No more flooding the floor when cleaning the washing machine filter: try this plastic bottle trick!
One of the maintenance tasks that should not be forgotten at home is the periodic cleaning of the washing machine filter. Over time, debris of all kinds ends up in the drum of this frequently used appliance - from bit ofs dirt and soile, to food and , most notably, our and our pets' hair. Together with the fibers from washed fabrics, this debris can clog the filter itself, which not only can cause bad odors, but even more damaging, can lead to serious damage being done to the appliance.
The filter is usually located in the front panel of loading washing machine, under the door, in the lower right or left corner. In the case of washing machines that are top loaders, however, the filter is usually in the back where it is easier to find. To clean it, you need to open the flap of its housing and then unscrew a cap which acts like a plug. And every time you do this, a little water will inevitably seep out. But instead of having to suffer this and waste time cleaning up with a mop and bucket, you can resort to a simple trick shown by Francesco Saccomandi in a very short TikTok video.
via Francesco Saccomandi/TikTok
See how easy it is to clean your washing machine's filter in a TikTok video! As you can see, it is simply a matter of using any spare plastic bottle, such as the common, plastic bottled water types one can buy at the supermarket. You simply need to cut off the top just enough to allow you to place the opening just below the filter compartment, so that it is ready to collect the flow of water that comes out when you unscrew the filter. Hold the bottle in one hand and then you can open the filter with the other hand and let the bottle do its collection magic! This method is certainly more convenient than using a cup or finding a bowl of the right size to slip right under the narrow opening.
For good measure, it is recommended to keep an old towel or tea towels on the ground anyway - you never know if a few drops of water will escape before you are able to position the bottle correctly or before cutting it so that it fits and collects properly.
At this point, then, you can wash and clean the filter: remove the bulk of the dirt that remains attached to it and then put it to soak in a basin with hot water and a little white vinegar and, if you want, some bicarbonate of soda. Leave it to soak for at least half an hour then rinse well and dry it off. Also remove all the dirt you find in the filter housing, perhaps with a cloth moistened with water and vinegar (or hydrogen peroxide), and put everything back in place as soon as it is dry.
Great job!
