Synthetic fibres
CARE GUIDE Washing synthetic fibres
Synthetic fibres such as polyester, polyamide, acrylic and elastane have many useful properties that can be enjoyed in a variety of garments, including activewear and swimwear. They’re usually comfortable, quick-drying, and keep their shape well. But they also lose tiny plastic particles that can enter the sea and cause harm to our ecosystems.
Here’s how to care for synthetic garments to fight plastic pollution:
1. Wash less
Most of the plastic fibres break off during washing. Therefore, we recommend airing and steaming your garments in-between washes. You can also spot-treat stains by hand instead of laundering the whole garment. This way, you limit the amount of microplastics that end up in nature, and save water and energy too.
2. Separate hard and soft textiles
Opt for washing garments with a hard surface, such as denim, separately from synthetic textiles to reduce the friction between materials. Always close zips and buttons before washing – they can rub against synthetic fabrics and cause more shredding.
3. Wash colder and shorter
Chose cooler temperatures to protect the fibres and nature. In most cases, 30°C/86°F is sufficient to keep your synthetic garments fresh and clean. A short washing program will also limit the amount of fibres being released into wastewater.
4. Skip the spin cycle and tumble dryer
The mechanical forces during the spin cycle and tumble dryer cause a lot of friction to the garments, resulting in shedding microplastics. Synthetic textiles typically dry quickly anyway, so skip the spin cycle or reduce the spin speed and air-dry your garments instead.
5. Use Guppyfriend
The Guppyfriend Washing Bag is specifically designed to capture microfibres from synthetic textiles during laundry and keep these tiny particles from being rinsed down the drain and released into nature. It also reduces friction between the garments, which helps extend the lifespan of your clothing.
The Guppyfriend user guide:
1. Put your synthetic textiles in the bag. For optimal washing, the bag should only be half full.
2. Close the bag and wash as usual.
3. After washing, take out the wet textiles from the bag.
4. The released microfibres will have accumulated at the hems and corners in the bag’s interior. Collect them and dispose of them in the trash.
