What not to wear/wash? Say NO to fleece.

If it applies to all man-made fabrics, I don’t think there would be many garments in my wardrobe (or linen cupboard) that won’t be contaminating the water. I only possess one fleece, which I wear in the house occasionally, but lots of polycotton, acrylic etc although many of my clothese are a mix of natural and man made fibres

Not giving up my fleece until wet wipes, cotton buds etc are all sorted. Love my fleece

Forgot disposable nappies as well.

I can’t wear wool, I may as well wear wire wool as sheeps wool. So yes, I do have man made fibre clothes. But I am slowly replacing my faux woolies with bamboo, hemp and cotton. Fleeces are the worst man made stuff for giving up fluff in the wash, but I’m a mucky b**ger so don’t wash them very often. The trouble is they just don’t wear up!

Wow. Didn't know that about fleeces and yes, I am sure we all own garments created from a variety of man-made fibres.

We really are polluting the poor old planet from all quarters, aren't we? It's quite depressing. Has our education come too late? I feel really angry when I see pictures of all the plastic rubbish in the oceans. I am not sure we can educate everyone or ensure everyone has a conscience and a role to play in reducing waste. I suppose the best we can hope for is that everyone does their bit.

Do those of you who say you can't wear wool expect to wear it next to your skin?

Asking because I don't like anything except the softest lambswool next to my skin but I wear woollen jumpers all the time with cotton tops underneath so there is no scratchiness.

All well and good if one can afford extortionate prices for pure wool, cashmere, and cotton.

Personally, I find pure wool too hot, and cashmere is impossible as it’s so warm (I didn’t buy it, far too expensive, but it was a present). They both make me itchy, but I think it’s because I get so hot. Another layer underneath would make me melt!

If you've got fleeces then I say wear them! Chucking them out could cause more problems it would seem. We have to be sensible about this sort of scenario and not just jump on the proverbial bandwagon. This post has made me think for the future but I shall continue to wear my fleece in the meantime.

Plenty of people are allergic to natural wool and cannot wear it, I'm in the other camp, I can't wear anything made of polyester and that of course includes fleece.

If all of us who can wear wool and down stuffed garments do so, then the pollution due to those who need fleece because they are allergic to sheep's wool will be less, I should think.

We need a biochemist or physicist to tell us how we responsibly can get rid of anything, these days, it seems.

I do have several warm fleeces that i use all of the time but i will investigate the washing bag as i don't want to give them up.

Quite agree with sandelf, have a fleece jerkin which is black so doesn’t need to be washed as much. I have different sized wash bags so will use that.

It's a conundrum. I have several fleeces which are just the best thing to keep warm in chilly Scottish winters. Worn with a thermal vest, nothing else comes close.

I can't wear wool, even with a layer in between, as it makes me itch intensely. Anyone who is vegan also cannot wear wool or use down-filled clothing.

I've read that the problem could actually be solved by washing machine manufacturers and sewage plant installing finer filters which would remove the fibres before they get into the watercourses.

The problem with wearing wool is that there is sometimes cruelty involved in the way the sheep are treated. I have recently read some very distressing information about it.

Why not lets go back to slaughtering animals and wearing the fur>

We do happen to live in this century, and like a bit of heat.

Ban gas CH ,wood burners.

the planet was ruined long before us lot came along, and I bet everyone rued the day when something new popped up.

Let us do our best to for the future and grandkids.

Does this also apply to microfibre e.g. cleaning cloths. I'm confused.

I know fleeces look awful and damage the environment but they are SO comfortable. Cheap to buy, don't make me itch and dry quickly after washing. I and I love my snuggly, warm fleeces dressing gowns. Seems that "they" always come up with news that take the joy out of things people like.

Sorry but I'm not giving up my fleeces for anybody. If they go into a Charity bag someone else will wear them & clothing shouldn't go into landfill. I have several fleece throws to cover my bed & settee (can' teach cat to wipe his paws) to keep them clean. Also snuggly fleeces to keep me warm

I am getting fed up of being told everything I wear/use is harming the planet. I don't use cotton buds or plastic straws & when DD was in nappies I used terry ones rarely disposable ones. I recycle everything that can be recycled by my local Council

May I suggest we go back to wearing animal skins or even our "Birthday suit"

Grannyknot Yes, it is microfibres in anything, including cleaning cloths and similar.

I recycle as much as the refuse collectors will take, we are quite lucky here as they take practically everything except clingfilm.
Ive stopped using as much single use plastic as I can, but my fleeces will have to last me out, I’m not throwing good clothing away, I shall have to buy the bag. However in future I will try to buy natural fibre clothing and household products, but it’s so difficult, as just about everything has a piece of plastic in it somewhere.
But I am trying to do my bit.

I’m trying to give up as much plastic as possible and not buy fruit or veg in plastic boxes, use a refillable water bottle , next to tackle the bathroom as there’s so much plastic in shower gels, soap dispensers, shampoo etc. I have bought a shampoo bar from Lush and going back to old fashioned soap and soap powder in cardboard boxes so am making a start. Don’t have any fleeces and avoid polyester, prefer natural fibres, but feel bad about all the plastic in the supermarket.

Not heard about the micro fiber problem, and I do have one or two fleeces. Equally I try to avoid wool as it does involve cruelty to the sheep. So it seems my options are getting ever narrower......

www.surfacepatterndesignguild.org/spdg-blog/green-fabrics-cotton-vs-polyester

This will make you think

You can take things too far!

Does anyone think the UK is responsible for all the ills of the planet, or that, being a tiny country, unless all the world does as we do generally now about plastics to reduce the plastic soup, then it won’t make a lot of difference.
That is not to say we cannot reduce plastic in many ways, but going through your wardrobe to get rid of favourite fleecy things, may make you feel virtuous, but hardly anyone will, because they are light, warm, and wash and dry easily.Go back to heavy scratchy wool? No thanks.

Shearing sheep is not cruel so I'm not sure what Telly is talking about. Check out YorkshireShepherdess @AmandaOwen8, Herdwick Shepherd @herdyshepherd1, Hannah Jackson @redshepherdess if you want to know how sheep are reared.