--- title: "Clean the drain pump filter on a front-load washer" description: "Where the small access door is, how to let the trapped water out without a flood, cleaning and refitting the filter, and how often to do it." url: "https://washerrepair.center/guides/clean-the-drain-pump-filter/" date_modified: "2026-09-25" --- Troubleshooting # Clean the drain pump filter on a front-load washer The washer drain pump filter sits behind a small access door at the lower front of most front-load, stacked and compact washers, and it traps lint, coins and small items before they reach the pump. Cleaning it means unplugging the washer, draining the trapped water through a short tube into a shallow pan, unscrewing the filter, rinsing it and screwing it back upright. By [WasherRepair.center technical team](https://washerrepair.center/authors/technical-team/) Published September 25, 2026 ## At a glance. Behind a small door at the bottom of most front-loaders sits the one part of the drain an owner is meant to open. Done calmly, with the washer unplugged and something ready to catch the water, it takes about twenty minutes. Read the whole guide ### Where it is Lower front corner, behind a small door On some models it hides behind a pedestal drawer or a full-width kick panel. ### How often About monthly Samsung suggests at least monthly or every 40 washes, whichever comes first. ### Water to expect More than you think A washer that stopped full can hold several pans' worth. In this guide 1. What the filter catches, and which washers have one 2. Before you open anything 3. Letting the trapped water out 4. Cleaning the filter and its housing 5. How often, and what changes the schedule 6. Step by step 7. Questions ## What the filter catches, and which washers have one Every drop that leaves the tub passes the pump on its way to the drain hose. The washer drain pump filter is a screen or basket screwed into the pump housing in front of the impeller, so a coin or hair tie lodges in the filter instead of cracking the impeller. Most front-loaders have one, and so do many stacked pairs, compact washers and all-in-one washer-dryers. Top-loaders are a mixed group. Samsung states that its top-load washers have no pump filter at all, and other brands vary from one model line to the next. The manual's care section says whether yours has an owner-cleanable filter; if it does not mention one, there is nothing to open. ### Finding the access door Look along the bottom of the front panel for a small square or round door, usually at the right or left corner, that opens with a press or with a coin in a slot. On some models a full-width kick plate snaps off instead. Whirlpool washers with a storage pedestal hide the filter behind the drawer, which has to come out on its rails first. Source: [Samsung — How to clean your Samsung washer](https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10003197/) — Top-load Samsung washers have no pump filter; clean the front-load filter at least monthly or every 40 washes; use a container like an oil drain pan; the drain-hose cap seals tightly; twist the filter counterclockwise, brush it, inspect the impeller, refit it vertical; after a hot cycle wait an hour for the water to cool ## Before you open anything Unplug the washer, or switch off its breaker if the plug is out of reach. After a hot, sanitize or self-clean cycle, wait for the water to cool; Samsung's instructions ask for an hour so the water cannot scald. Then gather more catching capacity than seems necessary, because the filter holds back whatever water the washer could not pump away. Samsung suggests a container as large as an oil drain pan, and Whirlpool describes a broad, flat container set beneath the filter. A deep bucket will not fit under the door, which is why a baking sheet with raised edges or a low storage tub works better. - Two or three old bath towels - A shallow pan, low tub or rimmed baking sheet - A second container to empty the first into - A flashlight and a soft brush, like an old toothbrush - Rubber gloves, because what comes out is not pleasant Source: [Samsung — How to clean your Samsung washer](https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10003197/) — Top-load Samsung washers have no pump filter; clean the front-load filter at least monthly or every 40 washes; use a container like an oil drain pan; the drain-hose cap seals tightly; twist the filter counterclockwise, brush it, inspect the impeller, refit it vertical; after a hot cycle wait an hour for the water to cool; [Whirlpool — Cleaning the drain pump filter, front-load washer](https://producthelp.whirlpool.com/Laundry/Washers/Front_Load_Washers/Wash_Performance_or_Clothing_Results/Cleaning_and_Maintenance/Cleaning_the_Drain_Pump_Filter) — On