If there is something that every fitness enthusiast, athlete and outdoor enthusiast absolutely loves, it is synthetic clothing. After all, materials like polyester, nylon, and acrylic are great at wicking away moisture, dry quickly, and are truly durable.
But all these synthetic materials are made of plastic. When these fibers break or roll, they lose their strands, which often end up in our soil and water sources, causing health and environmental problems. As careful as you are, the main culprit for all these loose particles is right in your home: your washing machine.
Luckily, there are a few easy ways to prevent microplastics from polluting the planet with every boot.
As the name suggests, microplastics are small pieces of plastic or plastic fibers that are not normally visible to the naked eye. Thus, fighting to prevent their release is less sexy than opposing plastic straws or bags—an effort that is often accompanied by heartbreaking images of sea turtles choking on debris. But marine biologist Alexis Jackson says microplastics remain a major threat to our environment. She will know: she has a Ph.D. In the field of ecology and evolutionary biology, the plastics in our oceans have been extensively studied in his capacity as director of marine policy for the California chapter of The Nature Conservancy.
But unlike buying metal straws or collecting reusable bags, the solution to this microscopic problem is unclear. First, microplastics are so small that sewage treatment plants often cannot filter them out.
When they slip away, they are almost everywhere. They are even found in the Arctic. Not only are they unpleasant, but any animal that eats these tiny plastic threads can experience a blockage in the digestive tract, reduced energy and appetite, resulting in stunted growth and reduced reproductive performance. In addition, microplastics have been shown to absorb harmful chemicals such as heavy metals and pesticides, transferring these toxins to plankton, fish, seabirds and other wildlife.
From there, dangerous chemicals can move up the food chain and show up in your seafood dinner, not to mention tap water.
Unfortunately, we do not yet have data on the potential long-term impact of microplastics on human health. But because we know they’re bad for animals (and plastics aren’t a recommended part of a healthy, balanced diet), Jackson notes that it’s safe to say we shouldn’t put them in our bodies.
When it’s time to wash your leggings, basketball shorts, or wicking vest, there are steps you can take to prevent microplastics from ending up in the environment.
Start by separating the laundry – not by color, but by material. Wash coarse or rough clothes, such as jeans, separately from softer clothes, such as polyester T-shirts and fleece sweaters. In this way, you will reduce the friction caused by the impact of coarser material on thinner material within 40 minutes. Less friction means your clothes won’t wear out as quickly and the fibers are less likely to break prematurely.
Then make sure you use cold water and not hot. The heat will weaken the fibers and make them tear more easily, while the cold water will help them last longer. Then run short cycles instead of regular or long cycles, this will reduce the chance of fiber breakage. When you do this, reduce the speed of the spin cycle if possible – this will further reduce friction. Together, these methods reduced microfiber shedding by 30%, according to one study.
While we discuss washing machine settings, avoid delicate cycles. This may be contrary to what you think, but it uses more water than other wash cycles to prevent chafing – a higher water to fabric ratio can actually increase fiber shedding.
Finally, ditch the dryer completely. We can’t stress this enough: Heat shortens the life of materials and increases the likelihood of them breaking down under the next load. Luckily, synthetic clothes dry quickly, so hang them outside or on the shower rail—you’ll even save money by using the dryer less frequently.
After your clothes have been washed and dried, do not return to the washing machine. Many items don’t need to be washed after each use, so put those shorts or shirt back in the dresser to wear again or twice if they don’t smell like wet dog after one use. If there is only one dirty spot, wash it off by hand instead of starting to pack.
You can also use various products to reduce microfiber shedding. Guppyfriend has made a laundry bag specifically designed to collect broken fibers and microplastic waste, and to prevent fiber breakage at the source by protecting clothing. Just put synthetic in it, zip it up, toss it in the washing machine, pull it out and dispose of any microplastic lint stuck to the corners of the bag. Even standard laundry bags help reduce friction, so this is an option.
A separate lint filter attached to the washing machine drain hose is another effective and reusable option that has been proven to reduce microplastics by up to 80%. But don’t get too carried away with these laundry balls, which supposedly trap microfibers in the wash: the positive results are relatively minor.
When it comes to detergents, many popular brands contain plastic, including convenient capsules that break down into microplastic particles in the washing machine. But it took a bit of digging to figure out which detergents were the culprits. Learn how to know if your detergent is truly eco-friendly before you restock or consider making your own. Then take care of your synthetics from the day you wash them.
Alisha McDarris is a contributing writer for Popular Science. A travel enthusiast and true outdoor enthusiast, she loves showing friends, family and even strangers how to stay safe and spend more time outdoors. When she’s not writing, you can see her backpacking, kayaking, rock climbing, or road tripping.