To clean washing machine filters, I'd check three places: the drain pump filter, the mesh screens where the hoses join the machine, and the lint trap on some top-loaders. Most front-load washers have that pump filter behind a small panel at the bottom front. Most newer top-loaders have none you can reach.
A washing machine filter is a small screen or basket that catches lint, hair, coins and grit before they reach the drain pump or the water valves. At Merit Home Furniture on Vancouver Island, our listings carry 114 washers. Each maker words its filter instructions differently, so I go maker by maker, from their Canadian manuals and help pages.
I write from Duncan, which no longer handles appliances. The washers named here are carried at our Campbell River and Port Alberni stores, the Island's two homes for our laundry appliances.
Where is the filter on a washing machine?
The filter on a front-load washer sits low on the front, behind a flap or a small kickplate panel. Whirlpool's help pages put the pump filter at the front bottom of the machine. On the Whirlpool WFW5720RW, the manual says pushing in on the flap reveals it.
Top-loaders are different. Maytag says most top load washers made after 2001 have no filter in the drainage system, and rely on a stronger drain pump and larger drain holes. LG's help library says its drain pump filter isn't available on top load washers. Some front-loaders have no owner filter either: the Electrolux guide for the ELFW7437 has no filter-cleaning section at all. Most washers also have inlet screens, small mesh filters where the hoses screw on at the back, and the Samsung, Electrolux and Frigidaire guides all mention them.
Here's what the makers' documents say for washers Merit lists, with prices read November 1, 2026, before applicable taxes.
| Washer we list | Carried at | Owner filter, per the maker |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung WF45T6000 front-load, $949.99 to $999.99 | Campbell River | Drain filter behind the lower front cover, plus inlet mesh filters |
| LG WM3400CW front-load, $999.99 | Campbell River, Port Alberni | Drain pump filter, per LG's front-load help pages |
| Whirlpool WFW5720RW front-load, $1,199.99 to $1,249.99 | Campbell River, Port Alberni | Drain pump filter behind the front flap |
| Electrolux ELFW7437AW front-load, $1,049.00 | Campbell River, Port Alberni | No filter procedure in its guide |
| Samsung WA44A3205AW top-load, $749.99 | Campbell River | Inlet mesh filter only under maintenance |
| LG WT8200CW top-load, $899.99 | Campbell River, Port Alberni | None, by LG's top-load rule |
| Frigidaire FLVW7000AW top-load, $699.00 | Campbell River, Port Alberni | No filter steps in its care pages; its error chart says to clean a mesh filter or a debris filter |
How to clean a washing machine filter on a front-loader
Cleaning a front-loader's drain filter means draining the water trapped behind it, then unscrewing the filter, rinsing it and screwing it back tight. The steps follow the Samsung, LG and Whirlpool instructions, which agree on the order.
- Turn it off and unplug it. Samsung and Whirlpool both start here. After a hot load, I'd give the water an hour to cool.
- Lay down towels and a shallow pan. Whirlpool asks for a broad, flat container. A baking sheet slides under the panel more easily than a bucket.
- Open the panel and drain the small hose. Pull the short drain hose out, take the plug off and let it run into the pan. Samsung warns there may be more water than expected, so empty the pan and repeat.
- Unscrew the filter counterclockwise. Keep a towel under it, since a little more water comes out.
- Clear and rinse it. Pull off lint and hair by hand, then rinse the filter under the tap. LG says to wash it by hand with a soft brush or sponge.
- Look into the opening. Samsung asks you to check that the impeller inside the pump is free of debris.
- Screw it back in clockwise, firmly. Whirlpool says to turn it as far as it goes, handle close to vertical. Samsung warns a filter that isn't closed properly may leak.
Then I'd run a short rinse and spin and watch the panel for drips.
How to clean a Samsung washing machine filter
Samsung's Canadian manual for the WF45T6000 says to clean the drain filter 5 or 6 times a year. Behind the cover is an emergency drain tube with a cap, the small hose in step 3. Some Samsung filters have a safety knob that you push in and turn counterclockwise. A clogged drain filter brings up the 5C code.
How to clean an LG or Whirlpool washing machine filter
LG's Canadian help library recommends cleaning the drain pump filter on a monthly basis, and a check whenever the washer drains slowly or shows OE. Whirlpool's manual for the WFW5720RW says to clean its pump filter occasionally. It asks for a fuller routine, door seal and clean-washer cycle included, once per month or every 30 wash cycles.
How often to clean a washing machine filter, maker by maker
How often to clean a washing machine filter depends on the maker, from monthly to a few times a year. Maytag's general advice is at least once a month, and more often for big households or heavily soiled loads.
| Maker | What its documents say |
|---|---|
| Samsung (WF45T6000) | Drain filter 5 or 6 times a year; inlet mesh filters once or twice a year |
| LG (front-load) | Drain pump filter on a monthly basis |
| Whirlpool (WFW5720RW) | Pump filter occasionally; full routine once per month or every 30 wash cycles |
| Maytag (general) | At least once a month, on models that have a filter |
| Electrolux (ELFW7437) | No owner filter; clean washer cycle once a month, with a reminder every 50 cycles |
| Frigidaire (FLVW7000AW) | No filter interval given; Clean Washer cycle once a month |
A dog in the house, or a lot of fleece and towels, fills a pump filter faster than the calendar says. I'd check it monthly for a while and let the filter set the schedule. Sneakers bring grit into it too, and washing shoes in the machine is something only some shoe makers allow.
