How to Wash Bamboo Sheets

Bamboo sheets are an eco-friendly alternative to cotton.

Bamboo sheets are becoming increasingly popular. Not only is bamboo an environmentally friendly material--bamboo grows quickly and requires fewer pesticides and chemicals to grow than cotton--but it also feels silky and smooth to the touch. Bamboo sheets can keep you cooler in the summer, yet the knit variety will feel warmer, like flannel sheets, in the winter. Bamboo sheets are more delicate than other materials, but with a few simple steps, you can keep your sheets fresh and clean for years to come.

Things You'll Need

• Bamboo sheets
• Washing machine
• Mild detergent
• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Oxygen bleach stain remover (optional)
• Dryer (optional)

Instructions

1. Separate your colors from your whites. Remove any rougher fabrics from your load of laundry, as bamboo sheets may pill when they rub up against them.

2. 

   Machine wash bamboo sheets in cold water on the gentle cycle.

   Set the washer to wash the sheets in cold or cool water on the gentle cycle. Add a mild detergent that does not contain harsh chemicals, such as those made for baby clothes or delicate garments.

3. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda during the wash cycle.

4. Add approximately 1/2 cup of vinegar during the rinse cycle to complete the natural bleaching process started with the baking soda.

5. 

   Only hang whites in direct sunlight.

   Remove your sheets promptly from the washer and hang them dry immediately.

Tips & Warnings

• For the best results, hand-wash your bamboo sheets to make them last longer.

• If you need to treat a stain, use an oxygen bleach stain remover. Test an inconspicuous corner of your sheets before using a new stain remover to make sure there is no discoloration.

• If you must use a dryer, use the lowest setting. Shake the sheets out and fold them gently and loosely into the dryer; wadding them up will result in more wrinkles.

• Do not use regular bleach when washing your sheets. Bamboo sheets are delicate, and harsh chemicals will cause them to break down more quickly.

• Never use hot water to wash your bamboo sheets, no matter how soiled they become. Hot water will cause them to pill very quickly.

• Do not dry colors in direct sunlight, or they will fade.

References

• Economically Sound: Bamboo Sheets
• Consumer Search: Bed Sheets : Full Report
• Apartment Therapy: Bamboozled II: Bamboo Sheets? Why Yes!
• Martha Stewart: Bedding Care 101

Resources

• Real Simple: How to Do Laundry