Whatever happened to washing machine lint filters?

[panthera]

OK,

We have pets and there is zero question but what the Filterflos do an enormously better job of catching lint than does the Maytag, which is pretty good compared to the Whirlpools with their useless 'magic' filter.

It's easily seen when we put the clothes in the dryer - there's less lint with a load washed in the GE Filterflos than with the others.

It does make a difference, especially with pet hair.

Worth noting: Many European detergents have enzymes which eat damaged cellulose pretty well.

 

I don't care what anyone says, the facts arebest lint removal  - GE Filterflo, Maytag, Thumper with overflo rinses and then useless Whirlpool 'magic'.

 

[lowefficiency]

I'll second the pet hair comments. A load of Guinea Pig bedding will bring any lint filter to its knees. Getting as much of it caught at the wash stage as possible is about the only way it's even feasible. There's just too much fine hair, on too large of a surface area, for a dryer to be able to catch or remove it all.

 

[brucelucenta]

I really can't say that much about pet hair removal, since that is not a problem I have encountered. I can see where GE or like machines would be helpful with removing that. Just lint in general doesn't seem to be any issue at all for me in the front loader. Animal hair might be a problem, I don't know. I used a lint roller on things that the dog laid on before washing it though. New towel lint and the like, I have no problems with in the front loader. It knocks loose any lint and pumps it down the drain and it creates no more lint in washing.

 

[arris]

Lint filters

I asked this same question a few years ago and was informed by John ( Combo52 ) when detergents removed " Phosphates " it caused the lint filters to become gooey and plug up...... could also be from the comments mentioned above.... I would like to see them come back....If washing pet items the hair seems to either end up in the bottom of the tub, or ball on the fabric... which led me to finding this site,and find a washer with a lint filter to prevent that as well as cutting down on lint when hanging cloths on the line in the warmer months....

 

[brucelucenta]

A sticky tape lint roller can be a wonderful thing when it comes to pet hair. I learned that in my dry cleaning days.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

What must'a inspired development of Manual Lint Filterin

Me, if I get hair, lint & fuzz from handkerchiefs & Kleenex around my mouth (& caught in growing facial hair that needs a shave) my tongue is my Filter-Flo--just gotta keep my self from swallowing my goop...

-- Dave

 

[launderess]

Did a small load of linens last night in the Maytag wringer

Used the agitator with metal lint filter, and whoever said those things didn't "work" must never have used one.

The linens (two sheets and a duvet cover) were from a neighbor who is feeling poorly and couldn't get out to laundromat. Me being me, and having enough equipment at present to start a laundry volunteered. However since one knows this person has a cat, the things were not going into the Miele or AEG.

When all was said and done, after pulling the agitator out to clean and dry, took the metal mesh lint filter out as well. It was covered in hairs! Cleaning the thing was not fun, and even later today after the thing was dry a few hairs remained, but still am rather impressed.

 

[mark_wpduet]

I haven't seen

a lint filter on a washing machine since growing up with our Lady Kenmore TL washer. I remember in the mid 80s, that was replaced with a WP TL washer that had a "self cleaning" filter, although I never knew how it actually worked. Whatever it was was invisible.

I just washed some brand new shirts yesterday and the amount of lint on the dryer screen was crazy. That's usually always the case with new items though....some worse than others. Usually after a couple of washes there's just your normal amount of lint on the dryer screen.

 

[lordkenmore]

I once had a near-BOL BD KM to use. One of the things that I liked--no, loved--was the lint filter. Clothes could be line dried, and be about as lint free as something dried in the dryer. And it worked wonders when I got someone's pet's fur all over my clothes.

 

[mrsalvo]

I've always wondered how self-cleaning lint filters actually worked in KM/Whirlpool machines. Where were they located? Another great mystery of life! Lol.
Hotpoint had theirs mounted around the upper tub, it was pretty efficient if I recall correctly. Sure wish SQ TL had one. Dark clothes can be a problem if the load is mixed. SQ gets around this in their manual by suggesting washing only "like items" in the load, in other words don't mix it up. The center of the agitator is hollow, they could have developed something similar to what Maytag used years ago. (Pretty much a moot point now with even more stringent new government regulations coming into play, I would suppose.)

