Your guide to how to clean washer inlet screen (A really simple fix for a much happier washing machine).
2025-06-05Source:Hubei Falcon Intelligent Technology
Alright, let me tell you about what I tackled the other day. My trusty washing machine, bless its heart, started acting a bit sluggish. You know, taking its sweet time to fill up with water. At first, I thought, "Oh great, here we go, another expensive repair." But then I remembered hearing something ages ago about these little screens, inlet screens they call 'em, that can get all gunked up.
Figuring It Out and Getting Started
So, I thought, "Well, can't hurt to check, right?" It sounded easy enough, and honestly, I was hoping to avoid calling a repairman. First things first, safety and no mess! I made sure to unplug the washer from the wall. You don't want any electrical surprises. Then, the big one, I turned off the water supply. There are usually two knobs, one for hot and one for cold, right behind the machine. Twisted those bad boys shut tight.
I had a couple of old towels handy and a small bucket, 'cause I figured some water would spill out when I disconnected the hoses. And yup, a little dribbled out, but nothing major. Good thing I had those towels!
The Actual Nitty-Gritty
Okay, so with the water off, I unscrewed the water inlet hoses from the back of the washer. They usually just twist off by hand, but sometimes they can be a bit snug, so a pair of pliers can help gently persuade them. Once the hoses were off, I peered into the connection points on the washer. And there they were! These little mesh screens.
Mine were pretty caked with sediment and tiny bits of who-knows-what. No wonder the water was taking its sweet time!
Here's what I did to get them clean:
- I carefully pulled them out. Some folks use needle-nose pliers, but I managed to gently pry one out with my fingernail, and the other needed a little help from a small flathead screwdriver to just nudge it. Be gentle though, you don't want to tear the screen.
- Once they were out, I took them to the sink. I grabbed an old toothbrush – one I keep just for cleaning tasks, of course!
- I gave them a good scrub under running water. A lot of gunk came off. For a stubborn bit, I let them soak in a little cup of white vinegar for about 10-15 minutes, then scrubbed again. That seemed to do the trick.
- While they were soaking, I also peeked into the ends of the hoses themselves. Sometimes gunk can build up in the rubber washers there too. Mine looked okay, but it's a good spot to check.
After they looked all clean and sparkly (well, as sparkly as tiny mesh screens can get), I made sure to rinse them thoroughly to get rid of any vinegar residue.
Putting It All Back Together
Then it was just a matter of reversing the process.
I popped the clean screens back into their spots in the washer's water inlets. Made sure they were seated properly.
Then I reconnected the water hoses, making sure the hot went to hot and cold to cold. Tightened them up snugly by hand, then maybe a tiny extra quarter turn with the pliers, but not too tight – you don't want to strip the threads or crack the plastic.
The moment of truth! I turned the water supply back on, slowly at first, checking for any leaks around the hose connections. All dry! Phew. Then I plugged the washer back in.
The Glorious Result
I ran a quick rinse cycle to test it out. And what do you know? The water was gushing in like it was brand new! Filled up noticeably faster. Success! It’s amazing how such a small thing can make a big difference. Honestly, it probably took me less than 30 minutes, not counting the soak time for the really stubborn bits.
So, if your washer is filling slowly, give those inlet screens a check. It’s a pretty simple fix, and it felt good to sort it out myself. Definitely something I’ll be checking more regularly from now on. A little bit of maintenance can save a lot of hassle down the road, that's for sure.