Why did washers need lint filters?

[sudsmaster]

Automatic lint filters were available relatively early (my '65 Whirlpool set has an automatic lint filter). Looking at the construction, however, I think they were phased out in later models, in favor of the edge-type filter, because the edge type was cheaper, and perhaps because marketing thought that owners were happier to actually see the lint. My '83 Whirlpool washer had one of those edge filters, and I hated it. It didn't catch much, and what it did catch was nearly impossible to clean off the teeth.

I tend to doubt that manual lint filters do much to protect drain plumbing. If a drain system can't handle soft washer lint it's probably got other major problems.

With front loaders most lint gets collected by the dryer lint filter anyway. I've also noticed, at least with the Neptune, that some fabrics produce far more lint than others. Like bamboo fiber throw rugs. Major lint producers in the dryer. Soft fluffy cotton towels, much less. Average load, mostly human and pet hair shows up in the dryer filter.

 

[washer111]

We are unlucky enough to own a Simpson HE Top loader from around 2009 (the one with Simpson Snot, bad lint filters, unfiltered recirc water etc). The lint filter broke early in the life of the machine.

What we do (sometimes) is use a small panty-hose bag and stick it on the end of the removable inner bit of the agitator (where the rinse aid stuff is put). After a wash, you get around 10 finger nail sized lumps of lint in there, and none on the clothes! The filter in the agitator works because as it agitates, the water inside is spun out, causing suction thru that filter and into the wash bowl. Some of the lint may also float into the outer wash bowl...

This Simpson model only has around 15 drain holes, so that the water saving recirculation could work it's magic... Sadly, that pump is broken now, so we use 10L extra water (or so). We still use Eco Rinse, and that works fine!

I think if we used a dryer, the lint wouldn't be a problem (it isn't anyway). When we were on holiday recently, a fairly recent SQ dryer was in use WITHOUT a vent in the laundry room. There was lint everywhere! It was a fire risk... Management was greedy enough to use that dryer DURING the paying patrons hours of use - instead of the Hoover dryer reserved specifically for the task (Grrr!) They rang our apartment to tell us it was finished, so they could get their washing in (greedy barstards!). Their personal washer was a WP 6ALSR???? which sounded like a steam train during operation! They coin Maytags both had terrible screeches during spin cycle...

 

[badgerdx]

Speaking as a man with a horse and "horse laundry" (towels, wraps, etc)... I'd give my eye teeth for an effective washer filtering system. My '99 Crosley HD20 (Norge-Magtag Performa) has NADA, and after a wash, I have to wipe the fur off the inside of the washer...

 

[drewz]

I remember cleaning that nasty filter thing as a child, but now as adult I understand the importance of the thing. Self cleaning means nothing to me or my Kenmores except calling the plumber once every two years because of the lint. Got to be at one end or the other, so now I purchase those mesh lint screens for the end of the washer hose and you would not believe how much lint it catches and fewer calls to plumber. You would think now that most people only have laundry boxes because space does not allow for a laundry tub the appliances makers would put them back on washers.  A major source of mold found in homes, apartments, and condo's are found around laundry boxes.  When stoppages do occur due to lint build up, water is introduced inside the walls where the mold can thrive. And, as everyone knows you cannot use the hose mesh lint screen in a wall laundry box otherwise you would really have a flood. How many people do you think do preventative maintenance on their laundry boxes by snaking them yearly?

 

[bwoods]

front load lint filters

Some of you mentioned that front loaders do not have lint filters. Unless I am imagining it, I recall my mom cleaning a lint filter on her late 1950's Bendix front loaader (when I was very, very young). It seems like it was located behind the lower front panel. I remember it being cyclindrical and having a latch on the fron cover. Is this correct??

As Laundress mentioned, I found wacking, also, to be the most effective method of cleaning my Frigidaire's 1-18 lint filter. Instead of trying to get the lint from out of the bed of nails, I just wack it across my leg and the lint falls out. (although you get a wet leg, but I can't whack it on something hard or it would do damage.

Great picture of you and your horse, Bob!!

 

[tomturbomatic]

Barry, you are correct in your memories of the Bendix. What you are describing was more of a pump protector (I think Bendix called it a strainer & users called it a lint trap)than a filter because, while it caught lint, it was not actively filtering lint out of the water when the clothes were tumbling around in it. Front loaders did not usually produce as much lint as a TL and the way the tub was perforated allowed solid matter to fall through the holes to be drained away. Was your mom's machine a bolt down or a model with a suspension system? Do you remember what detergent she used in it? Spill the tea.

 

[thomasortega]

@badgerdx

Nice horses!

 

[bwoods]

Hey Tom,

I was only five years old, so I don't remember what detergent my mom used, but the Bendix was not a bolt down, but had the suspension. Other memories of it, was that it had a circuit breaker built into the plug. It was getting old and I remember my mom had a lot of trouble with the machine. It frequently would not start tumbling without assist.

She would flip the circuit breaker back and forth and then reach in and try to spin the tub, full of water and clothes, by hand to get it started. She was good ant doing it very quickly so not too much water would slosh out on the floor, but it still made a mess and she would be very frustrated.