We all know about cleaning the lint filter in dryers but how often do we clean the washing machine filter? For me, it’s never. In fact, I didn’t even know my washing machine had a filter or trap.

Let’s backtrack a bit, shall we? I’ve mentioned before that I’m no fan of Frigidaire appliances. We already replaced the dryer last year but we were holding off on the washer because it still worked (intermittently). About 6 months ago, I started noticing a sulphury smell whenever the wash would drain. I knew that something wasn’t right but the clothes came out clean enough.

Last week the washing machine stopped working in the middle of a wash. It wouldn’t drain or fill with water. It sounded as if the motor was trying to fill the chamber with water but nothing was coming out. I ordered a new machine in hopes that it would arrive soon enough so I wouldn’t have to hit up the laundry mat.

Six piles of laundry later, my online purchase was still pending so we figured we might as well attempt to fix the thing temporarily.

Not draining = something is blocked up. All of those socks we lost over the years?

Whomever designed this particular machine didn’t make it easy to empty the filter. We had to turn the machine over and take it apart. At the end of the day, we found about $2.00 worth of change and a bunch of pet hair blocking the trap.

I canceled the new machine and I promise to check pockets before doing a wash.