Thread Number: 55450
Whatever happened to washing machine lint filters?
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Post# 778503   8/21/2014 at 18:05 (3,506 days old) by murando531 (Augusta, Georgia - US)        

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It seems like there was an abrupt stop to the use of any lint filtering system over the past 10-15 years, manually or automatically cleaning, but why? It's not as though clothes no longer produce lint, unless I'm just shopping in the wrong places.

This thought struck me after we bought a set of eight solid white bath towels the other day, 100% cotton. Now, they aren't fancy, as it was an 8-pack from Sam's Club, but I've been wanting us to have towels that were hotel-style, great at absorbing, and easily sanitized now and again through a bleach run. Of course, I put all eight into the washer immediately, with hot water and detergent. During the rinse I poured in a cup of vinegar to rid them of any factory oils and public funk that stuck to them while in the store. When they were dried, I could have stuffed a pillow with the fluffy lint build-up on the dryer filter. I put them through a couple of 30-minute air tumble cycles just to loosen and catch as much as I could. Upon use, they still of course have some fluffies that stick in your hair and fall all over the floor. I realized then: All the lint and fluff that rubs off in the washer just floats around with the towels, and when it's all done, what hasn't gone down the drain is left stuck to either the towels or the tub and interior.

The new WP belt-drive I have has no lint management system at all. I took the agitator off a while back, and where the openings would have normally been for water flow through the "MagicClean" filter, or the round finger-style inserts that came about later, there are just tiny little slits, which ironically were all plugged with tiny fibers from the water that was pulled from the unaltered vanes on the hidden underside of the agitator. There is also no filter assembly underneath the basket according to the diagrams. I've noticed that every newer machine (that I've researched or am aware of) has no form of lint catcher. Even the 2002 Maytag MAV I have over at my father-in-law's is the same, which actually did cause issues in regards to linty towels and the like.

I wonder why they now deem lint filters unnecessary in machines. The trend for dishwashers lately is to have manually cleaned filters, which is the opposite method I'd want for handling nasty food bits and grime, yet I'd be perfectly happy tapping a washing machine filter into a garbage can, or better yet, knowing that the washer will catch it and then flush it down the drain automatically, especially when I'm washing the dog's bedding or towels used to bathe him. No matter how much you shake outside, there's always the endless battle of wiping out leftover hair in the washer's tub, and that much more to block up the filter in the dryer.





Post# 778514 , Reply# 1   8/21/2014 at 18:49 (3,506 days old) by washman (o)        
Not sure if there ever was an

official stoppage per se, but if I had to guess, I would say cost. Any person at any company that can take a few cents cost out of a product is a person to watch, an up and commer if there ever was one.

Second reason is laziness. Who, after spending countless hours trending, crowdsourcing, insourcing, watching DWTS, a reality show, and telling the world of your every move on Facebook has the time to clean a lint filter?

Third reason is Americans are, for the most part, brain dead. They refuse to do anything beyond breathing, performing bathroom biological tasks, sleeping and posting on Twitter to even give 2 seconds thought to cleaning a lint filter. Which is why they go ga-ga over the techo laden, eco-approved computers in the laundry room. Why think about your load, the temp, the detergent when you can dump it all in and 3 hours later, maybe sans error code, have it done?


Post# 778520 , Reply# 2   8/21/2014 at 19:14 (3,506 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA)        
Lint filtering

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If I recall correctly, it was decided on this board that filtering the wash water was obsolete with the switch from line drying to an automatic dryer.

I could be wrong, but that is what I recall...

Malcolm


Post# 778577 , Reply# 3   8/21/2014 at 22:42 (3,506 days old) by laundromat (Hilo, Hawaii)        

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My belief is that lint filters in washers was a way the manufacturers would use a screen ,brush or perforated tray or pan to catch any loose fabric the vigorous agitation would cause. They also used it as a step up feature on different models to make more of a profit. I,personally saw no real use for it other then to increase profit and use as a sales tool. If that isn't true and lint filters are a must to have with washers,they'd have them today. Especially top load agitator type washers.

Post# 778580 , Reply# 4   8/21/2014 at 23:48 (3,506 days old) by murando531 (Augusta, Georgia - US)        

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Those are all great points, especially yours washman haha. I had quite a chuckle at that. Still, with that logic being completely true, it strikes me as even more odd that it is now common to have a manual filter in a dishwasher. It is much easier to pop out a tray/cup/what-have-you from a waist high machine than to get down on the floor to twist out the screen from the bottom of a tall tub dishwasher.

It would seem to me that filtering some of the excess lint would actually help the dryer's airflow, increasing its efficiency. I know there was a big difference between when we had our KitchenAid with the MagicClean filter versus after we got the Maytag Atlantis with no filter, at least in the dryer's case, particularly with towels. The top mounted filter, which has much more capacity and surface area than a front mounter, would be absolutely packed.

It also seems that eco-minded people would prefer to have a way to reduce the amount of lint going down the drain and into the water system. It would at least be a very helpful feature to be incorporated into washers with recirculation pumps as a solution when washing pet bedding and new clothes.

