Found out my washing machine drain pump had a hidden filter I never cleaned in 5 years

I was over at my buddy Mike's place last week helping him fix his clogged sink. He's got this old Samsung washer that just stopped draining one day. He pulls off the front panel and shows me this little trap door with a filter inside. It was full of coins, hair, and this nasty black sludge. I told him I never even knew that was a thing. He laughed and said most machines have them. Got home that night and checked mine, sure enough it had the same setup. Pulled out about 15 cents in change and a whole wad of lint that must have been building up for years. The machine drains way faster now and doesn't make that grinding noise anymore. Anyone else miss this maintenance step for years?

2 comments

2 Comments

nancys908d ago

Pulled my own washer apart last year after it started leaving clothes soaking wet. Found the same nasty mess you're describing - coins, bobby pins, and this gray sludge that smelled like a swamp. Now I make it a habit to check that filter every 3 months or so. Just gotta keep a towel handy cause water spills out every time. Did your machine start running quieter after you cleaned yours out?

the_kelly8d ago

Yeah @nancys90 you're totally right. I used to ignore it, now I check. Way quieter after.