Microplastics in the washing machine

- by William, Charlie & Meghan

The next time you help your mom and dad with the laundry, stop and think about how chores around your house could lead to the release of microplastic pollution!

A lot of clothes are made from materials (like polyester and nylon) that have plastic in them. When the clothes are washed, small pieces called microfibers come off in the washing machine, then leave the house through water pipes, and finally show up in sewage sludge (which is sludge that has poop and pee). This sludge is spread on the soil on farms to help plants grow. Worms in the soil eat these microfibers and their growth is affected. When other animals like birds and rodents eat the worms, their health is also affected by the plastics.

What can you do to make a difference?

-              Use cold water to wash your laundry

-              Wear your clothes for longer before washing them

-              Use a washing machine with a loading door in the front, not on the top

-              Put in a filter

Sources

1.        “What you should know about microfiber pollution.”

Accessed on 20 Oct. 2025, https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/sites/static/files/2020-07/documents/article_2_microfibers.pdf

2.        Weston, Phoebe & McClure, Tess. “The life of plastic.” The Guardian, 28 Jul. 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2025/jul/28/the-life-of-microplastic-how-fragments-move-through-plants-insects-animals-and-you