I created a make-shift, albeit temporary, solution last night when rewashing the new towels in an attempt to reduce the lint even further. The WP being electronic, I've memorized the dial combination to put the machine into manual diagnostics mode, and at that point can control any aspect of the machine at will, be it fill valves, agitation, spin, drain pump, and all at the same time if desired. So, I got an old mesh screened kitchen sink strainer, pulled the drain hose around so that it could go back into the tub, filled the tub with the towels added, and let it agitate. I then started the drain pump and let the water flow back into the washer through the screen, catching layers upon layers of fuzz from the towels, cleaning the screen while letting the drain pump rest for a bit at a time. By the time I got tired of doing it, I had a nice golf ball shaped wad of wet lint, and the fuzz was still coming. The dryer's filter, again, came out looking like a dense cloud.


Post# 778583 , Reply# 5   8/22/2014 at 00:37 (3,506 days old) by washer111 ()        
My Solution...

Our previous Simpson TL machine had a lint filter, a pathetic affair that broke in short order.

My solution: Use a panty-hose bag strapped around the agitator caught a significant amount of lint and really helped.
This should hopefully work the same for you if your agitator works the same. If not - maybe you can find some other DIY solution to your problem.


Post# 778598 , Reply# 6   8/22/2014 at 06:08 (3,506 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

The manual non flush lint trap would be good for those folks like me that have septic tanks instead of a sewer line.And even the sewer co would benefit-they don't have to clean accumilated lint from their sewer lines.A manual lint trap or dish wouldn't bother me at all.It doesn't take THAT long to empty it.

Post# 778606 , Reply# 7   8/22/2014 at 07:00 (3,506 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

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More man-made fibers, processing and coating/treatments of the "natural" clothing fibers reduce the amount of linting significantly. 

 

Most U.S. washer users have an automatic tumble-dryer so whatever small amount of lint makes it that far is abraded away by the tumbling action and trapped in the dryer's lint catcher.  Active lint filtering wasn't necessarily a gimmick if you hung most of your clothes on the line to dry, but those days are past.  At least for now.


Post# 778656 , Reply# 8   8/22/2014 at 09:35 (3,505 days old) by brib68 (Central Connecticut)        
Lint filters

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My LG front loader (WM0642) has a catcher basket that pulls out from the lower front of the machine (not the washing compartment, it's accessed from the front panel)that catches lint, but seems to be mainly meant to catch coins, buttons and other misc debris before it gets into the pump and causes major damage. I've only pulled it out once or twice and the lint collected on it is always minimal. Certain loads, however will generate serious lint in the dryer. My wackadoo theory is that newer washers (front-loaders, at least) have a much more gentle action on the clothes, so less lint is put off, whereas dryers are still basically the same and the clothes have a lot more friction off each other as they tumble, so more lint is generated. That, or Bigfoot gets to the washer lint ahead of me while he is stealing single socks. ;)

Post# 778657 , Reply# 9   8/22/2014 at 09:44 (3,505 days old) by nmassman44 (Brooksville Florida)        

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I know my SQ washer has a filter under the washbasket. That said it's rather useless in some ways since I do line dry and the lint I get from that washer is eye opening. My GE front loader on the other hand does a better job at filtering since it uses the wash vanes to sweep the lwater of lint.
Malcolm is right I also read in a GE washer manual that if you have linting issues, a dryer will take care of it. New towels will shed lint like crazy, the worst offenders that I ever encountered were The Big One towels that are sold at Kohls. No matter how many times I washed them when I got them, they still filled the lint filter of the dryer, and they had loose lint on the surface of the towels. After a month of washing I still got mega lint....I still have the towels and they don't shed anywhere near what they did new...but they are not as thick either.


Post# 778674 , Reply# 10   8/22/2014 at 12:31 (3,505 days old) by brib68 (Central Connecticut)        
Lint

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You are right, nmassman44! By their nature, terry towels will shed a lot of lint the first several times through the wash. I learned long ago not to mix loads of my good towels because they come out covered with contrasting lint. I have a couple sets of super thick Ralph Lauren towels that are several years old, but are good as new, and they hardly give off lint in the dryer any more. On the other hand, I had a set of Wamsutta towels that I got when Filene's was clearing out old merchandise to make way for Macy's. They seem like they shed themselves to death. They don't seem nearly as thick as when they were new, and I quit using them because they wouldn't dry us off after a shower.

I miss the Royal Velvet towels I used to snag on clearance with my employee discount when I worked at LS Ayres in Fort Wayne. Most of them are still around, but nothing is a matched set, so they are all just spares now.


Post# 778681 , Reply# 11   8/22/2014 at 12:57 (3,505 days old) by Iheartmaytag (Wichita, Kansas)        
I second what Malcom said

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I was advised by both a sales person and a repair person that the washer lint filter was deemed unnecessary due to most people machine drying and the dryer would handle the lint. Back when more people line dried it was more important for the washer to catch the lint.


Post# 778735 , Reply# 12   8/22/2014 at 16:01 (3,505 days old) by jerrod6 (Southeastern Pennsylvania)        

Perhaps most dryers will catch some of the lint but many dryers will just blow the lint outside or let it get trapped inside the dryer and pipes.  No wonder there are dryer fires. Excess lint is still in the wash water.  I use a metal type lint filter that slides over the end of the drain pipe.  You roll it on like a condom.  It  catches a lot of lint and prevents it from going down the drain, but you will still have lint from new items in the dryer.  I like the use of these washer filters because most of my laundry is cotton and therefore linty regardless of their age. 