How to clean washing machine filter screens on top-loaders and inlet hoses
On a top-loader made after 2001 there's usually no drain filter, and the screens worth checking are the inlet ones. On older machines, Maytag says the filters usually sit at the bottom of the drum under the agitator. Some newer top-loaders add a hair trap you can reach.
Maytag's Pet Pro filter is one. Maytag says you twist and lift it out of the agitator, then pull the trapped pet hair off. The Maytag MTW5605RW on Merit's listings has it, at Campbell River for $949.99 to $999.99. Samsung's Australian help page shows a lint filter case on some top-loaders, which comes out when you press down on its top.
Where is the filter on a Maytag commercial technology washer?
A Maytag commercial-grade top-loader follows the top-loader rule: built after 2001, expect no drain filter unless the manual shows one. We list the Maytag MVWP586GW at Campbell River for $1,649.99. Its agitator and inlet screens are where I'd look.
Inlet screens come out with the water off. Samsung's manual has you close the taps, unscrew the hoses at the back, pull each mesh filter with pliers, rinse and refit it. A clogged one brings up the 4C code. Samsung says to clean them more often on an aged water system or a well, and Whirlpool says to replace inlet hoses after 5 years.
For an Island home on a private well, HealthLink BC advises bacteria testing at least once per year. It also says to test right away if the water changes in clarity, colour or taste. Cloudy or rusty water is when I'd pull the inlet screens too.
How to tell if a washer drain pump is clogged, and what the codes mean
A clogged filter or drain pump shows up as water left in the drum, soaking clothes after the spin, a slow drain or a drain code. The codes differ by maker, and the same letters can mean different things.
| Maker | Drain code and what the maker says |
|---|---|
| Samsung | nd, 5E, SE, 5C, SC: no drain error. Samsung's OE code means overflow, too much water |
| LG | OE: check the drain pump filter, especially with a slow drain |
| Whirlpool front-load | F9 E1: long drain time; check the hose, the pump filter and the door seal |
How do you unblock a washing machine drain pump?
Unblocking a drain pump starts with the filter: take it out, clear it, and check that the impeller behind it turns free. Next comes the hose. Whirlpool's F9 E1 page asks whether the drain hose reaches more than 4.5 inches (113 mm) into the drainpipe. The Electrolux guide asks for less than 8.5 inches (21.5 cm), with an air gap around the hose. Dishwasher drain checks start at the filter too, then move to the hose.
A frozen hose blocks a drain too. Samsung's top-load manual lists a frozen drain hose under 5C, and its front-load manual says a washer may freeze below 0 °C. That matters in an unheated garage or cabin, and our wine cooler guide counts the frost days at two Island airports.
The tub-clean cycle, and can you use vinegar to clean a washing machine?
The tub-clean cycle washes the drum, not the filter. Samsung asks for Self Clean on the WF45T6000 at least once a month or every 40 cycles. On vinegar, Maytag says not to pour it into the drum, because its acidity can damage rubber seals and hoses over time. Maytag points to a monthly Clean Washer cycle with an affresh tablet instead, and the manual for your machine is the tiebreaker. Dishwasher makers set different vinegar rules for cleaning a dishwasher's filter and spray arms.
When cleaning the washer filter isn't the fix
- The error comes back after a clean filter and a straight hose. Whirlpool's F9 E1 page ends by pointing to service, and the pump itself may be the trouble.
- Your washer has no owner filter. The Electrolux guide says a noise that continues may be an item in the pump, and to call an authorized service technician. A washing machine shaking or walking during the spin is a different fault, usually the feet or the load.
- The filter won't turn by hand. I'd stop there and call the maker's service line rather than reach for pliers.
- You read a code from another brand's chart. OE on an LG is a drain problem, and OE on a Samsung is an overflow.
- The washer is under its maker's warranty. Ask before taking anything apart beyond the filter; how a warranty claim starts, with the store you bought from, is covered separately.
Where these washer filter instructions come from
- Samsung Canada, WF45T6000AW/A5 support page and user manual, checked November 2026.
- Samsung Canada, WA44A3205AW/A4 support page and user manual, checked November 2026.
- Samsung, washing machine information and error codes, checked November 2026.
- Samsung Australia, Cleaning the lint filter of a Samsung top load washing machine, checked November 2026.
- LG Canada, Cleaning drain pump filter, front load, checked November 2026.
- LG, How to clean the drain pump filter, checked November 2026.
- Whirlpool, front load washer use and care guide W11735098A (WFW5720R), checked November 2026.
- Whirlpool Product Help, Cleaning the pump filter, front load washer, checked November 2026.
- Whirlpool Product Help, F9 E1, front load washer, checked November 2026.
- Maytag, How to find and clean a washing machine filter, checked November 2026.
- Maytag, Stop using vinegar to clean your washing machine, checked November 2026.
- Electrolux, front load washer use and care guide A20448609 (ELFW7437), from Electrolux Canada, checked November 2026.
- Frigidaire, top load washer use and care guide A29911401 (FLVW7000A), from Frigidaire Canada, checked November 2026.
- HealthLink BC, File 05b, Well water testing, checked November 2026.
- Merit Home Furniture's live washer listings, prices and store availability, read November 1, 2026.
Asking our Campbell River or Port Alberni store about a washer's filter
If the filter matters in choosing a new washer, Merit's Campbell River and Port Alberni stores carry the models above between them. A call first tells you which are set up to look at. Ask for the manual too, so you can see where its filter sits before you decide.
Campbell River store, (250) 286-0868 or Port Alberni store, (250) 724-6644
You can browse every washer on our site in one place, and Merit's other appliance how-tos are gathered on one page.