Every time we wash a synthetic garment, thousands of tiny plastic fibres smaller than a human hair are released into the water. These microplastics have been in the media as a significant issue frequently over recent years, and our laundry is one of the biggest sources of them.

Studies have shown that a single wash load can release several million microfibres into the water. Most of these are too small to be fully captured by standard wastewater treatment, which means they make their way into water systems and eventually into the soil that grows our food.

The good news is that many advanced water treatment plants can remove up to 99 per cent of microplastics from water. Additionally, the National Plastics Plan has flagged mandatory microfibre filters on new washing machines – though this won’t be implemented until 2030.

Until every treatment plant and washing machine has these capabilities, there is plenty that households can do right now to make a real difference.

Tips to reduce microplastic shedding in the wash

• Wash at lower temperatures: A cold wash is gentler on fabric and releases fewer microfibres while hot water causes more fibre shedding.

• Wash in full loads and use a shorter, gentler cycle: The longer and more vigorous the wash, the more fibres are shed. A full load creates less friction between garments than a half-empty drum. Similarly, selecting the delicate or quick cycle mode reduces friction and shedding.

• Wash less frequently: Not every wear requires a wash. Spot clean where possible and air or sun dry garments between wears.

• Use a laundry filter: Install a filter onto laundry hose and clear it regularly to remove microplastics. The key is to capture shed fibres before they reach the drain.

• Skip the tumble dryer: Line drying is gentler on fabric and eliminates the additional fibre loss that comes with machine drying.

• Choose natural fibres: While natural fibres require significant resources to produce, choosing secondhand pieces made from these materials makes the most of the resources that went into creating them. They’re often more durable than the fast-fashion synthetics so common on the market today.

• Repair and care for clothes: New clothing is increasingly produced from synthetic fibres, so keeping existing pieces in good condition through repairing, altering and/or upcycling is one of the simplest ways to reduce our microplastic footprint and the need to buy new.

For more tips on greener laundry choices, our previous article can help guide you toward more sustainable detergent options.