 

My washer has a trap that is present before the pump.  You access it through a door in the front, but I believe it is there to prevent damage to the pump and not to filter lint.  In fact the user manual makes no mention of lint and instead talks about coins, buttons, zippers and clips, so the lint sails right on through.


Post# 778773 , Reply# 13   8/22/2014 at 19:49 (3,505 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
By and large yes, those traps on fronters

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Are there to protect the pump from items such as buttons, coins, hair pins, etc... that might cause damage. Some do a better job of catching lint than others besides, but still.

Speaking as one who recently spent several days with a backed up sink drain that nothing would solve until a man was called out, laundry water should not be allowed to drain "unfiltered". It took the man over an hour with an electric powered snake to dislodge the mass blocking our drains. Turns out it was deep into the pipes inside the walls. When he pulled the snake out afterwards could see what one could tell were bits of lint and God only knows what else.

Have various filters that fit over the sink drain to catch lint, but one did get sloppy about using. It became such a bore because after one or two of the six changes of water by the Miele the things would be clogged. If not cleared you'd have an overflow situation. This is more apparent with the Miele than say the OKO-Lavamat because the former uses five gallons for the "Normal" wash and ten or so for each of the five rinses. OTOH the Lavamat is much more frugal.

Have taken to simply covering the end of washer drain hose with half a pair of nylons. Use a twist tie to keep the thing secured and it works a treat. Far cheaper as well than what one gets at the shops.

All methods of washing laundry produce lint. Tumble loaders perhaps less so than beaters/agitators but never the less lint is created and it is not a good idea to send it down the drains. Of course if one has a sink/drains dedicated to just laundry the perhaps the clogging issue will be lessened. But if using the kitchen sink or any other were greases, fats, oils, bits of food, dishwasher drains, etc.... then you risk combining lint with that lot. Sooner or later you are going to have the mother of all clogs.


Post# 779147 , Reply# 14   8/24/2014 at 19:31 (3,503 days old) by iej (.... )        

I have to say I've absolutely never had any issue with blocked drains with Miele and other machines that just have coin traps.

Likewise with the dishwasher I've never had any issue.

Our washer just goes straight down a stand pipe with simple U-bend trap and then into a normal drain gully outside.

In a lot of plumbing systems here the drains for sinks and washing machines enter the sewers via a gully trap (drain) outside the house, rather than going directly into a pipe. The toilets would be the only items with a direct connection.

In newer buildings they would possibly connect directly, but the gully-trap approach is still very common.

Like this or, with more modern plastic pipes.

Most drainage is done outside the house on the exterior walls as there's no risk of freezing

www.easterndrainageservices.co.uk...

You'd just have different gullies for rainwater and foul water, so you wouldn't put your roof water down the sewer or your washing machine suds and shower down the surface water drainage.


Post# 779333 , Reply# 15   8/25/2014 at 14:01 (3,502 days old) by jerrod6 (Southeastern Pennsylvania)        

Hmm  I am going to say that I think in my city everything is going down to one place. In my case I have a sump pump in my laundry that the sink drains into because the waste water pipe is on the other side of the house and is actually suspended from the ceiling until it reaches near the outside wall of the house, then it suddenly plunges down about 7 feet from the ceiling to the ground and runs outside.

 

The rain water from the gutters also runs through pipes from the outside to the inside and to this main waste water pipe.  Our water department also adds a storm water charge to our sewer bills( I don't like this because they charge everyone the same amount based on what they think the average size of a house is.  Just some BS explanation to get more money. ) so I think they are expecting all water to enter the same sewers. 


Post# 913487 , Reply# 16   1/1/2017 at 13:24 (2,642 days old) by Ann (ABQ)        
Miss those lint filters

Well, I remember them quite well. What happened is that people started using clothes dryers which caught the lint. Now that I'm trying to be "green", I miss that function of the old washers. So now I'm left with lint and animal hair after washing which would have been collected by the old lint filters. I think it's time to re-introduce them!

Post# 913570 , Reply# 17   1/2/2017 at 04:06 (2,642 days old) by brucelucenta ()        

Lint filters on washing machines were never really anymore that a gimmick or selling gadget to begin with. It was GE washer's big claim to fame was for years. The dryer is what catches the lint anyway. The tiny bit of lint an old GE FF catches is nothing compared to what the dryer catches and clothes look about the same coming out of a washer with no lint filter at all. The only time a lint filter on a washer might have some advantage is when you are hanging things to dry, but even then the results are minimal.

Post# 913585 , Reply# 18   1/2/2017 at 07:55 (2,641 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
I agree mostly Bruce.

Here is why; My old Maytag had the lint filter beneath the fabric softener cup in the agitator. It did collect some lint, but never as much as the lint screen I had on the drain hose over the laundry sink.
My next Maytag from 1995 had screens in the tub bottom, same thing with the sink lint screen. My current Whirlpool product has a plastic comb like filter and same thing.
The old belt driven Whirlpool self cleaning filter that had small metal balls in it likely would have clogged had it collected any substantial lint build up.
Still, my mom always used an old nylon stocking over the drain hose, and still had lots of dryer lint.


