Washing Away Our Oceans: How Household Laundry Fuels Microplastic Pollution

Overview

Microfiber pollution from household laundry is a significant environmental concern. Synthetic textiles release microscopic plastic fibers during washing that enter aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and remain in the environment. This study investigated how polymer type, fabric construction, material origin, washing temperature, and repeated laundering influenced microfiber shedding from synthetic fabrics to identify which factors contribute most to microplastic pollution. It was hypothesized that microfiber release would be highest in polyester polymer fabrics, knitted construction, recycled materials, high wash temperatures, and with repeated wash cycles. Fourteen synthetic clothing fabrics were cut into standardized samples and characterized for thickness, mass, and basis weight. Samples were washed under controlled laboratory conditions at 65°F and 100°F using mechanical agitation and a fixed detergent concentration. Wastewater was filtered and microfibers were quantified using FIJI ImageJ image analysis software. Microfiber shedding varied more than 12-fold among fabrics. Polyester released 63% more microfibers than polypropylene, 99% more than nylon, and 109% more than acrylic. Knitted fabrics released approximately 59% more microfibers than woven fabrics, and recycled fabrics released about 64% more than virgin fabrics. The first wash released approximately 176% more microfibers than the second wash. Washing temperature had minimal effect. No consistent correlations emerged between shedding and fabric thickness or basis weight. These findings demonstrate that microfiber release is primarily influenced by polymer type, fabric construction, material origin, and initial washing, highlighting opportunities for improved fiber and textile design to reduce emissions at the source.

Competition history

• CSEF 2026 Earth & Environmental Sciences (Junior Division) · Entry J-08-25

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