries harder or dirtier water. A quick mental check: was the machine working fine last month and only recently started acting up? If so, mineral buildup or trapped grit is almost always the culprit, and this five-minute fix solves it more often than any actual mechanical fault would.Dust, grit and mineral deposits from your water supply settle on that mesh bit by bit until it's properly clogged. Once that happens, water can't get through the way it should, and you'll usually notice one of a few things. The machine drags its feet filling up, clothes don't come out as clean because there isn't enough water pressure during the wash, an error code pops up on the panel, or in worse cases the machine just stalls halfway through a cycle. A clogged filter also makes the motor and other parts work harder than they need to, which wears the machine down faster over time.Turn off the water supply valve going into the machine before you do anything else.
Skip this, and you'll get a face full of water the second you loosen the hose.Pull the water inlet hose off the back of the machine. Keep a towel handy; some water is going to spill out no matter how careful you are.The filter sits just inside the valve where the hose connects. On most machines you can just pull it out with your fingers, though on some you might need a pair of needle nose pliers to get a grip. It varies a bit depending on the brand.Hold it under running water and rinse until you can't see any grime or mineral crust left on the mesh. If it's really caked on, an old toothbrush works well to scrub it loose.Slot the filter back into place and turn it clockwise until it's snug. Don't rush this bit; if it's not fitted properly, you'll get water leaking out around the connection once the supply is back on. Once it's secure, reattach the hose and turn the water back on.Honestly, it depends on your water.
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