Post# 913681 , Reply# 19   1/2/2017 at 18:34 (2,641 days old) by Intuitive (Inner West, Sydney Australia. )        
FISHER PAYKEL TOP LOADER

The machine says it filters by pushing the water through the internal perforated drum leaving lint ready to go scooting down the drain on the next pump out. Apart from the odd escaping tissue, i have never had fluff issues or drain clogs BUT i think we have bigger drainage pipes 100mm minimum on all pvc pipes. Both gray & black water share same lines. I line dry 90% of the washing.

J


Post# 913915 , Reply# 20   1/4/2017 at 11:12 (2,639 days old) by Iheartmaytag (Wichita, Kansas)        
My opinion

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This is only my opinion with no specific proof to back it up.

 

The GE Filter-flo was more efficient at handling lint not because of the filter pan, but because of the spin-drain.  Same with Maytag.    When we moved to a house and had a Whirlpool neutral drain, you would find a layer of lint on top of  your clothes.


Post# 913919 , Reply# 21   1/4/2017 at 11:33 (2,639 days old) by brucelucenta ()        

That makes a fairly valid point that solid tub washers with overflow rinse and spin out at the top of the tub does get rid of lint.

Post# 913925 , Reply# 22   1/4/2017 at 12:01 (2,639 days old) by wishwash (Indiana)        

Those higher end WP and GE top loaders with the recirculation spray could easily have lint filters added, but imagine all the complaints from customers having to take the extra step. A more practical approach could be used by the likes of LG with their Waveforce system. If their washers are designed to spin a full load up to speed to spray water back down over the clothes, then a spin drain wouldn't hurt at all.

Post# 913945 , Reply# 23   1/4/2017 at 14:33 (2,639 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
One thing did not like about the "convertible" WP co

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Was the neutral drain system. Was told it didn't make a difference and or the spray rinses both after wash cycle and or final rinse would assist. This and or the dryer is where much lint was removed anyway. But still didn't like the thing.

One didn't notice much on whites/lights, but dark or black items came out of the wash coated with lint, not all of which was removed by dryer.

Going back years good laundry practice dictated *not* to drain water through laundry. One good thing about wringer washers was that one lifted things from mucky water and thus left much of the lint, scum, dirt, hard water minerals, or whatever behind. I believe overflow rinsing on some automatic washers was, in theory, meant to provide same benefits.





Post# 913949 , Reply# 24   1/4/2017 at 14:52 (2,639 days old) by Pierreandreply4 (St-Bruno de montarville (province of quebec) canada)        
brush lint filter on older inglis whirlpool washers

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anyone remember the old brush lint filter on older whirlpool inglis washers those would be a pain to clean before they switch to bed nail type lin filters credit to original members who originaly posted these pictures that i saved on my pc

  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 2         View Full Size
Post# 914006 , Reply# 25   1/4/2017 at 19:41 (2,639 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

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I've not noticed lint to be an issue for all the 37 years that my clothes were washed exclusively in Whirlpool-made neutral-drain machines and the occasional instances following ... including 8+ years of Calypso which technically is a neutral-drain machine and technically strains all the wash and rinse water through the clothes.


Post# 914059 , Reply# 26   1/5/2017 at 03:10 (2,639 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

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Hmmm.  Just came to mind that the period between the WP neutral-drain machines and the Calypso was handled by F&P which are also neutral-drain.  Seems I've successfully avoided lint in all cases.


Post# 914060 , Reply# 27   1/5/2017 at 04:13 (2,639 days old) by brucelucenta ()        

The whole thing is kind of ridiculous in reality. Lint filters on washing machines did so little to help lint that it is kind of pointless. They were only selling tactics and another feature for machines of the day. Dryers were and still are the real lint catchers and anything you dry on the line is going to have some lint still on it no matter what washing machine you use. The more aggressive the washing action, the more lint you will have in top loading machines anyway. DD Whilrlpool/Kenmore, Norge/Monkey Wards/Magic Chef, GE, Frigidaire(at least the jet action agitator) and a few others were worse about linting. But the whole concept of top loaders was to really sort of "beat" the dirt out of clothes with the agitation and did promote lint. The only really good washing machines for getting rid of lint are front loading ones, partly because they don't promote any linting at all with their tumbling action.

Post# 914068 , Reply# 28   1/5/2017 at 06:12 (2,639 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        

I wonder if a manual clean lint filter made people with suds savers feel  better about reusing wash water? 


Post# 914111 , Reply# 29   1/5/2017 at 13:25 (2,638 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Though for many there was a *yuck* factor

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Associated with suds return washing machines, those who sought them out had their reasons. Many were either die hard wringer/conventional washer users, or needed to conserve water (hot and or cold) for various reasons. As such don't think lint the lint issue (manual filter or no) was a huge issue for such persons.

After all if they had come from using a wringer washer (or worse, doing the wash manually with tubs), they knew what they were getting when wash water was reused in terms of lint/muck.


Post# 914844 , Reply# 30   1/9/2017 at 21:53 (2,634 days old) by panthera (Rocky Mountains)        
OK,

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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'.


