Lint Filters

[timborow]

I have seen how vintage machines always had a lint filter that needed to be cleaned after each load. But newer machines, like my 2000 TOL Kenmore, don't have lint filters. What happens to the lint? Does it just go down the drain? It seems that would be pretty bad for the plumbing. Tim

 

[mayken4now]

They all claim "Self Cleaning" lint filters. That is a joke, yes, down the drain.

Soon to be long forgotten by the young-ins, so, for the time being Mr. Salesman has to say that to feel more confident.

Steve

 

[toggleswitch]

Then there was my new GE top-loader with nothing.......

no spray rinse(s)
no lint filter
no off-balance provision (buzzzer/or stop mechinism)
The motor prefers to overheat and shut-off when unbalanced.

 

[rinso]

I've always thought that all washing machines should have forced water recirculating lint filters. Catching the lint and hair in the wash and rise water seems a much more pro-active approach than hoping the dryer will vacuum it off.

 

[whirlcool]

That's why I always like the GE Filterflow machines. You could see how much lint you were catching in each load. Does anyone know what year the last Filterflow was made?

 

[angus]

I believe the filter flo system was phased out in 1994 and then GE went to the "self cleaning filter ring" around the top of the tub - which was the design they used on their Hotpoint models. Basically that was a recirculation spout that was not visible, but was pointed down into a filter ring that was around the top of the tub. Then when the machine spun, the lint was forced out of the filter by the water and spun out with the rest of the water from the outer tub.

 

[lederstiefel1]

lint filter

Hello everyone!
Yes, that's true - had that filter-ring arround the drum with my former SpeedQeen, too!
But the one I have now doesn't seem to have any lint-filter at all either.....
If the load produces fluff or has hairs (dog) in, the following load has lint on all items... especially when a white wash is followed by dark colours!
That's why I love my Hotpoint Twinny with filter-clean tray so much!
Ralf

 

[seeitrun2006]

2005 GE washer

We have a 2005 GE washer with an stainless stell tub with no lint filtering system also. I read on the GE web site they did away with the lint filter in all their washers as they felt the lint removal process should be handled by the clothes dryer.

My grandmother had a 1966 Westinghouse top loader and the lint filter caught everyting including grass, hair, strings anything pretty much that was floating around in the water.

 

[lederstiefel1]

lint filter

Hi! But I do not use a dryer very often! Only when absolutely nescessary in winter-time because under certain humide weather-conditions the drying takes several days in the drying-loft in the attic. Also I don't have a tumble dryer as I don't like the abrassive treatment of tumbling - I use a cabinet dryer and that doesn't have ANY lint-filter at all! So, a good lint-filtering in the washer is best you can have!
But today all good values/things go down the drain and cheap-cheap spreads everywhere....
Ralf

 

[rp2813]

The lint filter on my old 70's Maytag always had plenty to be cleaned off of it. My mom had a similar vintage Kenmore and it had a "self cleaning" lint filter. Once a guy was out to do maintenance on it and advised her to put an old piece of a nylon stocking on the drain hose (it dumps into a laundry sink) and that she'd see just how much lint was being sent down the drain and into the already fragile sewer system. When I had to replace my Maytag and got my current machine with what I presume is a self cleaning filter since there's no evidence of a filter, I started putting those mesh screen "socks" on the end of the drain hose (mine also dumps into a laundry sink) to catch the lint there instead of letting it clog up my poorly designed sewer piping arrangement. I just recently mentioned this to a friend and he said he can't find these mesh things anywhere and has been told at hardware stores that so many set-ups these days have the washer draining directly into a pipe that there's not much demand for these mesh screens anymore. I have no problem finding them in my neck of the woods. Anybody care to comment on the value of these screens where "self cleaning" filters are concerned?

 

[toggleswitch]

Sounds like a good idea if lint in drain is an issue. However if one thinks of what goes down the commode, a bit of lint seems, to me at least, not an issue/problem.

I'd bit concerned about the filtering device getting blown off and plugging the drain hole, causing a flood.

 

[thor]

Mesh filter

Ralph, about a couple of years ago I bought these stainless steel mesh filters at the hardware section of Sears. When new they just look like unused, well sorry, but how can I better say it, oversized rubbers, at least for me LOL! To install you just roll it out (over the hose please) and stick the open end of the mesh filter into the discharge hose of the washer and secure it with a plastic tie (it comes with the kit). Once full of lint you just discard the filter and put on a new one. I don't think I paid much more than a couple of dollars for each filter. Each filter lasts many weeks before filling up.

 

[lederstiefel1]

Well, that's not the prob we have here - lint goes through the waste-pipes without any problems at all - but I wonder where all the lint comes from into the next load? Say, I do a load of whites and afterwards a load of blacks. Then all the dark items are covered with lint sometimes, especially when I had some items in the first load which shed a bit more lint than usually like cleaning cloths.
Ralf

 

[pulsator]

Back when we had that triple tub sink in the laundryroom, we used nylon knee-high stockings on all the drain hoses to protect our precious 40's plumbing. I used to just let them sit in the sink, until one day the Fisher Paykel's fell off and clogged the sink. The sink filled up and over flowed. But since the Fisher Paykel shuts off it's pump mid spin. The water in the sink backed up the drain hose into the Fisher Paykel which was going at 1,010 RPM... It made some terrible sounds before I shut it off. Luckily it didn't break! lol! But after that little incident, I put Maytag filters over all the sink drains and those kept the nylon stockings from ever clogging the sink again!

 

[brettsomers]

sounds like the F&P decided to do a *suds return*!

 

[frigilux]

Jamie--- I didn't realize the F&P's pump shuts off during the final spin. Where does the last of the extracted water go? Or isn't it enough to bother with? How long does it spin with the pump off? I'll bet the machine is quieter during spin with the pump off. I've tricked my Frigidaire FL'er into a spin with the pump off and it was nearly silent!

Sounds like you had a Super-Catalyst pretreat cycle going on with your F&P, LOL!

 

[DADoES]

The pump turns off about halfway through the final spin. Turns back on at the end while the basket coasts to a stop. Water in the interim simply collects in the outer tub. When running a BobLoad of towels, I can hear spattering noises as it starts building up.

 

[frigilux]

Thanks for the info, Glenn! It sounds like a good (quiet) idea.

 

[jonv112]

Same with the Oasis!