Does the Guppyfriend Washing Bag Really Stop Microplastic Waste?

If you have been in the ‘sustainability’ scene for some time, you may have heard of the Guppyfriend Washing Bag. I will be honest. I did not learn of this product until a few months ago, after seeing someone post about it on Instagram. An oversized, opaque bag that supposedly prevents microplastic waste from polluting the environment. It has been on my list to try, and I finally made the purchase when I noticed it at my local REI store. (You should have seen the store associate’s expression when I asked which aisle the Guppyfriend was located) I threw this bag into my most recent laundry load, and here’s how it turned out. Read below for my honest Guppyfriend Washing Bag review.

This post is unsponsored by Guppyfriend. However, this post does make use of affiliate links unaffiliated with the brand. Your purchase may result in a small commission that supports the work behind Styled by Science.

The Guppyfriend Washing Bag is currently purchasable at several major retailers: J. Crew, Reformation, M.M. Lafleur, Aerie. I hope in the future, more stores will carry this product.

WHY ARE MICROPLASTICS BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

Several decades ago, marine biologists and scientists recognized that small pieces of plastics were making their way into ecosystems. Not great news for marine life, but the issue does not stop there. The toxic impact of these plastics can ‘biomagnify’ up the food chain. While microplastics can take multiple forms (see my most recent infographic), microplastic fibers is one type released through textiles and apparel.

As inexpensive synthetic fibers become more and more common in clothing, microplastics have been a major issue. They can shed from our clothes during the normal laundry cycle. In effect, our clothes have downstream environmental consequences we don’t even see; these plastics take forever to biodegrade.

HOW DOES THE GUPPYFRIEND WASHING BAG EVEN WORK?

The bag is the first of its kind to prevent microplastic fibers from releasing into our washing machine, and subsequently, our waterways. In terms of composition, the Guppyfriend is made from untreated nylon (no dyes), which helps with recyclability. The fabric consists of a very compact weave to resist passing microfibers into the wash. I held the fabric under light, so you can see how tightly woven the fabric is.

I would have loved to take photos of this material under a microscope. But since I don’t have that handy, I did a simple drop test. Fabrics with tighter weave structure are lesser able to pass water through. I released one drop of liquid onto the surface, and noticed it beaded up. After ten minutes, the water droplet begins to flatten, but does not fully absorb.

Thus, while water can still penetrate the Guppyfriend (and ensure your clothes inside are thoroughly washed), the fabric structure is tight enough to prevent the release of microfibers. (Another reason for the beading is due to the fact that nylon is a hydrophobic material)

GUPPYFRIEND WASHING BAG REVIEW: HOW DO YOU USE IT?

I found the instructions to be fairly straightforward and well-illustrated. The washing bag looks similarly to a delicates bag, except less porous. When I first received it, I was definitely impressed by how big it was. For a personal load of laundry, I was able to stuff around a dozen pieces inside. Of course, that depends on what types of clothes you plan to wash.

1. Separate out your synthetic clothes, blends included (i.e. anything that has a mix of synthetic material).
2. Add clothes into the Guppyfriend until around 2/3 full.
3. Place into washing machine with the rest of your clothes.
4. Once load is finished, leave the Guppyfriend out to dry and place the remaining clothes into the dryer (or air dry).
5. Collect microfibers from corner of the bag, and dispose in the trash. (Do not rinse down the sink)

GUPPYFRIEND WASHING BAG REVIEW: HOW THE LAUNDRY TURNED OUT

When I first took this bag out of the wash, I was concerned it hadn’t worked properly. I removed my clothes, and to my dismay, there were no fiber shreds to remove! However, I quickly realized that the bag was probably working as intended. One function of the Guppyfriend is to retain microplastic fibers from being released into the wash. But the second is that it prevents shedding in the first place.

You’ll notice that the fabric surface is quite smooth, which helps to reduce friction with the clothes that are inside the bag. This clever design is what prevents clothes from releasing microfibers. So if you don’t see any loose fibers to collect, it’s a good thing! (I am aware though, that microfibers can be quite small to see. So for now, I guess I will trust the Guppyfriend is doing its job even if the action is not all visible)

Another factor that will impact how much shedding you see is the fabric type. I mainly placed my activewear pieces into this bag. For the most part, they were made from continuous yarns that are sleek and not hairy. If I added in sweaters or fleecy knits, I am sure it would be a different story. (I will test out the Guppyfriend again in the fall to prove this case is true)

When you take the Guppyfriend out of the laundry, you will notice the material feels pretty dry to touch. Again, since nylon is a hydrophobic material, it does not retain a lot of moisture. The bag comes out slightly crinkly, but this texture is normal. Simply air-dry the piece (do not iron), and it will be dried in no time.

OTHER WAYS TO REDUCE MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION

I am a firm believer that sustainability should be ‘practice’ over ‘purchase.’ That means, while the Guppyfriend is a helpful contraption to preventing microplastic release, there are additional laundry tips we can use to reduce our footprint too. Below are just a few I recommend, especially if you are not sold on buying the Guppyfriend yet.

• Wash in cold water: not only does cold water save energy, but it is much gentler on your clothes.
• Buy fewer clothes with fuzzy/hair surfaces: these fibers are much more likely to come loose than tightly woven, or sleek materials.
• Do laundry when you have a full load: A full load alleviates abrasion on individual clothing pieces.
• Separate clothing by texture: (This may be hard if you don’t have enough pieces) In essence, putting your stretchy leggings in with a terrycloth towel may not be the best idea. The raised surface of the towel may rub against your leggings, and cause them to shed fibers (or vice versa).
• Use a shorter wash cycle: You’ll cut down on water consumption, and shorter wash time also means less fiber release.
• Use liquid detergent as opposed to powder: They are gentler, and less abrasive on your clothes. I shared about one of my favorite eco-friendly detergents Dirty Labs in an earlier post.

Finally, it’s important to realize that all textiles release microfibers. But only synthetic ones release microplastics (in the form of microfibers). Ultimately, microplastics are an issue because they take forever to biodegrade. But microfibers from natural fabrics (e.g. cotton) can still pose issues due to dyes, chemical additives, etc.

CLOSING REMARKS ON THE GUPPYFRIEND WASHING BAG

I intend to keep this Guppyfriend Washing Bag review as honest as possible. I used the product for the first time this month, and although the impacts are hard to measure, I believe it is better than not using one at all. My summer clothes tend to be made out of sleeker fabrics that naturally don’t release as much microfibers as fuzzy fabrics would. So I would very curious to witness the difference come fall, or winter.

Having read through another Guppyfriend Washing Bag review on the Internet, I have seen some criticism that clothes within the bag did not rinse properly. My clothes, however, came out perfectly dry like the rest of the load and I use a front-load washing machine. I share this point in case it is a concern for others.

Overall, $35 for this bag was an investment, but I look forward to making my laundry as sustainable as possible.