Microfiber Filter
Microfiber Filter
Every time we wash clothing made of synthetic materials (polyester, nylon, acrylic, etc.) hundreds of thousands of microplastic fibers are released by our washing machines into waterways. Scientists estimate that 35% of the microplastic pollution in our oceans come from textiles. These microplastics make their way into our food chains and drinking water.
Currently, most washing machines do not have built-in microfiber filters. France has adopted a law that will require all new washing machines to have microfiber filters by 2025, but here in the US, there are no state or federal regulations that specifically address the issue of microfiber pollution from laundry.
You can install PlanetCare's version 1.0 filter to your home washer to help reduce microfiber pollution. The external filter captures a wide range of fiber sizes, from under 20 microns to 5 mm.
Celsious is a U.S. stockist of PlanetCare 1.0 Starter Kits, which are compatible with HE and standard washing machines (front or top loaders), and come with:
- 1 cartridge housing
- 3 filter cartridges (will last 60 loads)
- 1 holder
- 4 screws
- 1 hose
- 1 drain hose adapter (please select the appropriate size when ordering)
- 1 packet of silicone lubricant
- 1 counter wheel (to keep track of washes)
*Please note: there is no bypass option on the PlanetCare 1.0 filter.
PlanetCare 1.0 users in the U.S. may return their used cartridges to Celsious in NYC. We'll forward to PlanetCare in bulk for refurbishment by their team and eventual reuse.
Find PlanetCare 1.0 refill cartridges here.
Materials
Materials
• Plastic (>90%)
• Textile (filtering medium)
Dimensions
Dimensions
• Filter housing: 12.8" long, 4.8" across the top
• Cap diameter: 4"
• Hose: 58"
Instructions
Instructions
- Watch these helpful installation guides: #1 and #2
- Place the filter housing on the outside of your washing machine (or on a nearby wall) and hook it up to your washing machine's drain hose (make sure the placement of the filter is not higher than the drain).
- Put a clean cartridge into the housing.
- Do laundry as usual (optional: use the counter to keep track of the # of washes)
- After 20 washes, or when the cartridge is full, replace with a clean cartridge.
- Allow the used cartridge to fully dry and then store temporarily—we'll make it easy for you to send us your used cartridges in bulk.
- Once we've collected enough used cartridges, we'll send them to PlanetCare. Their team will recycle the microfibers and refurbish the cartridges for reuse.
Pro Tips
Pro Tips
Don't forget to measure your drain hose and select the appropriate adapter size from the menu above! Most washers sold in North America have a 0.9 inch hose diameter, but some are also 1.1 or 1.3 inches wide.
Try washing clothes less often, with cold water and on shorter cycles to reduce microfiber shedding. If you wash a lot of cotton and/or have pets that shed a lot, you might find your cartridges need to get replaced before the 20th wash.
To learn more about PlanetCare, read our Q&A with their CEO here.
If you do laundry in a laundromat or shared laundry space, consider using an in-drum microfiber catching device like the Cora Ball or Guppyfriend to help reduce microfiber pollution.
I am a General Contractor and all around Handyman so when I read the ordering requirements for the unit I followed the directions provided for sizing the drain hose on my washing machine and ordered accordingly. My hose measured .9 and should have required the smallest of the 3 nipple options available. When the unit arrived I proceeded to install unit and found that the hose fitting provided(the smallest) with the kit was significantly smaller that the inside diameter of my hose. I assumed I incorrectly measured and took responsibility for the oversight reaching out to Celsious for the next larger size. They responded immediately and sent me not only the next size fitting but the 3rd size also. Unfortunately the next size or middle sized fitting was way to large and would not fit into my machines hose. Being the Handyman that I am I adapted by sanding the ribs of the fitting to accommodate my hose size. As a precaution against a leak I installed the nipple to my hose adding a hose clamp to ensure no leaking. This attempt failed with water leaking around the fitting to the floor. So, I went to my local ACE hardware and bought a fitting used for irrigation lines and ground the ribs for it to fit my hose again adding the clamp for safety and it worked properly. The new fitting was lighter, with the length of the nipple being longer and ribs more pronounced which allowed for it to slide on once modified without leaking. Additionally, I found that the drain hose supplied by Celsious is so flexible that the water pressure created by the drain cycle of the machine causes the hose to want to back out of the drain which has prompted me to take measures to secure the hose to the adapter provided by the washing machine manufacturer.
Beyond the issue with the hose adaptation issue described above the system seems to be working well to this point. As an aside I did add a hose clamp to the outlet or drain hose from the filter to the house drain as an added precaution.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We're sorry this ended up being a more complicated install than usual, but we're happy to hear your ingenuity made it possible for the filter to work with your laundry setup. Thank you for doing your part to reduce microfiber pollution from laundry!
I was not able to get the filter to fit on my washing machine, unfortunately, so have been unable to use it. I finally gave up trying. The drain from my washer did not fit the inlet to the filter and I could not find a workaround. Plus any time I tested it and it didn't work it made a mess all over the floor. If I could have used it I most likely would have given 5 stars.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We were so sad that we could not get the product to work with your specific washer model and hard plastic drain hose despite our collective efforts (including looping in the PlanetCare team). Thank you for trying out the filter and coming to us for help. We hope you're able to find a microfiber solution that works for you (perhaps an in-drum device instead of an external filter).