Do low-friction coatings on laundry clothes spread microplastic onto your towels?

What's actually in it

Many modern garments use low-friction coatings to improve feel or performance. These coatings are often made of synthetic polymers that don't just stay on your shirt. When you wash these coated items with other fabrics, like your towels, the friction during the wash cycle can cause the coating to break down.

This process releases tiny plastic bits, known as microplastics, into the wash water. These fibers then attach to your other laundry, meaning your towels end up covered in plastic particles shed by your clothes.

What the research says

A 2026 study in ACS Environ Au found that these low-friction coatings directly impact the release of microplastic fibers when coated and uncoated textiles are laundered together. The science shows that the presence of these coatings changes how fibers break off during the wash, leading to higher levels of contamination on other items in the same load.

This is part of a larger issue regarding how we care for our clothes. A 2026 study in Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol highlights that our laundry habits, including the use of various additives and detergents, are being scrutinized for their impact on our health. While that research focuses on respiratory function, it underscores the importance of understanding exactly what we are putting into our washing machines and how those materials interact with our clothes and towels.