Washing machines are one of the most used appliances in our homes. But while they are essential in cleaning our clothes, it doesn’t mean we don’t have to clean the machine itself once in a while.
If you feel like your washing machine isn’t cleaning your clothes as thoroughly as it was before, or it’s just acting up a bit, there’s a good chance you didn’t know there’s a ‘hidden compartment’ that needs cleaning regularly. Many people are aware you need to put your washing machine on a cleaning cycle every now and again, maybe with some white vinegar or soda crystals – but you also have to clean the filter compartment.
And it turns out many people had no idea the filter compartment even existed until now.
US-based janitor Brandon Pleshek, who shared cleaning tips and hacks on TikTok, recently urged people to not “forget to clean the filter if you have a front load washing machine”. Put simply, a front load washing machine if a machine where you load the clothes through an opening located at the front, rather than the top.
Brandon explained: “If you have a a front load washing machine […] you’ll notice there’s this little trap door.” He added that “every machine is a little bit different,” but that in “most cases”, behind the trap door, you’ll find a drain hose. There’s usually a plug that you can remove, and then remove any dirt and debris that might be stuck inside.
You’ll also either need to put a towel down or something else, like a dish, to collect the water that might be left in the hose. There’s also usually a round filter, and when you turn it, some more water might come out. Inside there’s a filter, and this is what you need to take out to clean.
“What I’ll do first is give everything a good rinse, try to remove as much of the hair and build-up and sludge as possible,” he explained. Brandon then cleans it with a solution he made himself, made up of one cup of white vinegar, one cup of water and one cup of dish soap.
He sprays everything down and uses an old toothbrush to give it a scrub. If you can’t find the trap door or filter compartment on your washing machine, look in the manual, or give it a search online to find where it’s located on your particular model.
It was clear that many people had no idea the compartment even existed. One person said: “Just ran and did it for the first time… What a smell!!! thank you!” Another said: “I wish I had seen this before I spent $175 (£138) to get somebody to clean it. At least the guy showed me what I should’ve done.”
In another video, showing the same ‘trap door’, someone commented: “Thank you for reminding me to clean my grandma’s filter. She didn’t know it needed to be cleaned, [and it] was 2 years ago [that] I cleaned it,” and someone else said: “I’ve had my front loader for years. Never done this.”