Post# 914853 , Reply# 31   1/9/2017 at 22:36 (2,634 days old) by Lowefficiency (Iowa)        

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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.

Post# 914888 , Reply# 32   1/10/2017 at 04:08 (2,634 days old) by 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.

Post# 915031 , Reply# 33   1/10/2017 at 22:12 (2,633 days old) by arris (Rochester New York)        
Lint filters

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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....

Post# 915061 , Reply# 34   1/11/2017 at 05:37 (2,633 days old) by 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.

Post# 953642 , Reply# 35   8/19/2017 at 20:46 (2,412 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        
What must'a inspired development of Manual Lint Filterin

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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


Post# 953713 , Reply# 36   8/20/2017 at 16:03 (2,411 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Did a small load of linens last night in the Maytag wringer

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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.


Post# 953778 , Reply# 37   8/21/2017 at 04:45 (2,411 days old) by mark_wpduet (Lexington KY)        
I haven't seen

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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.


Post# 953853 , Reply# 38   8/21/2017 at 13:06 (2,410 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

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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.


Post# 954102 , Reply# 39   8/23/2017 at 03:52 (2,409 days old) by mrsalvo (New Braunfels Texas)        

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



Post# 954113 , Reply# 40   8/23/2017 at 07:30 (2,408 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Whirlpool Washing Machine Self-Cleaning Lint Filter

launderess's profile picture
Post# 954295 , Reply# 41   8/24/2017 at 00:33 (2,408 days old) by mrsalvo (New Braunfels Texas)        

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

Post# 954378 , Reply# 42   8/24/2017 at 16:46 (2,407 days old) by Gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)        

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.


Post# 954393 , Reply# 43   8/24/2017 at 17:46 (2,407 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
@Gyrafoam

launderess's profile picture
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.


Post# 954395 , Reply# 44   8/24/2017 at 18:05 (2,407 days old) by Gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)        

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!


Post# 954397 , Reply# 45   8/24/2017 at 18:07 (2,407 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)        
laundress beat me to it

sudsmaster's profile picture
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.


Post# 954399 , Reply# 46   8/24/2017 at 18:16 (2,407 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)        

wayupnorth's profile picture
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.

Post# 954459 , Reply# 47   8/25/2017 at 10:37 (2,406 days old) by johnb300m (Chicago)        

johnb300m's profile picture
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.


Post# 954465 , Reply# 48   8/25/2017 at 12:34 (2,406 days old) by brucelucenta ()        

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

Post# 955748 , Reply# 49   9/2/2017 at 12:07 (2,398 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
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


Post# 955773 , Reply# 50   9/2/2017 at 16:49 (2,398 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
" detergents have rendered the center filter useless"

launderess's profile picture
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.


Post# 955895 , Reply# 51   9/3/2017 at 12:16 (2,397 days old) by johnb300m (Chicago)        
Laundress

johnb300m's profile picture
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.


Post# 955901 , Reply# 52   9/3/2017 at 12:39 (2,397 days old) by pierreandreply4 (St-Bruno de montarville (province of quebec) canada)        
lint filters

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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?


Post# 964719 , Reply# 53   10/28/2017 at 17:02 (2,342 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
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


Post# 964819 , Reply# 54   10/29/2017 at 13:07 (2,341 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

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.


Post# 964833 , Reply# 55   10/29/2017 at 15:11 (2,341 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
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....


Post# 964834 , Reply# 56   10/29/2017 at 15:57 (2,341 days old) by johnrk (BP TX)        
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.


Post# 964846 , Reply# 57   10/29/2017 at 16:45 (2,341 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
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.....




Post# 964873 , Reply# 58   10/29/2017 at 19:04 (2,341 days old) by johnrk (BP TX)        
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...


Post# 967013 , Reply# 59   11/9/2017 at 11:19 (2,330 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
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


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Post# 967269 , Reply# 60   11/11/2017 at 03:13 (2,329 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

I bet your laundry sink would LOVE a sponge, some elbow grease, maybe a steam cleaner... LOL

Post# 968062 , Reply# 61   11/15/2017 at 08:29 (2,324 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
Unfortunately we are overdue for a new tub--we can't even use the faucets on it, as the valves are fairly hard to turn, but at least it doesn't leak...

Here, however, is the water doubling up & doubly overflowing all over the laundry room floor, as there was some tell-tale dampness when ever I had done large loads (my bedding is what is "in transit" in the laundry room right now, so high water-level usage, indeed!)...



-- Dave


Post# 968064 , Reply# 62   11/15/2017 at 08:30 (2,324 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        
(Sorry, I forgot to add PICS!)

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Unfortunately we are overdue for a new tub--we can't even use the faucets on it, as the valves are fairly hard to turn, but at least it doesn't leak...

Here, however, is the water doubling up & doubly overflowing all over the laundry room floor, as there was some tell-tale dampness when ever I had done large loads (my bedding is what is "in transit" in the laundry room right now, so high water-level usage, indeed!)...



-- Dave


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Post# 968069 , Reply# 63   11/15/2017 at 08:40 (2,324 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
an interesting thought came up....pertaining to lint filters, especially those in laundromats.....

Maytags didn't install them for coin-op use....

