When textiles are manufactured, washed and dried, they shed tiny particles of textile fibers, also called microfibers. Microfibers pose significant threats to human health since these tiny particles can contain harmful chemicals, leading to potential long-term health risks when inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. They also contribute to water and air pollution, contaminating aquatic ecosystems and harming marine life.
Drying cabinets are considered a better option compared to tumble dryers in terms of sustainability and releasing fewer microfibers into the environment for several reasons.
Gentler Drying Process and Reduced Friction
Drying cabinets utilize heat and air circulation to gently dry textiles, minimizing mechanical stress on the fabrics. This approach significantly extends the lifespan of the garments. According to PODAB studies, drying in their cabinets results in 64% less wear and tear compared to traditional drying methods, such as tumble dryers, which rapidly rotate textiles, causing friction and releasing more microfibers from the fabrics. Unlike tumble dryers, drying cabinets involve little to no friction between textiles, reducing the shedding of microfibers significantly.
Containment
Tumble dryers frequently take in new air and lets out ‘old’ air which releases the microfibers into the surrounding environment again and again. Although the tumble dryers have filters, small microfibers escape these filters and are let out in the open air. Our drying cabinets use a smart air circulation system which mostly reuses the existing air in the cabinet, minimizing the need for intake of new air and in turn minimizing the release of microfibers into the surrounding environment.
Lower Heat Improves Microfiber Reduction
Tumble dryers often use high heat to dry textiles quickly, which can weaken the fibers of the fabric and increase the release of microfibers. Drying cabinets, on the other hand, use a slow heating build up system and often use lower temperatures to dry textiles, reducing the likelihood of fiber shedding.
Overall, drying cabinets offer a more gentle and controlled drying environment, which helps to minimize the release of microfibers into the environment.
