Hi kelly if there is a fillter on your W/M it will be at the frount if you cant see it there could be a pannel infrount of it this will be at the bottom. if your W/M has one the plastic strip will just come off. but clleaning the fillter will not help you I install W/M every day and i tell them to do a 90 wash once a mounth this will keep your W/M clean and help it to keep you clothes cleen
J,R
December 2005