Whirlpool/Kenmores...belt drive and DD had self cleaning ones....

Frigidaire and Speed Queen had overflow filter/rinsing....not sure but I think Norge's were the same...people loved the constant overflow during rinse...

GE filterflo's....either the filterflo was capped off, or they actually included the filter pans, some missing, some used as Frisbees, some didn't put them in place...


Post# 968102 , Reply# 64   11/15/2017 at 12:41 (2,324 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
Well, the drain looked pretty ugly--in fact as though the lint left NO HOLES!

What do you use to break up all that gunk?!

Well, after trying with my fingers, a wire clothes hanger came in handy...



-- Dave


Post# 968129 , Reply# 65   11/15/2017 at 15:31 (2,324 days old) by johnrk (BP TX)        
My New Speed Queen

As I PM'd 'brucelucenta' just yesterday, this new top load SQ has re-introduced me to lint. My series of 3 Filter-Flo machines were quite good at catching pet hair and various lint balls in that pan on the agitator. Then, nearly 20 years of front loaders spoiled me to having to worry about lint etc. at all. The glass door on both of those machines tended to accumulate pet hair and lint on the underside; I'd just wipe the wet stuff off and good as new. No real lint on clothing.

Immediately after I bought this new SQ I realized it was new territory for me. My dark clothing, which I'd just been tossing in with everything else, was covered in lint--not pet hair, but just light-colored lint. And no, the dryer doesn't take it off. I had to lint-roller several items, then re-wash them and most of it came off.

This has proven to be a royal pain in the butt, and an irritant. Obviously it's something I'll have to live with, with this machine. Not happy about it.


Post# 968143 , Reply# 66   11/15/2017 at 16:25 (2,324 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
force of habit with Flers is to wash everything together without a flinch....

whites,

lights, darks, colors.....towels, jeans, mentionables, sheets, shirts...just about foolproof washing....


but when I feel like changing to a vintage TLer, sometimes I forget to separate, and come across a few issues...


YMMV


Post# 968253 , Reply# 67   11/15/2017 at 23:20 (2,324 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )        
Lint filters

Went the way of all good features that worked, others include fluorescent lights, outlets on stoves, built in griddles center simmer burners...Instead we get cheap flimsy appliances that are supposed to be "Energy Efficient" but they take two or three times as much time to do what a old washer or dishwasher would do better....I will stick to my old stuff thank you!My rimflo Hotpoint leaves NO lint on anything!

Post# 968643 , Reply# 68   11/18/2017 at 02:45 (2,322 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

I am with Norgeway--OLDER MACINES RULE!!!!!!Wish I had the space would stock up on older ones,too.The new RR for washers,dishwashers are RIDICULOUS--------TIME TO REPEAL them!!!!Wish Trump and friends would do just that!

Post# 968693 , Reply# 69   11/18/2017 at 10:22 (2,321 days old) by chetlaham (United States)        

chetlaham's profile picture
Sadly if trump repeals, In 8 years will might get someone who will reinstill them :(

Post# 969069 , Reply# 70   11/20/2017 at 08:49 (2,319 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
As they say:

"Do your own dirty work!"

So rather than let the drain get plugged-up & wreck my plumbing evermore, here's a lint trap that I've installed on my drain hose--from a packet of 3, just about 70-cents more than a packet of 2...

(Notice also, the drain cleaner, drain auger & even a wire clothes hanger provided a clean sink, too--least that area around the drain got lint-free, the water draining out completely as well!)

I worked in a laundry, so cleaning these screens, twice the size of a dryer lint screen & three times as heavy (& the dryers there had lint traps that you swept out with a small broom) was about as important as preventing the laundry from flooding (as it did numerous times--as there was one power surge from one of the washers threatening to cut the power to that area of the building, w/ the washer's "done" alarm on, and everything)...

So rather than endure more of that water flooding across the floor going to the "emergency drain" and carrying very visible lint with it on its way to clogging it up again, I splurged on self-cleaning lint filter-lint filters:



-- Dave


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Post# 969083 , Reply# 71   11/20/2017 at 11:45 (2,319 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
your off to a good start Dave....but I still wouldn't go within 10 feet of that sink....think I would have to scrub it, or toss it in place for a new one....

I use a mesh basket I got from FiveBelow, mainly because I have several machines to filter....plus I can take this outside and backflush it with the hose...

I would also be concerned of your hose popping out of that sink....I hope you have secured from underneath at least.....yeah, you don't need a flood...


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Post# 969231 , Reply# 72   11/21/2017 at 07:41 (2,318 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        
Not to worry about that dirty, scummy tub, Yog!

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
What an ingenious idea Yogi--a bike basket-shaped filter for your multiple machines...

I could have just made do with a stand-pipe as that tub doesn't do anything more than just be a not-quite-a-bathtub but larger than your average sink that we do not use for any kind of washing in, (the valves for the faucets are increasingly hard to turn enough that if I were to get either/both to go on, it may be impossible to stop the flow shutting it/them off) but it doesn't leak!

So in short, I don't ever use it...

