Move the washing machine away from the wall, or out from beneath the counter, and pull the power cord from the outlet.
Remove the screws on the bottom edge of the front of the washing machine and place them to one side. Pull the bottom section of the front panel downward to remove it from the appliance.
Place a large shallow panel beneath the plastic twist cap on the front of the drain pump. When you remove the cap, a small amount of trapped water will be released.
Twist the cap and pull outward to open the drain pump. Let the water drain into the pan and clean out any material accumulated on the filter. To replace, push the pump cap back in place, twist, and screw the bottom panel in place.