pedestal models the filter is behind the drawer; broad flat container; filter out counterclockwise, lint by hand, rinse, back in clockwise with the handle vertical; clean occasionally Close on a hand holding a just-removed washer drain-pump filter with a sock and a coin caught in it. ## Letting the trapped water out Next to the filter on most models is a short rubber tube clipped in place with a plug on the end. Unclip it, hold its end over the pan, and pull the plug. The water runs slowly; when the pan is nearly full, push the plug back in, empty the pan and repeat. Samsung notes that the cap seals tightly and may take some force to open. Keep going until the flow stops completely. Even then, lay a towel directly under the filter, because some water always stays in the housing. ### If there is no small drain tube Some washers have only the filter itself. Loosen it a quarter turn at a time counterclockwise and let the water trickle into the pan, tightening it again whenever the pan fills. Never pull it straight out against a full drum. Source: [Samsung — How to clean your Samsung washer](https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10003197/) — Top-load Samsung washers have no pump filter; clean the front-load filter at least monthly or every 40 washes; use a container like an oil drain pan; the drain-hose cap seals tightly; twist the filter counterclockwise, brush it, inspect the impeller, refit it vertical; after a hot cycle wait an hour for the water to cool ## Cleaning the filter and its housing Unscrew the filter counterclockwise and draw it out. Pull the large clumps of lint and hair away by hand and put them in the trash, not down a sink. Rinse the filter under running water and brush the fine mesh or ribs clean. Shine a flashlight into the empty housing. Samsung asks owners to inspect the pump impeller behind it and make sure nothing blocks it: a bra wire or coin may be sitting just past the filter. Reach in only with the washer unplugged. ### When the filter will not turn A filter that will not unscrew usually has a sock or a lump of lint wrapped behind it. Firm, steady pressure is fine, but pliers and levers crack the plastic housing, and a broken housing means a new pump. At that point it is safer to book. ### Putting it back so it does not leak Screw the filter in clockwise until it stops; Whirlpool and Samsung both describe the handle ending up upright. Plug and clip the drain tube, close the door, plug the washer back in and run a short rinse and spin while you watch the floor. Source: [Samsung — How to clean your Samsung washer](https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10003197/) — Top-load Samsung washers have no pump filter; clean the front-load filter at least monthly or every 40 washes; use a container like an oil drain pan; the drain-hose cap seals tightly; twist the filter counterclockwise, brush it, inspect the impeller, refit it vertical; after a hot cycle wait an hour for the water to cool; [Whirlpool — Cleaning the drain pump filter, front-load washer](https://producthelp.whirlpool.com/Laundry/Washers/Front_Load_Washers/Wash_Performance_or_Clothing_Results/Cleaning_and_Maintenance/Cleaning_the_Drain_Pump_Filter) — On pedestal models the filter is behind the drawer; broad flat container; filter out counterclockwise, lint by hand, rinse, back in clockwise with the handle vertical; clean occasionally ## How often, and what changes the schedule Samsung recommends cleaning its front-load pump filter at least once a month or about every 40 washes, whichever comes first, and says a clean filter helps prevent odors. Whirlpool's instruction is simply to do it occasionally, so the manual for your model has the final word. Some households need it far more often than others. Pets, lots of towels, children's clothes with full pockets and heavy work clothes all send more debris to the pump. Whatever the calendar says, these are signs the filter is due now: - Water left in the drum or the door boot after the spin - A drain that sounds labored or takes longer than it used to - A musty smell at the lower front of the cabinet - A drain code on the display after a load of towels or pet bedding Source: [Samsung — How to clean your Samsung washer](https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10003197/) — Top-load Samsung washers have no pump filter; clean the front-load filter at least monthly or every 40 washes; use a container like an oil drain pan; the drain-hose cap seals tightly; twist the filter counterclockwise, brush it, inspect the impeller, refit it vertical; after a hot cycle wait an hour for the water to cool; [Whirlpool — Cleaning the drain pump filter, front-load