Need tips on now to clean a Maytag agitator lint filter

[maytaga806]

Went to the dump today and scrapped a Maytag A107. From the 70's I think. Not sure. Anyways it has the standard capacity three hole powerfin. And the lint filter is sort if nasty. I can't get it clean, does anyone have any tips?

 

[maytaga806]

...

 

[maytaga806]

...now here is the lint filter... You can sort of see the little blacks lint in the filter. I can't get them out?

 

[danemodsandy]

Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It....

Daniel - you are, as the British say, for it. Cleaning these is a bit of a hassle!

The good news is that once one is cleaned, good maintenance (meaning cleaning the filter after every load) sees to it that you never have to go through the job again.

The one in my Almond 806 was so nasty it looked like it had never been cleaned in all its 35 years of service. The buildup was an unholy combination of impacted lint and lime encrustations. It was tough as cement, trust me.

Cleaning it took repeated soaking in Lime-A-Way, fierce scrubbing with a stiff scrub brush, and finally, cleaning of every damned one of those little holes with a toothpick, which is probably what you're going to have to do. It was Not. Fun. But it has never built up again in the three years since.

Here is a before and after photo, which will hopefully show you that there is hope for even the worst filter. And YES, that is the identical filter in both shots!

 

[toploader55]

Soak it.

In Hot Water and Soap. For about 1 hour.

Then scrub it with a tooth brush or another suitable brush. Inside and Out. Most of the stuff should come off.

Then you can just rub your finger on the outside of the filter, (downward stroke) and inside the filter all around at the end of the cycle. Most of the moist lint after it's clean will come off after each use.

Lint Ball courtesy of the Great Boston Filter Flo Challenge in Melrose Mass.

(ducks and runs) :0

 

[yogitunes]

I have found using a powerwasher, wether home or at the carwash, very effective at cleaning a filter of this type or a filterflo pan....just watch your pressure and proximity, and keep your foot on it...

 

[wayupnorth]

Na, all you need to maintain it is an old toothbrush, some vigerous brushing and running Hot water. Worked for me for almost 30 years.

 

[maytaga806]

Okay thanks to all. I will soak it in hot water, Would it be okay if I soak it in hot water with more than one kind of cleaner?

 

[DADoES]

 
Poking each clogged perforation with a stickpin will take care of the problem, although it's a little tedious.

 

[bajaespuma]

I've also cleaned a bunch of these. Soak the whole filter in CLR or Lime Away for a couple of hours and then brush them from the inside to the outside.

Those handy sets of Detailing brushes that you can buy at any Auto parts department work really well for these jobs.

 

[maytaga806]

Well, I got it cleaned. I soaked it in hot water with Clorox Bathroom cleaner for two hours and scrubbed it with a tooth brush inside and out. It worked perfectly. I just cant get up on the inside of the groove near the hole for the fabric softener dispenser.

 

[yogitunes]

if you have a hand held shower, put it on the massage part with a strong stream of hot water, and blast any area you cannot reach....

sometimes a run thru the dishwasher can help as well.....making sure as much softener as possible is removed first....

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Agreed Yogi.

I was going to recommend the dishwasher as well. 

WK78

 

[maytaga806]

Well I put the agitator back in the washer. I ran it throuhg a cycle with hot water, colox bleach, fabric softener, bathroom cleaner, CLR, laundry detergent, Lime Away, 409, and tons of liquid Tide. I put ALOT of cleaners in cause the tub was full of nasty lint, slime and who knows what. It is perfect now, it is shiney now. But the bad thing about cleaning the washer was it overflowed with suds. But it was well worth it. SO then we had towels to wash after that . Now we have the Maytag A107 as our normal washer. We got rid of the cabrio set washer and dryer. We have a 1980's Maytag dryer. Similar to the Maytag A212.

 

[dustin92]

You are luck you only had some suds overflowing! You could have killed everyone in the house by mixing all of those chemicals! NEVER mix bleach with anything except laundry detergent or liqid dish soap. The CLR is an acid, which would have most likely cleaned everything, and if that didn't work, a second wash with bleach and laundry detergent would have cleaned it up. PLEASE be careful and read labels before you start mixing chemicals though!

 

[maytaga806]

Hahah well we did have the lid closed and taped down cause we knew it would suds up. We did know that. So we stayed out of the room for an hour.

 

[dustin92]

Still not a good idea.

 

[washerlover]

And despite all the cleaning of these filters, I've never found them to be particularly effective at lint removal.