The GE Filter-flos kicked some serious butt, as did the rear mounted Norges.
Interesting thread.
Barry

 

[launderess]

Whirlpool Washing Machine Self-Cleaning Lint Filter

Voila!

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?38074

 

[mrsalvo]

Thank you Laundress. It does explain it better. I'd like to rig something up on my SQ, just to try it!!

 

[gyrafoam]

Filters do make a difference. I agree the automatic dryers do a great job, however, I like the idea of the washer filtering as well.
Many of the filtration systems were more gimmicky to me than functional.
That being said, the recirculating systems seemed to do a good job. I much preferred the Whirlpool and Kenmore glass-bead system to the Whirlpool "Tragic-Mix" brush type that was a chore to clean.

Laundress, I agree, those old Maytag filters worked just fine.
IMO the Filter-Flo was the best,however, you still had to clean it and then store the filter pan out of the way to load and unload the machine. Such was the design that they were also as water intensive as a 1-18 or Westy TL of the era.

 

[launderess]

@gyrafoam

Was thinking about the whole agitator lint filter and Maytag wringers and thought of you; well your tag name at least. *LOL*

The "gyrafoam" washing action of Maytag washers, in particular the conventional versions sent currents of water towards center of tub, down and out/up the sides. As such a lint filter in center of agitator is well places to catch muck as currents of water pass through.

Of the disadvantages one immediate comes to mind; use as a dispenser for powdered detergents. So far have had to scrub out both of mine mostly about hard water scale and crusted detergent powder build-up than lint. Just what kind of water do people have outside of New York anyway? *LOL*

The other thing is best to clean these lint filters while they are still wet, and do so thoroughly. Once things dry and or start to cake/build up the chore becomes that much more difficult.

 

[gyrafoam]

Laundress,
I've not had a problem with detergents caking up. You are correct about cleaning filter when lint is still damp. I think the limitation with that filtration system is that it is likely not nearly as effective at a low water level as a full one.
As for water, here in Roanoke it is hard, however, most of my detergents contain phosphates, so not having a problem.
NYC used to have great water. Maybe things have changed,however, I can still tell the difference between bagels made in NYC vs. anywhere else!

 

[sudsmaster]

laundress beat me to it

I have a 58 Whirlpool set. I took apart the washer and observed the self cleaning lint filter. Its a black rubber affair with internal "teeth". I guess at some point it reverse flushes to send the lint down the drain.

To me, those lint socks one puts on a drajn hose would only serve a purpose for a suds saver washer. Otherwise they are just a PITA when they fill up and start spraying water out of the sink though the few remaining orifices.

 

[wayupnorth]

I know the Maytags filters work fine. I washed a dog blanket in my 35 year old LA511 and the filter was plugged with dog hair. Since it was breezy today, I hung it on the line.

 

[johnb300m]

Those lint filters on Maytags DID work quite well.
Until the detergents were changed.
My parents' LA511 that's still kicking, has a fully plugged up lint filter.
I've given up cleaning it.
My parents have given up checking it, which is fine because it's fully plugged and no longer functions.
I'm not sure what happened, but today's detergents have rendered the center filter useless.

 

[brucelucenta]

Soak it in some "lime away" and it will restore it to original.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

I wish that there were a comeback for the manual-clean filter!

Yes, all that lint my washer puts down the drain took its ultimate toll:

Roto Rooter had to come out to snake my drain (& because of a few other plumbing fixtures, like the sinks, toilets, bath/shower, dishwasher etc. were also responsible) just to find disposable wipes were also too much for the plumbing to handle (although that black fibers material looked like something my brother-in-law would'a flushed down)...

-- Dave

 

[launderess]

" detergents have rendered the center filter useless&#34

Probably a result of hard water minerals and the amounts of washing soda, Zeolites and other substances used to replace phosphates when that substance was removed.

The Lime-A-Way suggestion is a good one, or just soak in a container filled with white vinegar. Soak for a few hours or so until you see most of all of the muck/gunk has dissolved. Afterwards a good scrubbing with a stiff brush (old toothbrush is fine), will help get at the rest. Rinse well and viola, you'll have nice clean filter.

Going forward if switching to liquid detergents isn't in the cards, then it is vital that the Maytag filter be cleaned after each wash day. As stated previously if done while still wet and muck is fresh the job is far easier. Again a toothbrush is your best friend for this sort of job.

