If it’s just acting weird with no obvious signs, then yeah—power down and let it think about its life choices for a minute.
That cracked me up. I swear, these washers have more mood swings than my old truck. I’ll admit, I usually get impatient and go straight for the filter, especially if there’s standing water. Last time, it was a bobby pin wedged in there, and the thing sounded like it was grinding gravel. Ever had one where the problem was something totally unexpected? I once found a tiny screwdriver in the drain pump... still not sure how that got in there.
I once found a tiny screwdriver in the drain pump... still not sure how that got in there.
That’s wild. I’ve pulled out everything from coins to a Lego head, but a screwdriver’s a new one. Makes you wonder what else is lurking in there. I get the urge to skip straight to the filter, but sometimes I wonder if unplugging first actually helps reset the sensors or if it’s just wishful thinking. Ever notice if unplugging actually fixes anything long-term, or is it just a temporary band-aid?
I’m right there with you on the mystery objects—found a Barbie shoe once and still have no idea which kid it belonged to. As for unplugging, I’ve tried it a few times when the washer acts up. Sometimes it seems to help, but honestly, it feels more like tricking the machine into forgetting it was mad at me. If there’s something actually stuck in the filter or pump, I’ve found that’s the only real fix. Unplugging’s basically just hitting snooze on the problem, at least from what I’ve seen.
Unplugging’s basically just hitting snooze on the problem, at least from what I’ve seen.
That’s exactly how it feels to me too. I’ve only owned my place for a few months and already had to deal with the washer acting up twice. First time, I tried unplugging and waiting, and it did work... for like a week. Then the spin cycle started acting weird again. Ended up opening the filter (which was way grosser than I expected) and found a bobby pin plus some lint gunked up in there.
Is there a trick to getting that filter open without making a mess? I always end up with water everywhere. Also, does anyone else get nervous about breaking something when poking around down there? I keep wondering if I should just call someone next time, but then again, how else do you learn?
And yeah, mystery objects—mine was a tiny Lego helmet last week. No clue where it came from since I don’t even own Legos...
Filter clean-outs are never glamorous, that’s for sure. I’ve had my fair share of “what even IS that?” moments down there. If you want to avoid the mini flood, try tilting the machine back slightly and putting a shallow tray or even a baking sheet under the filter area before unscrewing it. Some washers have a little drain hose you can use first, but not all. As for breaking something—honestly, most filters are built to be opened by regular folks, so as long as you’re not forcing anything, you’ll be fine. And hey, if you find more Lego helmets, maybe you’ve got a toy portal hiding in your laundry room...