What are the best tips to reduce microplastic shedding in laundry?

If you own synthetic garments, several practices can reduce microfiber shedding. Wash on cold and on a gentle cycle, as heat and agitation break down fibers faster. Use a full load rather than a partial one, because less friction occurs when garments are packed together. Avoid long wash cycles and high spin speeds. Air dry instead of tumble drying, since dryers increase shedding by 3.5 times.

Using a Guppyfriend wash bag or installing an external microfiber filter on your machine can catch a significant share of fibers before they reach waterways. Washing synthetic items less frequently and spot cleaning when possible also helps. Liquid detergent is preferable to powder, which creates more abrasion against fabric surfaces.

The single most impactful step is to gradually replace synthetic garments with natural-fiber alternatives. Every polyester top or nylon legging you swap for Tencel, organic cotton, or merino wool permanently removes a source of microplastic pollution from your laundry routine. ONDU helps you find those replacements across activewear, loungewear, and bedding.