Which Laundry Habits Reduce Microplastic Pollution?
Your washing machine may be cleaning your clothes, but it’s also polluting the planet...
Hidden in Your Home
Your washing machine may be cleaning your clothes, but it’s also polluting the planet. Every load of laundry you do releases tiny plastic fibers, called microplastics, into wastewater. Smaller than the width of a human hair, these fibers come from synthetic clothes like polyester, acrylic, and nylon, flowing straight into rivers, oceans, and eventually our food chain. But here’s the twist: the way you wash your clothes makes a big difference. From the type of machine you use, to the detergent you choose, and even the water temperature of the cycle, your laundry habits can dramatically change the number of microplastics that end up in the environment.
Washing Machine Type: Top vs. Front Load
Front-load machines are generally the gentlest option on your clothes. Their rolling, tumbling action is effective at cleaning, while reducing the friction that causes fabrics to break down. Less fabric damage means fewer fibers are shed into the wash. They are also more water-efficient, using only about five to fifteen gallons per load.
Top-load machines tell a different story, especially those with agitators. The spiraled shaft at the center of the tub moves aggressively, rubbing against clothes with every cycle and causes far more microfibers to break free, flowing out with the wastewater. These machines also use significantly more water, often fifteen to forty-five gallons per load. A less aggressive version of the top-loader uses an impeller, a rotating plate at the bottom of the drum. While it is not as harsh as the agitator, it still creates more friction and contributes to higher microplastic release than a front loader.
Detergent: Liquid vs. Powder
The type of detergent you use also plays a role. Liquid detergents dissolve easily in water and do not contain abrasive particles, which makes them gentler on synthetic fibers. While this means fewer microplastics are released during the wash, most liquid detergents come in plastic bottles, which themselves contribute to plastic pollution in a different way.
Powder detergents, on the other hand, are more abrasive. They are effective at removing dirt and stains but can cause more friction on textiles, leading to higher levels of microplastic shedding. On the other hand, many powder detergents do come in cardboard containers, which makes them a lower-waste option when it comes to packaging.
Water Temperature: Hot vs. Cold
The temperature of your wash cycle has one of the biggest impacts on how many fibers are released. Hot water causes fabrics to expand and weakens the bonds holding fibers together, with one study finding that increasing wash temperature from 20°C to 40°C resulted in almost twice as many microplastics being shed. Cold water is far gentler on fabrics. By keeping fibers tight and intact, it significantly reduces the amount of microplastics released into the wash.
Best vs. Worst Laundry Scenarios
The worst case comes from washing in a top-load machine with an agitator, using abrasive powder detergent, and setting the temperature to hot. This creates the perfect storm of friction and fiber damage, resulting in the highest levels of microplastic release.
When you put it all together, the best case for your clothes and the environment is washing with a front-load machine, using liquid detergent, and keeping the water cold. This combination minimizes friction, protects fabric integrity, and keeps microfiber shedding as low as possible. However, there is one more thing you can do to make the biggest impact…
An Even Better Option
While your machine, detergent, and water temperature can impact the amount of microplastics shed, each load of laundry still contributes to the pollution problem. For households looking for the most effective solution, CLEANR’s Microplastic Filter can attach to your existing washing machine and capture over 90% of microplastics before they ever leave your home.
Sources
Tiffin, L., Hazlehurst, A., Sumner, M., & Taylor, M. (2022). Reliable quantification of microplastic release from the domestic laundry of textile fabrics. The Journal of The Textile Institute, 113(4), 558–566. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405000.2021.1892305
Grace is Green. (2025, April 11). Liquid or Powder Detergent – The Ultimate Guide for You. https://www.graceisgreen.com/en/blogs/graceisgreenblog/liquid-or-powder-detergent-this-is-the-ultimate-gu/
Volgare, M., De Falco, F., Avolio, R., Castaldo, R., Errico, M. E., Gentile, G., Ambrogi, V., & Cocca, M. (2021). Washing load influences the microplastic release from polyester fabrics by affecting wettability and mechanical stress. Scientific Reports, 11, 19479. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98836-6
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