I also agree with everyone in this post... THANK YOU! good to know I'm not the only one who searches these things! I too live in an apartment and just noticed this filter (after 6 months being here!) When I first moved in I did use those Tide Washer Cleaners a few times due to a smell coming from the washer and any cooties left over from previous tentant. I just recently got a puppy and do laundry way more and notice the washer getting a little gross around the top so I decided to wipe it down when I saw this filter and that it could come out.. EWWW! I also threw out the gunk that was in there not knowing if there was something in there which I now learned its just gross! I sprayed it down with this Kaboom spray for mold and mildew and also sprayed where it came out of in the washer and running a cycle of that Tide Cleaner just to make me feel better since that was gross! Thanks for everyones help and good luck to anyone else!