How to Clean Your Clothes Washer’s Water Line Filters

Clothes washers have filters on the hot and cold intake water lines to prevent debris in the water line from getting into the washer. Over time these filters can become clogged with sand and sediment and need to be cleaned.

To clean filters on clothes washer water lines:

  1. Turn off the water to the washer.
  2. Unscrew the hot and cold hoses on the back of the washer.
  3. Squirt the filters on the washer with water in a spray bottle.
  4. Use a stiff acid brush to remove any remaining dirt or debris.
  5. Reattach the hot and cold hoses to the washer.
  6. Turn the water back on, and check for leaks.

Watch this video to find out more.

Further Information

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Joe Truini: If your washing machine seems to take forever to fill with water, here’s the reason why. If you disconnect the hoses on the back side, you’ll see that there are small filters inside each of the hot and cold water fill. And those filters are designed to keep sediment such as sand, dirt, and minerals from passing through into the machine. So what you need to do at least two or three times a year is clean out the filter, and here’s an easy way to do that.

Take a plant mister filled with water and hold a cup underneath it just to catch some of the water and dirt, and just spray right in there. And you’ll see the dirt comes right out. See that? And then what I like to do, most of the dirt comes out just with that. What I like to do is come back with a small acid brush, and just scrub it a little bit just to get any stubborn bits of dirt and sand out, and then spray it one more time. And of course, you need to do this on both the cold and the hot.

And again, if you do this a couple of times a year, it’ll keep the filters clean and the water will be flowing freely.

23 COMMENTS

  2. this is a great tip. thank you. i have previously cleaned the filters using a qtip, but that did not do a great job and the filters kept re-clogging. i had not thought about using a mister. I was amazed at how much grit came out.

  5. I have a problem with a film in my washer at the water line on the tub. I have tried vinegar with hot water, new stainless hoses, removed agitator cleaned it, squirted vinegar in holes in washer and still get film after one load of wash at water line on tub.

  6. Live close to beach, but try to rinse out towels and swimsuits well, prior to
    washing in top load washer. At times, I notice sand particles left on clothing, after washing cycles are completed. Also, some sand at bottom of washer tub. Will cleaning water line filters help? I’m thinking there may be a form of blockage within the many vents in the laundry tub. Any suggestions, please.

    • Hi, Jane!

      Danny says, “You may try lighter loads in the washing machine to see if it could better handle dealing with the excess sand.”

      Good luck!

  8. This worked great for about five minutes then when I took the hoses off the cold water one was clogged with heavy grit and dirt. Our well water gets gritty and dirty when it rains heavy. My question is there a more permanent solution as in a small filter to keep it from clogging the tiny screen going into the washer. I can’t afford anything elaborate but I need something! Thank you so much for your help and website, we all need help once in a while ?

    • I doubt you’re still checking this three years later, but I have an idea. I did this yesterday. I noticed the incoming hot water line was perfectly clean, but the incoming cold line was very badly blocked by too much sand. I have a water softener just before the water heater. Depending on where you live and how your house is set up, either have a water softener before the water heater or covering most of the cold water lines (but preferably not your drinking lines or garden watering lines). I realize they are expensive, and I don’t have an answer for a filter in a less intrusive place.

  9. I have a new Whirlpool HE Turbo front loader. When I did a normal whites load of wash I had gotten an F1 code. The water didn’t drain but kept on sloshing the clothes back and forth. I finally canceled and then drained and spun the clothes. Does the F1 code mean that there is a problem with the washer, or should I assume the screens are clogged? The washer is new and I have only done about 10 loads of wash. Thank you.

    • Glad to hear you enjoyed this content! Please share it with friends — that’s how we’re able to create similar content.

  12. We have really hard water & coffee pot etc gets built up with hard water scale. My new Amana washer has little filters on the water inputs. We know these will be built up with scale quickly and plug. Any way to remove them to clean them?

  13. This info was so helpful!! Thank you for your advise and knowledge. I also noticed how often you reply to the comments and I’m extremely impressed with your time and efforts.

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