washer](https://producthelp.whirlpool.com/Laundry/Washers/Front_Load_Washers/Wash_Performance_or_Clothing_Results/Cleaning_and_Maintenance/Cleaning_the_Drain_Pump_Filter) — On pedestal models the filter is behind the drawer; broad flat container; filter out counterclockwise, lint by hand, rinse, back in clockwise with the handle vertical; clean occasionally ## Where to stop Stay at the filter and the small drain tube, and keep the washer unplugged the whole time. Stop if the housing cracks, the filter will not move with hand pressure, or water keeps flowing after the drum should be empty. Do not remove the front panel or pump, and do not take down a stacked dryer to reach the washer: that is two-person work for a technician. Written by [WasherRepair.center technical team](https://washerrepair.center/authors/technical-team/). The washer technicians who show up for the appointments booked on this site. Their writing grows out of machines they have taken apart on laundry room floors, checked against the maker's installation and owner's guides wherever those exist. Sources: [Samsung — How to clean your Samsung washer](https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10003197/) · [Whirlpool — Cleaning the drain pump filter, front-load washer](https://producthelp.whirlpool.com/Laundry/Washers/Front_Load_Washers/Wash_Performance_or_Clothing_Results/Cleaning_and_Maintenance/Cleaning_the_Drain_Pump_Filter) ## Step by step. Five steps, in the order worth doing them. 01 ### Unplug and prepare Power off, water cooled, towels down and a shallow pan in front of the door. 02 ### Drain the tube Unclip the short hose, remove its plug, and empty the pan as often as it fills. 03 ### Remove the filter Turn it counterclockwise slowly and draw it out over the towel. 04 ### Clean and inspect Clear lint by hand, rinse and brush, and look at the impeller behind it. 05 ### Refit and test Clockwise until it stops, handle upright, then a short rinse and spin. For the heart of your home. ## Questions owners ask. ### My washer has no filter door. Does it still have a filter? Maybe not one you are meant to clean. Many top-loaders have none, and some models reach the pump only through the cabinet. The care pages of the manual settle it. ### Why did water keep coming after the washer looked empty? The filter sits at the lowest point, so the whole tub drains through it. Keep emptying the pan; if water never stops, the drum was still partly full or a valve is leaking water in, and it is time to book. ### Can I run the washer without the filter in place? No. Water will pour out of the opening, and anything in the drum can reach the impeller directly. ### Is a filter that leaks after cleaning broken? Usually it is cross-threaded or a thread is fouled with lint. Take it out, wipe both threads and the rubber seal, and screw it in straight until it stops. ## The problems behind it. Each has a page of its own: what it usually means and the causes in the order worth checking. [All 17 problems](https://washerrepair.center/problems/) Problem ### Washer Not Draining 5 causes, cheapest first Problem ### Washer Smells Musty 5 causes, cheapest first Water or electrical risk ### Washer Leaking 5 causes, cheapest first Problem ### Washer Error Code 5 causes, cheapest first ## When it needs a technician. The repairs on the right are where this guide ends when the checks do not settle it. ### Drain pump repair Water left in the drum and clothes that come out soaked, traced to the pump filter, the pump, or the hose and standpipe behind it. ### Door boot and odor repair A musty smell, black spots in the rubber seal or a drip at the bottom of the door, repaired at the boot, the dispenser and the drain path. ### Diagnostic visit One visit that turns standing water, a silent drum, a banging spin or a puddle into one named part and a price. ## More in troubleshooting. The checks you can run on your own washer, and the point where carrying on stops being wise. [The whole section](https://washerrepair.center/guides/troubleshooting/) What an owner can check safely ### Five things to rule out before booking a washer repair Power and panel locks, both supply valves, the door or lid latch, the drain hose and pump filter, and the load and level, in about half an hour. What an owner can check safely ### Find your washer's model number The tag sits around a front-loader's door opening or under a top-loader's lid, and it unlocks the right manual, the right parts and any recall. Guides ### All 18 guides Six sections, by what you are trying to find out. --- **[Read on the site: Clean the drain pump filter on a front-load washer](https://washerrepair.center/guides/clean-the-drain-pump-filter/)** **[Book a visit with WasherRepair.center](https://washerrepair.center/schedule/)**