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Is your washing machine taking ages to fill up lately? Or maybe your clothes come out of a full cycle still looking a bit grubby. Before you call a technician, check one small part first: the water inlet filter. It's a little mesh screen tucked away where the machine connects to your water supply pipe, and its only job is to stop dust, sand and mineral bits from getting into the machine along with the water. Over time, these particles build up on the mesh and choke off the flow, which is usually why you end up with slow fills, weak washes and the odd error code flashing on the display. The fix takes a few minutes, and you don't need a single tool.


How do you know the filter needs cleaning
Dust, grit and mineral deposits from your water supply settle on that mesh bit by bit until it's properly clogged. Once that happens, water can't get through the way it should, and you'll usually notice one of a few things. The machine drags its feet filling up, clothes don't come out as clean because there isn't enough water pressure during the wash, an error code pops up on the panel, or in worse cases the machine just stalls halfway through a cycle. A clogged filter also makes the motor and other parts work harder than they need to, which wears the machine down faster over time.

5 steps to clean your washing machine's water inlet filter

• Shut off the water

Turn off the water supply valve going into the machine before you do anything else. Skip this, and you'll get a face full of water the second you loosen the hose.

• Disconnect the inlet hose

Pull the water inlet hose off the back of the machine. Keep a towel handy; some water is going to spill out no matter how careful you are.

• Pull out the filter

The filter sits just inside the valve where the hose connects. On most machines you can just pull it out with your fingers, though on some you might need a pair of needle nose pliers to get a grip. It varies a bit depending on the brand.

• Give it a proper rinse

Hold it under running water and rinse until you can't see any grime or mineral crust left on the mesh. If it's really caked on, an old toothbrush works well to scrub it loose.

• Put it back in tight

Slot the filter back into place and turn it clockwise until it's snug. Don't rush this bit; if it's not fitted properly, you'll get water leaking out around the connection once the supply is back on. Once it's secure, reattach the hose and turn the water back on.


How often should you actually clean it?
Honestly, it depends on your water. If you're in a hard water area, the mineral buildup happens faster, so you'll need to clean it more often than someone with softer water. Rather than sticking to a strict weekly routine, it's more practical to just check it now and then, and definitely clean it the moment you notice slower fills or an error code showing up.


Why bother keeping up with this
Leave it too long and the filter can get so blocked that the machine barely takes in water at all, which puts extra strain on the pump and other parts. A lot of the time, an error code that looks like your machine has given up on you is really just this filter asking for a rinse. Keep an eye on this one small part and your machine will keep filling properly, wash your clothes better, and probably last you a good few years longer than it would otherwise.