How to clean a Bosch washing machine filter

Complex household devices, which include washing machines, require preventive maintenance. Otherwise, active use of the unit will cause its rapid breakdown. One option for ongoing maintenance is to clean the filter element to keep the sump pump functioning properly. The filter point is a barrier that protects the pumping unit from foreign debris that gets into the drum along with lint and hair.

The resulting blockage complicates draining the liquid from the washing machine and causes the pump to fail. Let's try to figure out how to clean the filter in Bosch washing machine.

Where is the filter located?

By looking at the front panel of the Bosch washing machine, you can determine the location of the filter through which the liquid is drained. In the first Bosch machines, the filter was not covered with a lid and protruded outward. Today, in different Bosch models, the drain filter can be installed:

maxx 4, maxx 5, maxx 6 – the drain point is located at the bottom, and the mesh of the water intake hose is located at the place where it is connected to the unit body;
behind a rectangular cover at the bottom right, which is easy to find on the front panel. It is easily picked up by any sharp object;
sometimes the drain filter of a Bosch washing machine is hidden behind a round hatch (location is the same as in the previous version), which opens with light pressure;
there are options in which the filter is covered with a narrow panel located at the bottom of the MCA and secured with three latches that open alternately;
classic 5 – a model with a frontal option for storing laundry. The filter point is located at the bottom left, hidden behind a round or rectangular lid, and is removed in the same way as in cases with devices that feature vertical loading.

There are models from 2005 that do not have a filter element at all. The fact is that such filters were not structurally provided for. In such SMAs, a blockage forms in the cochlea, cleaning which involves removing the bottom cover, pan and disconnecting the pipe.

How to clean the drain filter

Having found the location of the part, we begin cleaning. To begin with, the washing machine must be disconnected from the electrical network and the central water supply, tilted back so that it becomes possible to place a container for dirty liquid, which will begin to pour out of the filter.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

a basin is installed;
the lid opens, hiding the part we need;
On the right is the filter itself, on the left is a short sleeve through which the liquid is drained. It should be pulled out, the plug removed, and the water drained;
Now it’s time to dismantle the filter element. The plug is unscrewed in the direction opposite to the movement of the clock hand. In this case, several revolutions are performed;
the remaining liquid is drained, you inspect the niche from the inside, check the filter element, clean and rinse it;
wipe the landing niche with a rag;
the part is installed in its place, screwed until it stops;
close the hatch, remove the basin, return the Bosch washing machine to its original position.

What to do if you can't unscrew the filter?

Most often, this element is removed without much difficulty. However, there are cases in which the filter could not be removed, as if it had stuck firmly, and you will have to use special tools to remove it.

Do not rush to pick at the part to remove it.

In the case when the thread does not give in, we try to partially disassemble the Bosch washing machine by removing the front panel. In this case, access to the drain point opens - a pair of pipes, a drain hose, a pump and a snail, where the element we need for cleaning is located. We loosen the fastening clamps of the pipes, remove the snail complete with a pump and filter.

Now we act in the following sequence:

place the snail removed from the Bosch washing machine with the nipple towards the ceiling;
move the pump to the very stop in a clockwise direction;
the mustache-shaped stopper must be squeezed out;
again, turn the pump in the direction of the arrow to pull it out;
access to the insides of the snail has opened, which must be cleaned and the unit must be assembled in the reverse order.

We were able to clean it without removing the element itself. In order to avoid disassembling the washing machine in the future, it is recommended to soak the snail in a special WD-40 lubricant so that the threaded connections oxidize.

Conclusion

The manufacturer of the Bosch washing machine recommends cleaning once every two to four months, focusing on the frequency of use of the unit. If the machine works every day, then this type of prevention should be arranged monthly. The frequency of cleaning is also affected by the materials from which the items are made.