Its laundry day here, and I got to thinking, does one have to do things differently when washes bamboo product? Yes. And that is good since you don’t need to use warm/hot water. Bamboo is naturally anti-bacterial; washing in cold water will clean your linens. Bleach is not needed and fabric softener will leave a film on the surface of your clothes.
Get these guidelines:
• Machine wash cold
• Gentle cycle with like colors
• Mild detergent. No bleach
• Tumble dry low
• TIP: to speed drying time, add some non bamboo items, such as a cotton towel, to the dryer, as this helps draw the moisture out of bamboo faster.
Your bamboo clothing or towels will feel a bit stiff, almost like canvas, directly out of the washer. Not a problem, that is normal. What is amazing is that stiffness disappears when you pull it out of the dryer! Wet, heavy, stiff clothes become soft, puffy, cloud-like silkiness! Remember, bamboo sheets can get soft wrinkles since that wrinkle resistant chemical (formaldehyde) has not been used. Fire retardant chemicals have not been used either as many are allergic to those toxins.
Bamboo linens are best cared for by washing in cold water and drying on low, which will also add longevity to your linens. Bamboo fibers are shorter than cotton, so washing in hot water can cause the linens to pill. If you were not able to take the linens out of the drier immediately, it is fine to use high heat for 10 minutes to fluff them smooth again; you may also do this if drying on low did not get the last of the dampness out.
If you choose to tumble dry your bamboo products, you should expect the same shrinkage as with any traditional cotton product. Most bamboo sheets and bamboo apparel can shrink 3%, but will still fall within the normal sizing dimensions.
Although not necessary, I advise line drying your products whenever possible. Why? Line drying is better for the environment as well as energy $$ savings! I don’t recommend this option if you can see your air. Smoggy clothes don’t smell good, trust an ex-Los Angelino…
What about ironing? Garments may be ironed with low heat. Caution: keep your iron setting no higher than ‘synthetic’. Bamboo cannot handle the same degree of heat as a cotton garment. Also, do not steam iron, as spitting may occur and noticeable rings will appear until the garment is again washed.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to truly know the feel of our fabrics until you have it in your hands. We have attempted to explain each fabric blend on our pages to help you with your purchase. Here is a roundup of blends:
100% viscose from bamboo – Our lightest fabric. It is extremely soft and has the feel of silk.
70% viscose from bamboo/30% organic cotton – This blend is heavier than 100% viscose from bamboo, but extremely soft. Blending cotton with bamboo allows more options to create stylish looks and this blend is typically easier to manufacture than pure bamboo.
Lycra/spandex blends – Lycra/spandex is a stretchy, man made material that is blended with bamboo to give shirts or yoga pants a slim fit and added structure. It does not drape like typical bamboo or cotton. In using these blends, some of the soft characteristics of bamboo are reduced, but are still more comfortable than the average cotton/lycra/spandex blends currently on the market.
Ta-da! Laundry is done and so is this missive.
livingwellbamboo 