With fall turning into winter, we’re spending more and more of our days inside. Whether you choose to curl up in bed with a book or a movie, staying home feels like a great option as the days get shorter and colder. Make your bed as inviting as possible with these laundry tips that are guaranteed to keep your bamboo sheets feeling clean and fresh.
Do I have to hand wash bamboo sheets?
No. Bamboo sheets are machine washable and dryable like most other sheets. However, you should always wash your sheets in a separate load and never with towels. Towels are known to spread lint and the added friction can cause your sheets to start pilling. To get the most use out of your sheets, wash and dry on gentle cycles with non-chlorine detergent. If the waste created by packaging is a concern for you, you may try Tru Earth, an innovative zero-waste laundry detergent.
Should I use hot or cold water?
Always wash bamboo sheets in COLD water. Hot water can cause the sheets to shrink and damage the bamboo fiber structure. Also, cold water helps save energy which means you can help save the environment and your money!
How do I remove stubborn stains?
Stubborn stain? Don’t use bleach or other chlorinated cleaners. They will destroy the bamboo fabric over time. If you have a stubborn stain that needs removing,
- try adding a mixture of 1 tablespoon of vinegar and 4 tablespoons of water to the stain before washing.
- If vinegar doesn't work, try soaking the stain in hydrogen peroxyde over night and wash it with your regular detergent afterward.
- You can also add 2 cups of this DIY oxygen cleaner to your detergent to keep your bed sheets clean and fresh:
DIY Oxygen Cleaner:
- 12 cups water
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup hydrogen peroxide
Add 2 cups per wash load or put in spray bottle and use as a household cleaner. For more stain removal tricks, check out The Art of Manliness.
Getting more specific about Stains
Unlike sheets from synthetic fabrics you can't use bleach to get problem stains out of the bamboo or other natural fibers ones. The abrasive chemicals will completely ruin them. There are other methods that you can use though.
Sweat
Two of the most common stains that you'll have to deal with are those that come from bodily fluids like blood and sweat. Sweat turns a nasty yellow color after it's been exposed to bacteria. You can avoid this by simply washing your sheets regularly.
If the sweat stains do get to the point where they are yellow you can get rid of this by using a gentle rub detergent.
Blood
Blood will be a little harder to get out of your sheets then sweat. If you bleed on your sheets, the first thing you want to do is soak the area in cold water so the stain doesn't get the chance to soak in.
Once the area has soaked for a bit, apply an enzyme cleaner. It's very important that this cleaner contains no chlorine. Let the sheets sit in the cleaner and cold water for about 15 minutes and then check it.
If the stain is gone then you can toss it in the washing machine as you usually would to finish the process. Hydrogen peroxide works as an effective cleaner for bamboo sheets as well. Soak the stain in 3% hydrogen peroxide for few hours if needed and then rinse it with cold water. This method only really works for a fresh stain
Can I use fabric softener?
Never use fabric softener on your bamboo linen. Fabric softeners, like bleach, can destroy fabrics made out of bamboo.