How to Wash and Care for Bamboo Clothing

In terms of comfort and sustainability, bamboo clothing has a lengthy list of advantages. However, once you’ve experienced the benefits of better softness and a low carbon footprint, you may wonder: What’s the best method to wash and care for my bamboo clothing?

When you read the labels on your bamboo clothing, you’ll notice that they frequently suggest wash cold and dry low. In fact, this is the greatest method for caring for all natural fiber clothes, including hemp, bamboo, and organic cotton. Following these simple guidelines will ensure that your clothing lasts as long as possible while minimizing shrinking, fading, and ordinary wear and tear. So, if you have any doubts, trust Teeanime!

General care instructions for bamboo clothing

It’s tough to draw broad assumptions about how to wash and care for your clothes. That’s why washers and dryers have so many settings. It isn’t because every cotton item must be washed one way and every linen item must be washed another.

In most situations, the washing requirements are as much about the weight and weave of the fabric as they are about the material from which it is created. In other words, delicate and lacy items would most likely require different care than heavy canvas and denim articles.

However, for most garments and textiles, washing at moderate temperatures and drying for as little time as possible in a hot dryer is usually the best option.

Bamboo clothing in the washing machine

Bamboo is sometimes woven into incredibly delicate items, such as women’s lingerie or a scarf with many dangly tassels. Silk and cashmere can be combined with bamboo. Hand washing your bamboo goods is recommended in these less common cases.

But, for the most part, you may throw bamboo in the washing machine with the rest of your clothes. To extend the life of your natural fiber apparel, wash it cold or warm.

Because bamboo cloth is nearly always pre-washed, shrinkage is rarely an issue. However, washing on cold is an excellent approach to avoid unexpected shrinking or uneven shrinkage when bamboo and other materials are blended.

When eager bamboo aficionados rushed to bring their trailblazing products to market in the 1990s, some may have jumped the gun and ignored the importance of things like proper pre-washing. However, as the material became more popular, bamboo fabrics swiftly improved in quality, matching or exceeding conventional garment industry standards.

As a result, simply follow the wash and care recommendations on your labels. However, whether you’re washing bamboo, cotton, or linen, it never hurts to be gentler. For most of us, the most wear and tear will occur in the washer and dryer. The obvious exception to this rule would be children’s apparel.

Bleach and stain removal with bamboo clothing

Neither extremely resistant nor unusually prone to stains, bamboo is neither. Although antimicrobial characteristics help to decrease odor and mildew issues, dirt happens, even on something as lovely as bamboo.

Bleach is not suggested for natural clothes, such as bamboo, due to its toxicity and harshness on the fibers. We recommend Seventh Generation washing detergent, which is available at health food stores nationwide.

Look for Zero Waste Stores in your area where you can refill your own containers with eco-friendly soaps and cleaning goods that don’t come in unnecessary packaging. As an alternative to bleach, you can use something as easy as hydrogen peroxide.

Drying bamboo clothing

Bamboo’s absorbency is a crucial characteristic to be aware of. This is an excellent feature of bamboo towels and moisture-wicking bamboo socks. However, drying time will be longer for the very absorbent bamboo goods.

This isn’t usually a major concern, but it can be inconvenient if you’re in a rush. If you’re on vacation and want to wash some clothing in your hotel room and hang them up to dry overnight, that may not be enough time (depending on weather conditions, of course.)

Clothing made of bamboo may typically be dried in a dryer. However, if you prefer natural fiber clothing, there are a few reasons why you should keep your dryer running as little as possible. It makes sense to air dry items for 20 to 30 minutes before laying them down flat to dry the rest of the way. Others prefer to line dry the entire process.

The benefit of lying clothing flat to dry is that it keeps articles from stretching out. When wet bamboo comes out of the washer, it can be quite heavy. So when it hangs up, it sags very low, and there’s always the potential of things stretching out of shape. This is not an issue with socks and towels, but it may be with long dresses and larger, long-sleeved shirts.

To keep things extra soft, some people use fabric softener in their washing. However, chemical additives go against the principle of wearing natural fiber clothing and lowering your carbon impact. And because bamboo is so soft, it doesn’t require anything like that. You should also be aware that using regular fabric softeners on towels reduces their absorbency owing to the fiber coating.

WEAR AND TEAR

Few things will be more damaging to the wear and tear of your bamboo apparel than a hot dryer. Remember all the fuzz that accumulates in the lint catcher after every wash of laundry? Those are the remains of your garment being consumed by your appliance.

Don’t even get me started on the stocking vortex, that black hole in the dark abyss of the dryer where loose socks disappear. Why would anyone want to put their beloved bamboo clothing in such danger?

ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Consider the energy necessary to run a dryer if that isn’t reason enough to reduce or avoid using one. This is a wonderful place to start if you’re serious about lowering your carbon footprint. Especially if you live in California, where the sun never stops blazing and energy shortages are often.

According to the International Energy Agency, domestic appliances account for around 15% of total global energy demand. Home dryers are among the most energy-intensive of these appliances.

If you prefer to use solar energy, this is the best way to go because it eliminates the middleman (i.e., the photo-voltaic panels). Sunlight also has natural antimicrobial capabilities that assist whites get whiter and stains to be removed.

Ironing bamboo clothing

Bamboo fabric is inherently very smooth but not very crisp for individuals who want their apparel crisp and silky. As a result, most bamboo clothing do not require ironing.

The ideal of nighttime luxury, bamboo sheets, do wrinkle. If this is bothering you, you can iron them.

When ironing, just apply common sense. When ironing a delicate bamboo blouse, do not use the highest heat setting. Also, do not iron directly over a t-printed shirt’s region.

Conclusions

Clothing made of bamboo is extremely comfy and unusual. However, washing and caring for your bamboo items does not have to be difficult. The general guideline is that the softer you are, the longer it will last. That means no boiling or cooking in the washing machine or dryer. Wash it cold, dry it slowly, or lay it flat to dry in most circumstances. As a result, your bamboo wardrobe will provide you with many years of luxurious delight.