Washing synthetic clothing
Major impactThe largest single source of microfibre release into water.
The short answer
Different route, same problem. Polyester, acrylic and nylon garments shed microfibres every wash, and this is one of the best-quantified microplastic sources there is. It reaches you mainly through the environment and household dust rather than directly, which makes it easy to discount — and it is still worth addressing.
Why it happens
- Agitation mechanically breaks fibres from the fabric surface
- Hot water and long cycles increase shedding
- New garments shed most in their first several washes
- Fleece and loosely knitted synthetics shed far more than tight weaves
The fix, easiest first
- Wash cold, on shorter cycles, with fuller loads
- Use a microfibre-catching bag or an in-line filter
- Air dry — tumble driers shed heavily too
- Buy natural fibres where practical, and buy fewer, better garments
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Get my exposure scoreFrequently Asked Questions
Does washing clothes release microplastics?
Different route, same problem. Polyester, acrylic and nylon garments shed microfibres every wash, and this is one of the best-quantified microplastic sources there is. It reaches you mainly through the environment and household dust rather than directly, which makes it easy to discount — and it is still worth addressing.
Why does this happen?
Agitation mechanically breaks fibres from the fabric surface. Hot water and long cycles increase shedding. New garments shed most in their first several washes. Fleece and loosely knitted synthetics shed far more than tight weaves.
What should I do instead?
Wash cold, on shorter cycles, with fuller loads. Use a microfibre-catching bag or an in-line filter. Air dry — tumble driers shed heavily too. Buy natural fibres where practical, and buy fewer, better garments.
Sources
- Earth Action with rePurpose Global (2026). Microplastic migration from food and beverage packaging (reported May 2026). Forbes.
- Qian N, Gao X, Lang X, et al. (2024). Rapid single-particle chemical imaging of nanoplastics by SRS microscopy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
- Winkler A, Santo N, Ortenzi MA, et al. (2022). Does mechanical stress cause microplastic release from plastic water bottles?. Water Research.
- Hernandez LM, Xu EG, Larsson HCE, et al. (2019). Plastic teabags release billions of microparticles and nanoparticles into tea. Environmental Science & Technology.