As for "a" stand-pipe, some friends of mine long ago with their radio dial Sears Kenmore had a self-cleaning filter (it boasted on the back-guard was how I got introduced to that features, and instantly knew it was to help eliminate lint) so I got to glimpse at the pipe with the u-notch at the bottom of it sticking out of the wall behind the washer, with the draining hose going right into it, in addition to the filling hoses, power supply for it & the gas dryer next to it, w/ the gas supply line likely to be down at the floor level behind the latter, while rising from it was the exhaust pipe for it going to a side wall, sticking out of the side of the house by the side door, that served the kitchen/utility area/laundry room...

Surely I would wonder and worry about that getting backed-up, and while combustable lint is flammable & hazardous for your dryer, washing machine lint & exiting water is just as much as a hazard (promoting water damage & flooding) as well...



-- Dave


Post# 971482 , Reply# 73   12/4/2017 at 12:14 (2,305 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
OK, so is it time to change mine? It did it's job, building up with all this lint after one week, but I DID replace it, so my newer one on there is thankfully filling (because of my current loads possibly producing probably less lint?) up much slower, and less telltale dampness on the floor in the surrounding area (well, NOINE, now) as the outgoing water gropes for holes in there to escape to:



-- Dave


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Post# 1013123 , Reply# 74   11/3/2018 at 12:51 (1,971 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        
@YOGITUNES:

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
Pawed around at least one of the Five-Below stores near me, and could not find a basket anywhere near what you use...

So, I'm left with dreading another load of bedding, probably going from my "Almost-All Seasons' Tan", to my "Winter's Gray", and having to rely on more money spent on store-bought filter-flter do the job (even with a gift card given to me for most-proceeds going to a recent charitable cause)....



--- Dave


Post# 1013130 , Reply# 75   11/3/2018 at 14:32 (1,971 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)        
Hey, Dave

justjunque's profile picture
That's exactly the same set-up that we have.
Washer drains into a "set tub", as we've always called it.
And we buy those "Lint Snares" for the end of the drain hose.
They make them in metal mesh or a plastic or nylon mesh.
We buy the plastic ones when we can find them, but we've used both.
I miss the old waterfall lint filter that Mom's old Whirlpool used to have, but these keep the lint out of the drain anyway.

Barry


Post# 1013135 , Reply# 76   11/3/2018 at 15:11 (1,971 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
Dave-

try a few of these styles/ideas....


from Walmart


CLICK HERE TO GO TO Yogitunes's LINK


Post# 1013136 , Reply# 77   11/3/2018 at 15:13 (1,971 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture


CLICK HERE TO GO TO Yogitunes's LINK


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Post# 1013137 , Reply# 78   11/3/2018 at 15:15 (1,971 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
Target also has a number of different styles that may work for you....


I also used a brick paver under mine to keep it elevated, another idea was to use wire coat hanger to create hooks to hang the basket on the side of the laundry tub...


CLICK HERE TO GO TO Yogitunes's LINK


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Post# 1014831 , Reply# 79   11/17/2018 at 21:35 (1,957 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        
I'll let the pictures here speak for themselves!

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
The AMKrayoGuy Lint-Filtering System for the anti-washer's own self-cleaning filter:

(Wonder if I've reinvented the 'most-loved feature' of vintage machines, that this should be in the Imperial forum, posted there)


-- Dave


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Post# 1014833 , Reply# 80   11/17/2018 at 21:48 (1,957 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

yogitunes's profile picture
Kudos Dave.....

although I did expect to see a pic of the water draining....but still, it works!


Post# 1014835 , Reply# 81   11/17/2018 at 22:01 (1,957 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)        

wayupnorth's profile picture
I think that tub could look new if you scrubbed it with some Iron Out or The Works. I know how irony water can mess everything up.

Post# 1014912 , Reply# 82   11/18/2018 at 14:44 (1,956 days old) by arris (Rochester New York)        
Lint filters

arris's profile picture
John L ( Combo 52 ) posted the reason in a thread here why no lint filters in washers a few years ago. One point he made was that when detergent eliminated Phosphates, it caused the self cleaning lint filters to become clogged, eventually cutting off water flow, therefore not working. And most people were drying cloths in dryers, It might not be a bad thing to re-think washer lint filters as more people are line drying, at least that's what appears on this forum....

Post# 1015101 , Reply# 83   11/19/2018 at 22:49 (1,955 days old) by mrsalvo (New Braunfels Texas)        

Washed a big load of towels today. I think I need one for the SQ.

Barry


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Post# 1015450 , Reply# 84   11/22/2018 at 18:49 (1,952 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        
Draining? Here we go! (look:)

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After much procrastination, and the inability to put a video here, or maybe not transferring it from my iPad to the big computer, and then maybe it would be viewable here, I just settled for some still-shots...

(Although much of my recent Online activity has been spent laying on my (aching!) back, over (well, UNDER) my "compact" internet access, so here are some still-pictures, of the complete draining-process, with the load alternating between Extra Slow for the Wash and Slow for the Rinse, which the Speed Selector knob will allow, that I was able to take!)



-- Dave


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Post# 1029394 , Reply# 85   4/9/2019 at 20:24 (1,814 days old) by DaveAMkrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
The AMKrayoLintKatcher strikes again!

Thanks to what's the modern convenience of your Self-Cleaning Lint Filter, THIS could be clogging up YOUR DRAIN:

Fight an on-coming expensive plumbing bill Today...



