How much microplastic can polyester laundry release?
Polyester laundry can shed a lot of plastic microfibers. The exact number changes by fabric, load size, and wash conditions, but synthetic clothing is a real microfiber source.
What the study measured
A 2019 Scientific Reports study washed commercial synthetic clothes in a household washing machine. The researchers collected and filtered the wastewater to measure released microfibers.
They found 124 to 308 mg of microfibers per kg of washed fabric. That worked out to about 640,000 to 1,500,000 microfibers per kg of washed fabric, depending on the garment.
What changes the number
Fabric type, yarn twist, garment construction, and wash load all change shedding. A 2021 Scientific Reports study found smaller wash loads released about 5x more microfibers than larger wash loads, because the fabric had more water and mechanical stress around it.
What parents can do
You do not need to replace every piece of clothing. Start with baby items and high-use basics. Choose cotton over polyester when it makes sense. Wash full loads when possible. Use a microfiber filter or wash bag for synthetic fleece and athletic clothes.
Bottom line
Polyester laundry can release hundreds of thousands of microfibers per kg of fabric. For baby basics, choosing cotton is a practical way to reduce plastic fibers in the wash.
The research at a glance
What to use instead
For baby basics, browse organic cotton options that avoid polyester fabric.
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