The clothes come out of the wash smelling faintly wrong. Not dirty — just not clean. You run them through again. Same result. You buy a washing machine cleaner tablet. It helps for one cycle. Two weeks later you are back to the same problem.
The cause is almost certainly the pump filter. Here is where it is and how to clean it.
What the pump filter does
The pump filter catches debris — coins, hair, lint, small items left in pockets — before they reach the pump and cause damage. Most front-loading washing machines have one; it sits behind a small panel at the lower front of the machine.
When the filter gets full, water cannot drain properly. The stagnant water inside the machine develops odour. Clothes come out damp, musty, or smelling strange. The machine may also take longer to complete cycles, or display a drain error code.
What you need
- Old towel or shallow tray
- Small container to catch water
- 15 minutes
How to clean the filter
- Pull open the small panel at the lower front of the machine. It is usually a flap or a removable cover — no tools needed.
- You will see a cap or dial (the filter) and usually a small rubber drain hose beside it.
- Place your tray or towels on the floor in front of the panel — there will be water.
- Open the small drain hose first (if present) and let the water drain into your container. This prevents a flood when you open the main filter.
- Unscrew the filter cap slowly counterclockwise. More water will come out — have your towel ready.
- Pull the filter out completely. Rinse it under a tap, removing any debris. Check the filter cavity for items that may have fallen through.
- Reinsert the filter and screw it back in clockwise until firmly closed. Replace the drain hose cap. Close the panel.
- Run a short cycle to test.
How often to do it
Every three months as routine maintenance. More frequently if you wash pet bedding, heavily soiled items, or notice drainage slowing.
The repair costs nothing. It takes fifteen minutes. A service call for the same issue — which a technician will diagnose in about two minutes before charging a call-out fee — typically costs €80 to €120.
This is one of eight repairs in She Fixed It. The full step-by-step is in the manual, with photos for each stage.