To clean a Miele washer lint filter, unplug the washer, open the small service flap at the lower front, set a shallow pan underneath and slowly unscrew the filter to let the trapped water out, then remove the filter, clear out lint, hair, coins and small items, rinse it and screw it back in fully tight. The job takes about ten minutes and prevents most slow-draining, noisy-pump and musty-smell problems. Do it every few months, or sooner if you wash lots of towels, pet bedding or items that shed lint.
What does the Miele washer lint filter do?
Water leaves a washer through a drain pump, and the pump has small moving parts that do not tolerate hard objects. The lint filter sits in front of the pump and catches what comes out of the drum with the water: lint, threads, hair, buttons, coins, hair clips and the small things that escape from pockets. Without it, those items would reach the pump and jam or damage it. With it, they collect in a chamber you can reach and empty.
Because it catches everything, it fills over time. A clogged filter slows the drain, so the washer leaves water in the drum, spins poorly or stops with a drain fault. It can also smell, as trapped residue and standing water turn sour. Regular cleaning is the cheapest maintenance you can do on the machine. Our guide on a Miele washer that won’t drain covers what to check when a clogged filter is not the whole story.
How do you prepare before opening the filter?
Switch off the washer and unplug it. If a hot wash has just finished, wait for the water to cool, because the water in the pump housing can be very hot. Lay towels on the floor in front of the washer and find a shallow, wide pan, such as a baking dish or a cat litter tray, that fits under the filter opening. A tall bucket will not fit under the flap.
Locate the service flap at the lower front corner of the washer. It usually lifts or pops open with a fingertip or a coin. Behind it you will see the round filter cap and, on some models, a small drain hose for emptying the pump. Have a flashlight handy, since the area is dark. Read the instructions for your model if the layout differs from what is described here.
How do you remove and empty the filter?
Turn the filter slowly counterclockwise, just a little at a time, and let the water drain into the pan. Do not unscrew it all the way at the start, since the full weight of the water in the drum can come out if the machine still holds water. If the pan fills, stop turning, empty it and continue. If a drain hose is provided, use it to empty the pump housing first, which is much tidier.
When the water has stopped, unscrew the filter fully and pull it out. Look into the housing with the flashlight, and reach in gently to take out anything you can see. Check that the small impeller behind the filter turns freely. If it feels stuck or it is jammed with a hard object, remove the object. Do not force it. Clean the filter under running water with a soft brush, and wipe the housing with a damp cloth.
How do you put it back without leaks?
Insert the filter, aligning it with its guides, and turn it clockwise until it is fully tight. A filter that is left loose or at a slight angle is the most common cause of a puddle after the next wash. Check the rubber seal on the filter for damage, and replace it if it is cracked. Close the service flap and plug the washer back in. Run a short rinse cycle and check the area for drips while the pump is running.
If the filter leaks, turn it off at once and check that the seal is seated and the thread is clean. Our guide to the Miele washer waterproof system explains the leak protection built into the machine, which is a separate safeguard from the filter. Keep the pan and towels nearby for the first run, and look again after a day or two, since a slow drip from a poorly seated filter can take a while to show up as a damp patch on the floor.
What else should you do at the same time?
While you have the machine open, check the other routine items. Clean the detergent dispenser, wipe the door seal and run the machine empty on a hot program with a descaling product when it is due. Our Miele washer descaling guide explains how often. If your washer vibrates or walks across the floor, see Miele washer vibrating, which is a different matter from the pump.
Finally, make it a habit to check pockets before washing and to place small items in a mesh bag. That keeps coins, pens and hairpins out of the filter in the first place. For general use, our Miele washer tips have more habits that protect the machine.
