Abstract: A process for producing high grade polyethylene paper on conventional continuous wet-lay papermaking equipment. In particular, the process comprises preparing a furnish of 75-99 wt. % oriented polyethylene pulp, 0.5-15 wt. % fibrous stabilizing agent and 0.5-10 wt. % strengthening agent and depositing the furnish on the forming screen of a conventional wet-lay papermaking machine. The resulting waterleaf sheet is dried on heated drying cans and then thermally bonded to provide a high grade polyethylene paper having high dry strength and toughness, exceptional dimensional stability and superior uniformity (i.e., no holes). The high grade polyethylene paper made by the inventive process is particularly useful in microfiltration end-uses such as vacuum cleaner bags.