Fisher & Paykel Lint Filter Tabs Snapped Off? Replacement Pack & Fix

Quick answer: Snapped tabs on your Fisher & Paykel lint filter aren’t a manufacturing defect — they’re a consumable wear item that fails every 18-30 months under normal use. The brittle plastic tabs that lock the filter into the agitator top are designed to fail before the agitator itself does. The fix is replacement, not repair. We stock the F&P lint filter 2-pack for WL8058G1 / WL9058G1 and matching variants for the wider Smart Drive / WashSmart / EcoSmart top-loader range. Same-day dispatch from Sydney.

Author: Oz Appliance Spares — Sydney warehouse, 20+ years in Australian appliance parts
Last updated: 24 May 2026

Order F&P lint filter 2-pack →

Why the tabs snap (and why F&P designed it that way)

The lint filter clips into the agitator cap via two small plastic tabs. Over years of being pulled out for cleaning, hot wash cycles softening the plastic, and detergent residue weakening the polymer, the tabs become brittle and snap.

This is actually a deliberate design choice — the filter is sacrificial. If F&P used metal latches or thicker plastic, the agitator cap itself would crack when you forced the filter out. By making the filter tabs the weak point, the manufacturer keeps the much more expensive agitator assembly intact.

Translation: when your tabs snap, you replace the $20 filter, not the $180 agitator cap. That’s the right way round.

Symptoms that say “time for a new filter”

• One or both tabs visibly broken or missing.
• Filter falls out into the drum mid-cycle.
• Filter sits crooked in the agitator cap.
• Lint accumulates in the drum (instead of being trapped) — clothes come out covered in fluff.
• Water sits in the filter cavity after the spin (drainage holes blocked because filter isn’t sealing properly).

All of these point to the same fix: new filter pack.

Matching the right filter to your F&P model

F&P top-loaders use several filter variants across the model range. The most common AU-sold combinations:

F&P top-loader model	Filter
WL8058G1, WL9058G1	F&P lint filter 2-pack (replacement)
WL/WA-series Haier-platform (F&P/Haier shared platform)	F&P / Haier lint filter 2-pack — cross-fits the Haier HWMP / WashSmart range too
Older WashSmart / EcoSmart (GW, MW, IW series)	Different filter — run your model through the Part Finder
9XXXX-A vintage SmartDrive (92XXX-A, 93XXX-A)	Different filter — Part Finder match

Find your F&P model number if the sticker is faded.

The swap (60 seconds, no tools)

1. Open the lid, lift the agitator cap (the round cover at the top of the agitator).
2. The old filter lifts out — gently flex the tabs (if they’re still attached) to release.
3. Drop the new filter in, push down until tabs click home.
4. Refit the agitator cap.

If the old filter is shedding tab fragments inside the agitator — fish those out with a magnet or long tweezers before fitting the new one. Loose plastic fragments will jam the pump impeller.

Why the 2-pack instead of singles

We sell these as 2-packs because:

1. The tabs fail in pairs — once one is brittle, the other isn’t far behind.
2. Replacing both at the same time means you don’t pull the whole assembly twice in 6 months.
3. Postage is the same for one or two units (low weight, small box).

If you’ve got a single filter that’s snapped, fit one new one now, keep the spare for in 18-24 months when the second one goes.

Bonus diagnostic: if your tabs snap in less than 12 months

That’s faster than the design envelope. Three causes:

1. You’re using too hot a wash too often. F&P top-loaders are mostly cold-fill — running 60°C+ cycles weekly accelerates plastic fatigue. Switch to 40°C as default.
2. Heavy detergent dose. Concentrated AU detergents leave residue that weakens the polymer. Use half the dose chart recommendation.
3. Forcing the filter out. If it’s stuck, soak the agitator cap area with hot water for 5 minutes to soften residue — then pull. Brute force breaks the tabs.

DIY parts vs callout

This is one of the clearest “never pay a callout” jobs on a washing machine. The filter is designed to be user-serviceable.

Why buy from Oz

• Same-day dispatch from our Sydney warehouse before 1pm AEST.
• Ships Australia-wide — every state, metro and regional.
• F&P + Haier shared-platform specialists — we stock the lint filters that cross-fit both brands’ top-loaders.
• Part Finder quiz matches your exact model to the right filter variant.

FAQs

Can I just glue the broken tabs back on?

Won’t last. The tabs flex every time you pull the filter, glue joints fatigue in weeks. Replacement is the only durable fix.

My filter is brand new but lint is still ending up on clothes — fault?

Two possibilities. (a) The filter isn’t seated properly — fit it again, make sure both tabs click. (b) The agitator cap itself has cracked, letting water bypass the filter. Pull the cap, inspect it; cracks visible = replace cap too.

Do I really need to clean the filter every wash?

For a typical 4-cycle-per-week household — clean every 2-3 weeks. For households with pet hair / kids / heavy use — every wash. The filter does its job whether you clean it or not, but a clogged filter pushes lint back into the drum on the next wash.

Will a Haier lint filter fit my F&P?

For post-2014 F&P front-loaders (Haier-platform) — yes, many do. For SmartDrive top-loaders — different design, no cross-fit. Confirm by part number.

How do I clean the filter without breaking the tabs?

Lift gently, flex tabs only slightly to release. Don’t twist. Rinse under running water, refit. Once a year, soak in white vinegar + water (1:4) for 30 minutes to clear mineral build-up.

Related guides

• Find your Fisher & Paykel model number
• Fisher & Paykel SmartDrive troubleshooting
• F&P WL1064G1 lid locked all cycle

Ready to fix it?

1. Order the F&P lint filter 2-pack for WL8058G1 / WL9058G1 →
2. Run your model through the Part Finder → for other F&P top-loaders.
3. Order before 1pm AEST → ships from our Sydney warehouse same day, Australia-wide.