clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
This Old House homepage

How to Prevent Clogs from Washing Machine Debris

Follow these steps to keep your utility sink clog-free.

By Joseph Wajszczuk
  • Discharge water from a washing machine often is laced with lint, hair, shredded facial tissues, and other soggy debris.
  • There's no problem if the washer drains directly into a large-diameter sewer line. But if it drains into a utility sink, the debris could clog the small-diameter drainpipe.
  • Trap the lint before it enters the drain by fastening a nylon stocking over the end of the washer discharge hose.
  • Then empty the stocking every couple of weeks; replace it if it tears.

Next Up In Laundry Rooms