-- Dave


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Post# 1161083 , Reply# 86   10/3/2022 at 20:21 (541 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        
Yes ONLY ONE left in the entire store!!!!

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
Looks like an epidemic of lint filter buying to filter the self-cleaning filters—yes we sell a lot of these on such a daily basis—why can’t there be a way to make these reusable and not costing money, creating increasing manufacturing costs and likely CLOGGING up landfills?!


— Dave


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Post# 1161093 , Reply# 87   10/4/2022 at 00:24 (541 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        

launderess's profile picture
Cannot speak for anyone else, but one just sets aside nylons with ladders to use as washing machine lint filter. Fit one over hose in sink securely fastened with a twist tie or rubber band. Practical and economical.

Post# 1161238 , Reply# 88   10/6/2022 at 17:59 (538 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Trying to filter waste water for lint from an AWer

combo52's profile picture
If you must laundresses suggestion is a good one.

But you would really have to have some screwed up plumbing for lint to actually clog the drain line.

I have always just left the lint wash down the drain and go off with the sewage, think about what else goes down your drain system from your house lint could not possibly hurt properly functioning drain line almost nobody puts the screens on their washers anymore.

John L


Post# 1161297 , Reply# 89   10/7/2022 at 17:26 (537 days old) by rapunzel (Sydney)        

Never had any laundry lint clogging our plumbing. However, a major sewage line goes past our house and we have an access lid in our garden. Ever so often the water company sends out service men because someone up the waste line has thrown stuff down their toilet that should have gone in the trash, causing their sewage to back up. They've pulled out adult diapers, t-shirts and other clothing items, soft shoes, plastic bags, (no body parts yet tho), you name it, it's been pulled out of the waste pipe. Then there are people who complain about the environmental impact of garbage disposals...go figure.

Post# 1161349 , Reply# 90   10/8/2022 at 11:09 (536 days old) by Gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)        

I always though self-cleaning filters were the best as I don't like fooling around with them. Having to use a fork to pick the lint out of an old Whirly "Tragic-Mix" was a gross annoyance. No wonder Kenmore had them install those wonderful self-cleaning glass bead filtration systems.
I understand how it would make a difference for line-drying, though, as I use a machine with a filter if I am line-drying clothes. Maytag offered a Gyratator with a filter for their manual machines, but, I never saw too many of them in use.

In my mind the best filters ever were the GE Filter-Flo system which seemed to be made for people with indoor pets. I have friends who still lament the loss of their Filter-Flo because they always have a pair of large dogs!


Post# 1161412 , Reply# 91   10/9/2022 at 08:12 (535 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA)        
GE filter-flo

I remember the GE filter-flo. That washer would clean anything from the most delicate knits to the filthiest denims and cottons.

Post# 1161417 , Reply# 92   10/9/2022 at 08:49 (535 days old) by chetlaham (United States)        

chetlaham's profile picture
If I'm not mistaken a popular washing machine lint filter sold in the late 90s/early 2000s pictured a GE FF washer on the box.

Post# 1161440 , Reply# 93   10/9/2022 at 12:02 (535 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        
Reply #90

maytag85's profile picture
My Whirlpool has the “Tragic Mix” lint filter, not that big of a deal to clean. About every couple of weeks, I’ll run it through the dishwasher and comes out spotless every single time. Self cleaning lint filters are nice when they work but can be a pain once they clog and the machine begins to stink like sewage.

Post# 1161447 , Reply# 94   10/9/2022 at 13:45 (535 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
Best top load washer lint filter systems

combo52's profile picture
True backwash self cleaning lint filters as used on whirlpool and Kenmore direct Drive washers very seldom ever clog in the life of the machine and if they do you replace the filter.

It does not create any odor whatsoever if they clog, the washer simply stops draining and you replace it.

Sean why would you put a linty filter in the dishwasher , dishwashers are not meant to cope with lint.

You may end up causing a problem with your dishwasher.

John L


Post# 1161450 , Reply# 95   10/9/2022 at 15:21 (535 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        
Reply #94

maytag85's profile picture
I clean the lint filter, then I put it into the dishwasher. It’s usually to get the stuff I can’t get by hand. Is there some lint? Yes, but it’s whatever I am not able to get by hand.

Post# 1162318 , Reply# 96   10/23/2022 at 09:44 (521 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
re: #88...

Yes, I agree about screwed up plumbing, so,I watch what I put down my drain, and went from a non-functioning garbage disposal, to the hex key saving the day, and a replacement or just repair...

A family I knew had a stand-pipe for its Kenmore with a self-cleaning filter washer to drain into, with reportedly not one back-up or overflow, and if I'm not mistaken one house I grew up in had a stand pipe too...

The filters advise against using in drains that are direct pipes too...

I notice threads around the drain, and even cutting them away, still notice, so I'm trying after buying a couple packs of filters to discontinue their use--one is still unopened while the other has one missng and discarded after its use being completely loaded with lint...

So me knowing what kinds of loads produce excessive lint--my daughter's guinea pig linen, will just only place the filters on my drainhose when washing them--as she's gone from completely doing the task herself to making me add on to my busy, daily schedule...



-- Dave



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