Problem
Your washing machine, which used to work OK, is making a funny noise and/or not emptying completely.
Likely cause
Something is blocking the washing machine’s filter. It could be a coin from someone’s pocket, or just many years’ of accumulated muck.
What you can do
- Get a newspaper or cloth to put down to catch any water that may come out at step 2.
- Unscrew the round cover you will find near the bottom. (See picture below.)
- Pull it out slowly.
- Clean out the plastic cage that has caught all the muck.
- If you don’t have a built-in washing machine, see below.
Extra tips
All washing machine manufacturers recommend that you clean the filter once a week!
If you have a stand-alone washing machine, the procedure will be similar but access to the filter is usually behind a flap or cover of some kind. On rare occasions the filter is at the back and you will need to pull the machine out to get to it – but check the front first.
If this does not work
You will probably need to call a washing machine repair person.