One of the best things about bamboo sheets is how they endure, season after season and year after year. With the proper care, bamboo fabric stays soft, comfortable and hypoallergenic for many years.
In all that time, life will likely get a little messy. Sweat, oils and blood can discolour your favourite bamboo bed sheets.
But by making careful, considerate stain removal choices, you can lift pernicious stains without damaging bamboo’s hypoallergenic natural fibres.
How does bamboo fabric become stained?
During the night, our bodies produce sweat to cool our core temperature. While bamboo fabric allows the moisture particles from sweat to evaporate, some discolouration is common over time.
Similarly, oils from moisturisers and body lotions, bodily fluids and dirt can discolour your sheets.
The same natural fibres which give bamboo fabric its buttery softness are also highly absorbent. Washing your bamboo sheets every 7-10 days will prevent bacteria build-up and discolouration from sweat and body oils, although tougher spots and stains might need special attention.
Washing bamboo fabric to remove dirt and stains
Thankfully, washing stains out of bamboo fabric is easy. The key is to be gentle: no harsh chemicals, bleach or scalding water. Just gentle household cleaners, gentle handling and a gentle wash cycle.
Keep the water temperature cool
Although it might be tempting to run a 60°C cycle for stained bed sheets, hot water damages the organic fibres in bamboo fabric and can shrink your sheets.
Water between 30-40°C is better for bamboo because it cleans the fibres without degrading their strength or softness.
Let your sheets soak
Soaking stained bamboo fabric for at least half an hour before washing will help lift stains out of the fibres.
For sweat stains that accumulate gradually, add a splash of eco-friendly detergent to cool water and soak the sheet for 30 minutes. Let longer stains soak for a few hours to give the detergent time to work deeper into the fibres.
As a rule of thumb, the longer you soak your sheets, the cleaner they will be. Remember not to use any bleach as the abrasive chemicals can attack the fabric’s natural suppleness.
Choose the right wash cycle
After soaking, wash your sheets on a gentle 30-40°C cycle using a mild eco-friendly detergent. Avoid fabric softener for the same reason as bleach.
Almost every washing machine has a “delicates” setting which is ideal for bamboo bedding. The detergent and water together do most of the work to lift stains without resorting to aggressive washing cycles.
We know how much you love your bed, and we want to help you make it even better. That's why we're offering an additional $10 off your total order when you use the code OLARA10 for our organic bamboo bedding.