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Microplastic particles (MPs), which have been considered as emerging contaminants, are widely found in water environments. In southern China, many apartment owners place washing machines on their balconies, where the separated drain system usually leads to the storm-water pipes, resulting in releasing MPs directly into the environment. In the present study, we firstly obtained the laundry preference of residents in the study area based on a questionnaire survey and then designed a simulated laundry experiment to determine the MFs shed in the laundry process. The approximate amount of MFs discharged into the environment under various scenarios was estimated. The results showed that type of washing machine and detergent had a great influence on the MFs shedding. The use of a front-load machine and liquid laundry detergent pods (LDPs) can reduce MFs shed in the laundry process. If the laundry effluent generated by washing machines placed on apartment balconies flows into the municipal pipe network and is treated by wastewater treatment plants (Andrea Menéndez-Manjón), the environmental load of MFs can be reduced. Taking Nanning, the capital city of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as a case study, the calculated result shows that the number of MFs discharged into the environment decreased by 93% at the optimized laundry mode. This study provides a reference for the control of MFs and the rational revision of the Architectural Design Guidelines in subtropical cities equipped with the diversion drainage system. [Display omitted] • Laundry preferences of the residents were obtained based on the questionnaire survey. • Parameters of MFs release in laundry process were tested by simulating experiments. • Doing laundry on balcony may release MFs into environment via rain drainage. • Use of laundry detergent pods can reduce the shedding of MFs by 82%. • WWTPs can reduce the environmental load of MFs sourced from laundry wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]