Filtrol Lint Filter | Washing Machine Filter | Microfibers | Septic

This is the only device out there for removing the microplastics from your laundry. Sewage processing doesn't remove these microplastics, so they go to our rivers, groundwater, lakes, and oceans. For existing and being reasonably priced, I give it a 5 stars.I am not handy and needed to hire a handy man to attach it to the inside of the basin my washing machine drains into. He used the fittings it came with, though he needed to drill a hole high into the sink to secure it. This has worked fine, but there is no way I could have done it myself.Pros: It really works. It collects a lot of lint, especially when you wash fleece. The instructions were clear and even I could figure out how to clean the filter. Its cost, even taking into account the $150 for the handyman, was much less than the alternative (purchasing clothes made only of cotton, wool, linen, and other natural fabrics). There are bags you can put your laundry into (sold by Patagonia), but there is no way they could handle all the laundry we do.Cons: We are a family of four who do a lot of laundry, so this filter needs to be cleaned every 2 weeks. It is a pain to clean the filter, about a 15 minute job. You need to scrape off the lint into the garbage (and it is rather slimy and disgusting). Then you rinse it into a bucket and pour the bucket into your yard. This is following the directions - the point being to prevent the microplastics from going into the sewer or septic system. It is also sometimes hard to get the lid of the filter off, even though they provide a sort of grease to put on it to make it slide more easily.Eventually, I would like to just be able to buy a washing machine with a microplastic filter that can be more easily cleaned, but, as it is, this appears to be the only real option.

I just did my first load of wash using the Filtrol. It was easy to install. I did have to get a new drain hose for my washer, however. When figuring out how this had to be mounted, I realized that the existing hose was too short, so I thought I would just get an extension hose. But when I pulled the washer out from the wall, I realized that the hose as it came out of the washer was really badly crimped. I'm surprised that it drained at all. So instead of extending the hose, I got a new, longer one. The drain pipe is about 5 feet up from the floor, so the Filtrol has to be above this level, which makes it rather high on the wall. But it works. I got a little stool which is now in place next to the washer so that I will be able to take out and clean the filter. I found the hose clamps that were included to be completely serviceable. I used them, and there are no leaks. (I ran a load before pushing the washer back into place, just so I could check for leaks.) I am really glad I finally did this. I don't have a septic tank. But I know that all the fibers from my clothes go into the city sewer, and that many escape into waste water. This is especially worrisome when we wash things like fleece and other non-natural fibers that will not biodegrade in the water column. It makes me feel better that I am not adding so much to the "garbage patch" of tiny pieces of plastics and fibers in the oceans. I also don't have to worry about my sewer pipe getting clogged. All in all, it is worth it to me. The directions were complete. Mine arrived without the little tube of lubricant for the rubber seal, but I called the company, and they sent a replacement right out.

Seems like a solid product to fit a need albeit at a premium price tag. I just got done installing mine and shared a photo. While I could have cut my hose and mounted clamped it onto the provided elbow I decided to use the standard piece that goes into my sink basin which is a non-standard diameter so I actually had to make a reducer bushing in my shop. I also decided to use hard plumbing pipe for the discharge which should be noted is 3/4" and NOT 1". I'm not sure why they didn't make both ports 1" but for some reasons the bottom one is smaller. Another thing that could have been included would be some mounting screws, I used masonry anchors to go directly into my concrete blocks but I suppose every installation may require something different. Overall I think this will be a good product but expect to take a trip to the hardware store or home center to pick up parts that may be needed to mount and plumb this into your system. I'm guessing a lot of washing machine discharge hoses may not be long enough to make this work, had they provided a coupler and extension I could see that being helpful to a lot of people.