How to Take Care of Your Bamboo Products
Caring for your bamboo clothing or linens is easy because you can machine wash them repeatedly without losing bamboo’s special qualities. Of course, bamboo is often blended with many other materials, and that may impact the cleaning process, so always double-check the instructions for each individual item.
For the most part, though, bamboo material is highly resilient and easy to maintain. If you follow some simple tips for its care and maintenance it will last for years.
Getting it Clean
The key to cleaning your bamboo shirts, sheets, towels, etc. is to always use a mild detergent on the gentle cycle. It’s best to avoid extremely hot water, too, just to be sure. You don’t have to worry about cool water not being sufficient to kill lingering odors, either, because the material is naturally resistant to that sort of thing.
On heavily soiled items, you can use warm water and allow the items to presoak in the washer, but still avoid using hot water for regular washing.
Stain removers are also okay, as long as they are chlorine free. You can treat oily stains with an enzyme-based stain remover, and general stains can be treated with a bit of vinegar and water.
Drying Out
Sometimes, you’ll take your clothes out of the washer and they’ll feel a little stiff, almost like it’s a different material. This will change once it’s done drying.
The best way to dry your bamboo clothing or linens is out on a line in good weather, but since that’s not an option for a lot of us, there are some simple tips to follow when drying indoors.
If you use a machine, tumble dry on mild settings, and no longer than absolutely necessary. When you’re done, promptly remove everything from the drier.
(As a side note, if you can dry your stuff outdoors, be aware that the natural moisture wicking and absorption qualities of bamboo mean that it can take some extra time to dry. So you may want to start earlier in the day than you normally would.)
Ironing
Bamboo is a durable material, but if you hit it with excessive heat, you could end up scorching the fibers. If you want to iron your shirts or other items, always use the lowest heat settings to avoid damaging the fabric. Use very light steam if you must, but it would be better to avoid steam all together.
Things to Avoid
In order to ensure the longevity of your bamboo products, there are some things you should avoid.
• Bleach – The chemicals in bleach can damage bamboo fibers and ruin your stuff. Consider using other options like baking soda.
• Certain chemical agents – Chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and other similar chemicals can fade your clothes and should be avoided. Chlorine bleaches especially can cause yellowing and weaken the material.
• Fabric softeners – These are not needed (the fabric is already plenty soft) and not recommended as they could break down the composition of the fabric.
• Dryer sheets – These are not recommended.
Bamboo fabric is easy to care for, and you don’t have to change your routine to keep everything nice and clean. It just takes a little extra care to add to the longevity of your shirts, sheets, and the rest of your bamboo collection.
Cariloha Bamboo™ fabrics are made of viscose from bamboo, rayon from bamboo, polyester from bamboo, or bamboo charcoal.
