Guppyfriend vs. Cora Ball for Reducing Microfiber Pollution

Guppyfriend vs. Cora Ball

If you’re interested in protecting our waterways from harmful microfibers, you can use a Guppyfriend washing bag or Cora Ball. Learn more about Guppyfriend vs. Cora Ball so you can decide which one is right for you.

What Are Microfibers?

Every time you do the laundry, your clothes release hundreds of small synthetic fibers called microfibers. Microfibers are so small they go down the drain, pass through our water treatment plants, and end up directly in our waterways.

One study found that the Hudson River in New York state transports around 150 million microfibers into the Atlantic Ocean every day. And that’s just one river. If you think about how many rivers empty into all the oceans around the world, you quickly realize the vast enormity of the problem.

But then it gets worse. That’s because microfibers can be toxic to aquatic wildlife. They can also act like a sponge and soak up toxins in the water.

When aquatic wildlife ingest these microfibers, the toxins are then released into their body. These toxins just keep going up the food chain until we eventually consume them.

Catching Microfibers in the Laundry

So now you understand what microfibers are and why we need to keep them from entering our waterways.

One way to do this is to start buying from sustainable clothing brands that use natural fibers such as organic cotton. You can also choose cotton unpaper towels instead of microfiber cloths for cleaning.

Of course, it’s unrealistic to change your wardrobe overnight. And it’s sometimes impossible to avoid items made from synthetic fibers. After all, around 60% of our clothes are made with polyester.

That’s when a microfiber catcher that you put in the washing machine can help. Two popular options are the Guppyfriend washing bag and the Cora Ball.

Since each one works differently, we’re comparing the Guppyfriend vs. Cora Ball so you can figure out which one will best suit your needs.

Cora Ball

The Cora Ball is an easy-to-use laundry ball that catches microfibers that shed off your clothing in the washing machine. The design of the ball was inspired by the way coral filters water in the ocean.

All you have to do is toss the ball into your washing machine each time you wash your clothes. The stalks of the ball will catch those tiny microfibers floating in the water.

An independent test found that the Cora Ball can catch 26% of microfibers before they flow down the drain. That means if just 10% of households in the U.S. used a Cora Ball, it would prevent the plastic equivalent of over 30 million water bottles from ending up in our waterways.

Once you see some microfibers accumulating in the Cora Ball, you can remove them by hand.

Since the Cora Ball is tossed into the washing machine, it’s good for large items or loads made up entirely of synthetic fibers.

Guppyfriend

The Guppyfriend washing bag is another option that can help reduce microfiber pollution. To use the Guppyfriend, you place your clothes made from synthetic fibers in the washing bag and then toss the bag into the washing machine.

The seams and corners of the bag will catch the microfibers and prevent them from going down the drain. In fact, fabrics inside the Guppyfriend shed 75% to 86% less fibers.

Once enough microfibers have grouped together and become visible on the bag, you can scrap them off by hand.

Since you place synthetic fabrics inside the bag, it’s good for small items or loads when you only have a few pieces of synthetic clothing.

Disposing of Microfibers

The Cora Ball and Guppyfriend help reduce the number of microfibers going down the drain. However, that does mean you’re still left with a glob of microfibers that you have to send to the landfill.

While this isn’t ideal, it’s better than having these microfibers end up in our waterways.

The best way to dispose of the microfibers you catch in the washing machine is to scrape them into a container or water bottle before putting them in the garbage. This will help prevent the microfibers from escaping when you throw them away.

Guppyfriend vs. Cora Ball – The Bottom Line

So what’s the bottom line in the Guppyfriend vs. Cora Ball debate?

While the Guppyfriend catches more microfibers, it is a bag. This means it can only hold a certain number of pieces. If you only have a few, small items, the Guppyfriend is your best option.

However, since part of creating an eco-friendly laundry routine means doing fewer loads of laundry, the Guppyfriend might not always be the right choice.

If you have large items that won’t fit in the Guppyfriend bag or you need to wash an entire load of synthetic fabrics, it’s better to toss the Cora Ball into your washing machine.

Installing a Microfiber Filter

While the Guppyfriend bag and Cora Ball are excellent options for reducing microfiber pollution, their one main problem is that they don’t catch all of the microfibers.

If you have access to your washing machine’s discharge hose, this microfiber filter is another great option to consider. It’s affordable, easy to install, simple to use, and is able to catch almost all microfibers.

More Eco-Friendly Tips

Now that you know whether the Guppyfriend or Cora Ball is right for you, are you ready to discover even more great tips for eco-friendly living? Then be sure to check out a few of our other popular posts:

• Best Homemade Laundry Detergent
• Incredible Homemade Stain Remover for Clothes
• How to Make Homemade Bleach Alternative
• Surprising Things You Can Clean With Vinegar