One of the most frequently asked question we get at BedVoyage is “how to wash bamboo sheets?” Since bamboo is a more luxurious and delicate fiber than cotton, we advise our customers to take proper care of their linens, so they remain soft and comforting. Proper washing will extend the life of your BedVoyage bamboo sheets, so that you can expect to get 4-5 years of joy with your fabulous linens with proper laundering. Below, we will give you some of the best tips for taking great care of your bamboo sheets! And if you’d like to learn more about the wonderfully sustainable aspects of bamboo, read here.
Wash BEFORE using:
We have purposely oversized our linens to allow for shrinkage that will will occur the first time you wash them. If you fail to wash before use, you will see that they are too big for your bed! We recommend washing in cool to warm water, and drying on low to medium. However, if you want to occasionally force your linens to shrink (for a tighter fitted sheet) simply wash on hot and dry on high every 4-5 washings. Its hard to believe until you actually see for yourself, but bamboo sheets become even softer, wash after wash!
Laundering:
1. Wash in cool to warm water
We recommend laundering in cooler temperatures, because using hot water and high-heat drying creates friction which can cause pilling. Pilling is the uncomfortable bumps you’ll feel on some low-quality sweaters or sheets. Fun Fact: bamboo linens come out of the washer feeling stiff and canvas-like! That’s normal so don’t worry that you’ve harmed your linens, they will soften after drying!
2. Use a mild liquid detergent
Since bamboo is a delicate fiber, we advise staying away from harsh detergents with a lot of chemicals and fragrances. You should also avoid using liquid chlorine bleach, fabric softener, and washer or dryer balls. Harsh detergents can do damage to fine linens, and bleach can weaken the rayon fibers, reducing the life of your sheets. Washer balls can cause pilling, while fabric softener can leave a film on the fabric. We suggest how to wash bamboo sheets using mild liquid detergents that are fragrance-free. Viscose from Bamboo is naturally resistant to bacteria, so if you’re used to using bleach to kill any bacteria, there’s no need to do so with bamboo, a great benefit for your health and the environment! If you have any stains that might need a little more than just detergent, read below for more tips.
Some of our favorites!
We recommend a mild liquid detergent such as Ecos, Mrs. Myers, Woolite, Seventh Generation, or ECover, We suggest avoiding harsher detergents which can break down the bamboo fibers faster, shortening the lifespan of your linens.
3. Dry on low to medium
We recommend drying your bamboo sheets on a low to medium heat to reduce pilling, as noted above. Give your pillowcase a hard shake before putting in the dryer, to straighten the hems and reduce wrinkling. We don’t coat our linens with formaldehyde, which is a wrinkle-resistant toxin used by the cotton industry, so you may see a bit more wrinkling, but we prefer that to sleeping on toxic chemicals! To reduce wrinkling, please remove the linens immediately from the drier.
However, if you forget to remove them immediately, or if they are not yet fully dried, you can fluff them for 10 minutes on high heat to remove any soft wrinkles, or to further dry without causing damage to your sheets. Dryer balls should also be avoided since they can cause pilling. Additionally, we don’t advise using any dryer sheets because they can leave a film on the fabric, reducing the moisture-wicking properties and can cause discoloration. You seriously won’t need them anyway, bamboo is SO soft all by itself!
Additional tips!
Stains:
For body or facial oils, you can pre-wash or soak the sheets with ¼ cup of Dawn dishwashing liquid, as Dawn is a natural degreaser, then launder as usual. As soon as you see an oil stain, pre-treat so that the stain is not ‘set’ in the dryer. For all other stains, you can spray OxiClean, a chlorine-free stain remover, or dot Grandma’s Miracle Spot Remover directly onto the stain, then launder as usual. Or a mix of 1-part white vinegar to 4-parts water, spray or pour directly onto the stain, then launder as usual.
Substitute for drier sheets:
If you want to have a nice clean sent to your linens, but don’t want to use drier sheets, you can make your own substitute! First, lightly wet a washcloth or small rag and then add a few drops of any essential oil you prefer, such as lavender or peppermint. Throw that in the dryer with your linens and you’ll be left with lovely scented sheets!
Removing blood using saliva?
We learned an amazing tip! If you get a blood stain on your linens, simply wet the stain, then apply saliva (of the person who bled) onto the stain. The specific acids in your own saliva will break it down! Let about 15 minutes go by, and you’ll see the stain dissolving. Once its quite dissolved, rinse with water, then launder. We can attest to this process, as our CEO, Sharon Stuart, has tested this method!
Thank you for reading all about the best care and laundering tips for our bamboo bedding! We know you will get many years of enjoyment (and great sleep!) if you care for your linens properly!
