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The rising popularity of bamboo sheet sets has been meteoric. They’re eco-friendly, soft, great for your skin and are priced reasonably. What sane person wouldn't want a set?!
In saying that, the bamboo fabric does need proper care. More so than other sheets. This is because they require a more gentle approach than other fabrics.
In this guide, we will dive into how to wash and take care of bamboo sheets.
Taking care of your sheets extends their longevity and keeps the fabric soft.
We're going to talk about washing, drying and storage needs for sheets made from bamboo.
Washing your sheets requires following these instructions:
In the summer, wash your bed sheets every week.Stains can occur, which turn the sheets yellow due to grease, oils from the skin, and other bodily fluids.
Depending on high temperatures, every four to five days may be necessary.
Learning how often to wash your sheets is key to maximising the longevity of your bed sheets.You may wash your sheets every one or two weeks in the winter, depending on the circumstances.
Overall, washing bed sheets for bamboo products requires cold water and a delicate setting during a machine wash. Cleaning products such as bleach and fabric softeners are unnecessary, and they may ruin the bamboo fabric.
When it comes to drying, mother nature is the best drying method.
Air drying away from direct sunlight is necessary to keep the softness and colour.
Using a dryer is not recommended as it can cause the sheets to pill or shrink.While it's not recommended, if you do have to use a dryer as a last resort, use low heat and a low tumble dry setting.The tumble dry setting is important to prevent shrinkage. Avoid wrinkles by taking them out of the dryer immediately.If wrinkles do occur, don’t worry, they will go away in a few hours.
Many people use reusable bags made from recycled bamboo fabric to store their sheets.
Although, you can store your sheets is in a cool place, such as a bed linen cabinet.
Do not store this fabric in direct sunlight. Also, avoid placing them in plastic containers, as they trap moisture result in yellowing, ruining the fabric. Cardboard is also damaging for sheets made from bamboo, as it can transfer acid to the fabric.
In terms of folding sheets, especially fitted sheets, there is nothing to worry about on this front. If you are looking for a handy tip on how to fold a fitted sheet, Maria Kondo has an awesome guide.
Unfortunately, the best products do not last forever, including sheets made of organic bamboo.
Because of stains and frequent usage, the sheets need replacing every couple of years.
Bamboo pillowcases need to be replaced every 6 to 12 months because of frequent contact with facial oils every night.
Sheets may require less frequent replacing, say every 2-3 years depending on how the fabric feels and looks over time. It must be free of yellow stains and remain soft.
The best way to discard your sheets after their time is up is to reuse/repurpose them into things like dog beds or garden beds.
Pure bamboo fabric is biodegradable, meaning it is safe for landfills.
Stains ruin bamboo material and turn the fabric yellow, shortening its lifecycle. Some tips to remove stains effectively include:
Ultimately, stain removal requires patience and safe compounds, with lots of soaking!
Bamboo fabric may turn yellow as it reacts to bacteria when the sweat accumulates. So it is important to get sweat stains out of your sheets as soon as possible.
A simple solution is to rub a biodegradable detergent onto the spot, put it in the washing machine with cold water. If the stain remains, repeat the process.
To prevent yellow spots from sweat in the future, wash your bedding more frequently.
Getting blood out of your sheets is one of those things that really tough to do, especially with bamboo.
To remove blood, flush the bedding with cold water to prevent it from further setting into the bamboo fibres.
Then, soak the bedding in an enzyme cleaner and cold water for 15 minutes. The older the spot, the longer it needs to soak.
To whiten your sheets after removing a stain or just for general upkeep, consider the following:
Bamboo sheets do not need fabric softener as the sateen weave and bamboo fibres are a naturally soft combination.
As a result we do not recommend you use fabric softener. Cold washing and gentle cycles are key to retaining the integrity as mentioned above.
More advice on taking care of your bedding include:
Bamboo bedding made from natural bamboo or 100% bamboo fibre is a little more delicate to wash. First, let's understand how it is made.
The bamboo’s wooden parts are crushed, with natural enzymes added, breaking down the bamboo to a pulp.
The fibres are sifted through a machine, creating a biodegradable, safe material for the planet, straight to your bed.
We have a complete guide on bamboo sustainability if you're interested in learning more.
There's also some great research from Deakin University supporting this.
Bamboo can be utilised across the whole bedding range.
At Ecoy we have bamboo mattress toppers, bamboo mattress protectors and even bamboo pillows.
Bamboo is truly a versatile material and amazing alternative to cotton.
With a little extra care around laundry time, your sheets made from bamboo will last for years.
Remember to wash your sheets using an eco-friendly detergent in cold water on a gentle cycle.
A fabric softener is unnecessary, as the sheets are already delicate. Air drying away from direct sunlight is also the best way to dry the sheets.
Make sure to avoid harsh chemicals such as bleach to preserve your sheet’s color, flexibility, and softness. Also, an environmentally-friendly pre-soak or stain remover will remove tough spots.
Overall, these steps may ensure your sheets remain soft clean on your bed for a comfortable sleep.
https://dro.deakin.edu.au/eserv/DU:30020680/tsuzuki-bamboofibres-2009.pdf