 

[johnb300m]

Laundress

Your suggestions are spot on.
But my parents would never maintain it now.
If it was my washer I'd totally keep it clean and functional.

 

[pierreandreply4]

lint filters

while growing up i have know during my childhood 2 washers first being the magic mix brush type lint filter (inglis superb) washer that my mom had bough when she was pregnant with me second washer whirlpool nail bed easy clean lint filter the direct drive washer my mom and i own was self cleaning but i think the best lint filter was and always will be the famous ge filter flo washer much easyer to clean



if ge decided to make as a special anevesary special editon filter flo washer how would you see it in today era?

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

I remember an issue of Consumer Reports reviewing only the most hi-end, upper-class machines, consisting of Whirlpool, Kitchen Aid & Maytag (& a forth brand that I don't remember which, just don't think it was Sears) of which the Maytag "had a manual filter that had to be cleaned periodically", and the only one in the line-up--in fact probably one of the last of the push-button models (vertical & non-center-dial, white-on-white (or choice of Almond) finish)...

-- Dave

 

[thomasortega]

Whirlpool "tragic-mix" brush.

Am I the only person in the world that used a Brastemp with a brush-type filter (chrome, glass, and a soft brush instead of the "bed of nails") and had it looking like new for nearly 30 years and had it clean in seconds and super easily?

Just shake it under a fully open faucet. simple! The Brastemp manual even mentioned that.

 

[yogitunes]

I had a few machines with those MagicMixDispenser's....

super cool to watch with or without it in place.....

and yeah, sometimes a pain to clean.....we used a fine metal brush from one of the pets, cleaned it with ease...

the bed of nails did seem to catch more lint....a simple whack on the inside of the trash can cleaned it in an instant....

 

[johnrk]

Filter-Flo

I miss my Filter-Flo sets, all 3 of them in 3 different homes. What I valued that big washer filter for, was pet hair. It didn't accumulate on the tubs, it didn't just float around in the water. It got in that filter and stayed there for me to wipe out in an easy sweep. Didn't matter which dog, didn't even matter whether it was dog or cat hair. I wrote about my new SQ 432 ending up with tons of pet hair on the s.s. tub after washing the pet linens and someone wrote back saying I should've stuck with a front loader.

Perhaps this is yet another sign that we are being pushed out of top loaders.

 

[yogitunes]

I wonder if fabric softener would help with 'fur' in some cases.....

Fler, TLer, HE, NonHE......lint filter, self clean, even leaving the filter out....

dryer or line dry.....

never had an issue with per fur.....

a lot of times you will find me SudsSaving into another machine to wash the dogs blankets and/or cleaning rags.....

just one of those things, one person will have an issue, while another does not....can't explain it...

I have always had Siberians, this is my 5th one....and they have a double coat to deal with.....

 

[johnrk]

Just Good Luck?

Though I hadn't thought of it before, the only top loaders I ever owned were three GE Filter-Flo sets bought for 3 different homes. Before buying the first set in college in 1977 I had a Frigidaire Skinny-Mini that worked perfectly for me (220V dryer), but I didn't have any furry pets then.

So maybe other top-loaders didn't do as well with pet hair, I don't know. And maybe others did better with it. For my 2 front loaders, they would accumlate pet hair on the underside of the glass door and I'd have to wipe it off, and only a little down in the gasket crevice. But then, very little in the dryer.

Maybe I just had good luck...

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

I remember being so fascinated w/ my mom's putting a nylon pantyhose stocking on the end of her washing machine hose, that I think i'd begun asking EVERYONE, if they (or more often their MOTHER) did this?

(People sure though it was funny & enough to imagine it was ME wanting to wear nylon pantyhose!)

Of course, there was really no need to, since all her washer's except her newest & latest HAD manual-clean lint filters as did the majority...

Me, I wonder why in all those streams of water I've watched (as in "Watchin' The River Flow") I wonder why I never see the lint in the stream, yet it collects around my laundry tub drain, as I've seen ready to clog drains of other laundry tubs...

I've been dually neglectful enough of my lint-cleaning around-the-drain task, that my tub has even over-flooded, overflowed...!

But I am thinking w/ some super high-powered drain cleaner (and we've recently gotten our drain/sewer-line cleaned--SNAKED, at that) that I have changed THIS:

--To THIS:

-- Dave