Worried about what your fleece and leggings leave behind? To learn how to reduce microplastics when washing clothes, run full, cold, short cycles, add a lint-style filter, and wear synthetics longer between washes.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Best-performing device in a University of Plymouth test (published 16 July 2020) | 78% fewer microfibres released |
| Least effective device in the same test | 21% fewer microfibres released |
| Devices compared in the Plymouth study | Six (three in-drum, three external filters) |
| Extra microfibres with detergent versus pure water (Columbia) | 86 percent more, on average |
Figures come from the University of Plymouth and Columbia’s State of the Planet. They can change as new research appears, so check the source before you rely on them.
This guide sits within our wider look at how to care for clothes.
Why washing synthetics sheds plastic
When washed, synthetic clothing sheds tiny plastic fragments known as microfibers, according to the US EPA fact sheet (an archived copy). Many studies suggest that washing clothes is one major source.
Wastewater treatment plants filter out the majority of microfibers, but some pass through and enter waterways and oceans. The same fact sheet says more research is needed to understand the full set of risks.
How much a garment sheds is not fixed. A garment’s age, how it is made, its fibres and its finishing treatments can all affect shedding.
Reduce microplastics when washing: change the cycle
The cheapest fixes cost nothing and use the machine you already own. The EPA fact sheet lists several habits:
- Only wash full loads of laundry.
- Wash with cold water for a shorter period of time.
- If possible, use a front-loading washer.
On temperature, the EPA fact sheet cites a study by Northumbria University and Procter & Gamble, which found that switching to a colder and shorter cycle can dramatically reduce microfiber shedding. On machines, it cites a 2016 University of California, Santa Barbara study showing that top-loaders produced significantly more microfibers than front-loaders.
Detergent matters too. Columbia’s article reports an average 86 percent increase in fibre release when detergent was used rather than water alone. This comparison does not establish how detergent dose affects shedding. Our guide on how to wash clothes sustainably covers dosing and temperature in more depth.
Do filters and wash bags actually work?
Yes, but results vary a lot by product. A University of Plymouth study compared six devices, from prototypes to commercial products, using three in-drum devices and three external washing machine filters.
Reductions ranged from 21% to 78% across the tested devices. Test fabrics comprised pure polyester, pure acrylic and a blend containing 60% polyester and 40% cotton.
Most machines do not help you here. According to the EPA fact sheet, integrated microfiber filtration is uncommon, and manufacturers are working on it. A few external filters can be bought and attached to a household machine.
You then clean the filter and dispose of the captured fibres the way you clean a dryer lint screen. The EPA also notes that laundry balls and garment bags are designed to capture microfibers in the wash.
Filters have limits. A Columbia researcher quoted in the university’s article says filters work well initially but slowly get worse because they catch everything and clog. Emptying yours regularly is part of the deal.
Reduce shedding at the source
Filters catch fibres after they have already come off. The Plymouth researchers suggest that improving garment durability and reducing shedding through design could have the broadest impact.
Plymouth also cites a May 2020 report for Defra suggesting that preventing shedding through textile design may achieve more than filtration. As a shopper, you can act on this in a few ways:
- Buy fewer, longer-lasting synthetic pieces, and keep them in use.
- Choose natural or lower-shedding fabrics where they suit the job.
- Repair rather than replace; worn-out items can find a second life, as in our guide to how to upcycle old clothes.
The Plymouth team also noted that normal wear and tear is just as significant a source of microplastics as laundering. Washing less often, and spot-cleaning when a full wash is not needed, trims the total.
What the evidence can and cannot tell you
The research is still young, and the sources are candid about it. The EPA fact sheet says more research is needed to understand how microfibers enter the environment and where they come from. That means no single tip is a guaranteed fix.
Different studies also test different things. The Plymouth work measured devices on three synthetic fabrics in controlled washes, while the temperature and machine-type findings come from other research cited by the EPA. Treat each figure as a guide to direction, not a promise for your own laundry.
A sensible reading is that the order of effort runs from free to paid. Start with habits that cost nothing, add a device if you want extra capture, and put the longest-term effort into the clothes you choose and how long you keep them.
- Free: full loads, colder and shorter cycles, sensible detergent amounts.
- Low cost: a laundry ball or garment bag, though the weakest device in the Plymouth test did far less than the best.
- Higher cost: an external filter that attaches to your machine and needs regular emptying.
- Lasting: buying garments that last and mending them when they wear.
Keep in mind that a filter only helps if it is used properly. Filters can lose effectiveness as they clog; maintain your device according to its instructions and bin captured fibres instead of rinsing them down the drain.
If you rent or share a machine, the free habits and a wash bag are usually the easiest options, since they need no installation.
A simple routine to follow
- Wait until you have a full load of laundry.
- Select cold water and a shorter cycle.
- Use only the detergent you need.
- Add an external filter, wash bag or laundry ball if you can; check the product’s own claims against independent tests.
- Empty the filter or bag after each use, like a lint screen, and put the fibres in the bin rather than down the drain.
None of these steps removes shedding entirely. Together they lower it, and the evidence says the device you pick and the garments you buy both make a real difference.
Frequently asked questions
Does cold water really reduce microplastics?
Show answer
The EPA fact sheet cites a Northumbria University and Procter & Gamble study finding that a colder, shorter cycle can dramatically reduce microfiber shedding. It is a low-cost change, so it is worth making.
Are all microplastic filters equally effective?
Show answer
No. In the University of Plymouth test, the best device cut released microfibres by 78% and the weakest by 21%.
Do front-loaders shed less than top-loaders?
Show answer
Per a 2016 University of California, Santa Barbara study cited by the EPA, top-load machines produced significantly more microfibers than front-loaders.
Does my machine already have a filter?
Show answer
Probably not. Check the manual, and if there is no mention of one, consider an external filter that you attach yourself.
Should I stop wearing synthetic clothes?
Show answer
You do not have to. Wear them for as long as possible, wash them only when needed, and use the habits above to limit what each wash releases.
