Are textiles treated with low-friction coatings safe for baby clothing?

What's actually in it

Low-friction coatings are often applied to fabrics to make them feel smoother or to resist stains. These treatments are essentially thin layers of synthetic materials that sit on top of the fabric fibers. When you wash these clothes, the coatings don't just stay put. They change how the fabric interacts with water and other items in the washing machine.

The problem is that these coatings can lead to a higher release of microplastics. When coated fabrics are washed alongside other clothes, the friction and chemical interaction cause more plastic fibers to break off and enter the water supply. These tiny plastic particles are persistent and can end up on other clothing items or in the water your family uses every day.

What the research says

A 2026 study in ACS Environ Au found that using low-friction coatings on textiles significantly increases the release of microplastic fibers during laundry cycles. The research shows that when these coated textiles are washed with uncoated items, the coating promotes the shedding of plastic fibers from the fabric.

This means your baby's clothing could be shedding more plastic than standard, untreated fabrics. Because these particles are so small, they are easily spread throughout your laundry and can linger on clothes that come into direct contact with your baby's skin.