What Is a Washer Drain Filter?
The lint trap hiding behind the little panel at the bottom of the washer, the one everyone forgets exists.
The lint trap behind the small panel at the bottom front corner of a front-load washer. It catches coins, hair ties, and lint before the drain pump, holds a cup or two of stale water, and is the most commonly missed step when cleaning a smelly machine.
Fixes that use this
Laundry & Cleaning
Washing Machine Smells? Clean These 3 Spots (Gasket, Drum, Filter)
A musty front-loader means mold in the door gasket and a clogged drain filter. Clean all three problem spots in 30 minutes and keep the smell away.
Time30 min + one wash cycle Cost$0–$10 easy
Laundry & Cleaning
Washer Won't Drain? Check the Filter, Hose, Then Pump
A washer full of standing water is usually a coin trap packed with lint or a kinked drain hose. Both are free fixes you can do in half an hour.
Time30–60 min Cost$0–$40 moderate