Ever pull your “clean” laundry out of the wash only to find it fuzzy or smelling sour? That is usually a sign your washer’s lint trap is packed and needs attention. This filter catches the lint, hair, and grit your wash water leaves behind.
Where the trap sits depends on your machine. Older top-loaders hide a mesh screen in the drum or agitator, while most front-loaders and high-efficiency units use a drain pump filter behind a small panel near the floor. Many newer HE machines flush lint automatically, so there may be nothing to pull out at all.
Leave any of them dirty and the trapped lint becomes a home for mold and mildew, which is where that musty smell comes from. Below, you will find exactly where to look and how to clean each type in a few minutes.
Key Takeaways
- Clean it every 1 to 3 months: LG suggests monthly for the drain pump filter and Whirlpool says every few months, so quarterly is a safe floor.
- Know the spots: check under the drum rim, inside the agitator, or behind the small panel on the lower front of the machine.
- Soak and scrub: soak a removable filter in hot water and dish soap for 10 minutes, then brush off the slime and lint.
- Stop the buildup: sort by fabric type, avoid overcrowding, and use the gentle cycle so clothes shed less lint in the first place.
Signs Your Lint Trap Needs Cleaning
Your washing machine usually gives you a few visual and olfactory clues when the filter is clogged. The most obvious sign is residue; your dark clothes might come out looking like they are wearing a fur coat.
You might also notice a lingering, musty scent. That musty smell comes from mold and mildew growing on the wet lint trapped inside the filter. If your laundry smells worse coming out than it did going in, check the trap immediately.
A clogged pump filter shows up in the wash cycle too. When lint, coins, and buttons block it, water drains slowly or not at all, so loads can finish soaking wet, cycles run long, and some machines flash a drain error code (per Whirlpool’s troubleshooting guidance). If your clothes are still dripping after the spin, the filter is worth a look.
How to Clean a Washer Lint Trap
Before you start tearing your appliance apart, check your model type. Many modern High-Efficiency (HE) machines do not have a traditional removable lint screen like older models. Instead, they rely on a self-cleaning pump or a drain pump filter.
If you have a self-cleaning pump, you simply need to run an empty cleaning cycle once a month to flush it out. If you have a pump filter, you will need to manually drain and clean it.
How often depends on the brand. LG recommends cleaning the drain pump filter about once a month, while Whirlpool advises every few months (or every six months on all-in-one washer-dryer units). If you wash a lot of towels, pet bedding, or fleece, lean toward the shorter end.
Tools You Need
Gather these supplies before you start hunting for the filter:
- Paper towels
- Soft-bristled brush (an old toothbrush works great)
- Liquid dish soap
- Hot water
- Large bowl or bucket
- White vinegar (optional, for killing mold)
Where Is the Lint Trap on a Washing Machine?
The easiest way to find your specific filter is to check the user manual. If that long-lost document is gone, here are the four most common hiding spots.
The Top Rim of the Drum
Open the lid of your top-loader. Slide your fingers along the top rim of the washer drum (where the metal meets the plastic housing). If you feel a screen or a removable mesh piece, that is your trap.
Inside the Center Agitator
If you have an old-school top loader with a tall plastic column in the middle, the filter might be inside it. Remove the cap from the top of the agitator. Some simply lift out, while others unscrew. You should see a filter cylinder inside.
Near the Water Pump or Drain Hose
On standard top loaders, you might have to remove the outer housing to get to the water pump filter, though this is rare for routine maintenance. More commonly, check the back of the machine where the drain hose connects; there may be a small screen there.
Behind a Maintenance Hatch
This is the standard location for front-loaders and HE top-loaders. Look for a small square door on the front of the machine, near the bottom. Behind this hatch is the drain pump filter, which acts as the lint trap for these units.
Step-by-Step Cleaning Instructions
1. Remove the Filter
Once you locate the filter, remove it. If you have a drain pump filter (behind the panel), lay down a towel and set a shallow, flat container underneath first, because a fair amount of water pours out as you unscrew it and the container catches what the towel cannot. Turn the filter counterclockwise to release it. If the filter is disposable (rare, but possible), toss it and buy a replacement. If it is a permanent mesh or plastic screen, it’s time to clean.
2. Soak and Scrub
Fill a bowl with hot water and a squirt of dish soap. Submerge the filter and let it soak for 10 minutes. This loosens the grime, detergent buildup, and fibers.
After soaking, use your small brush to scrub away the residue. If the filter has mold (black spots), add a cup of white vinegar to your soak solution to kill the spores. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a paper towel.
3. Clean the Housing
Don’t put a clean filter back into a dirty hole. While the filter is soaking, use your brush or a paper towel to remove soap scum and slime from the slot where the filter lives. Get into the crevices to ensure no mold is left behind.
4. Reassemble
Slide the filter back into place. Ensure it clicks securely or is screwed in tight so it doesn’t float away during the next spin cycle.
How to Prevent Lint Buildup
You can’t stop lint entirely, but you can reduce how much of it ends up stuck in your machine.
Sort Like a Pro
Don’t just separate lights and darks. Sort your clothing by fabric type. Wash “lint givers” (like fluffy towels, fleece, and flannel) separately from “lint attractors” (like corduroy, synthetic blends, and dark cottons). This prevents the fuzz from migrating to clothes where it sticks.
Give Clothes Room to Move
Resist the urge to stuff the washer full. When you overcrowd the drum, water can’t circulate effectively to flush lint away. The clothes also rub against each other more aggressively, which creates more friction and generates more lint.
Wash in Cold Water
Hot water can relax and loosen fibers, which tends to release more lint. Washing in cold is gentler on fabrics and helps keep the fuzz to a minimum, with the bonus of a smaller energy bill.
Use the Gentle Cycle
For high-shedding items or delicate fabrics, use the gentle or permanent press cycle. The slower agitation speed reduces fiber breakage, meaning less debris ends up in your trap.
