Bamboo sheets are an eco-friendly heaven. They’re soft, durable, hypoallergenic and thermoregulatory. All these features make bamboo sheets a great option for your bedding. Bamboo sheets are a great option for hot sleepers, people with allergies and eco-friendly individuals.
Bamboo sheets get dirty too. Like other bedding fabrics, your bamboo sheets can end up with stains. You might spill a cup of coffee or get a paper cut that drips over the bed.
Stains are inevitable and learning how to get rid of them is important.
With a few steps, getting rid of the stains on your bamboo sheets will be easy. Let's look at typical stains and why getting rid of them can be hard.
Common Stains In Bamboo Sheets
Stains are common but not cleaning them can ruin your bamboo sheets. Improper care of stains can ruin the color and reduce lifespan. Bamboo sheets are usually softer than regular sheets. Due to their absorbent, thermoregulating and soft properties bamboo sheets can be more prone to stains than most other bedding fabrics.
The most common stain on bamboo sheets is due to sweat. Your body's attempt to reduce your core temperature can leave a slight mark on your sheets if not treated properly. Bamboo sheets are so absorbent that they soak in the oil from your skin.
There are other types of stains that can penetrate your bamboo sheets. Here are some of the most common stains:
- Bodily fluids like sweat and blood.
- Dirt from clothing or our bare body.
- Oil from body lotions and other skincare products.
- Food stains
- A pet that hasn't been properly potty-trained relieving themselves on the bed.
- High exposure to sunlight
Sometimes you don’t really know where the stain will come from, but if you know how to get rid of them, it doesn't matter. Besides getting rid of stains its also very important to wash and care for your bedding frequently.
How To Get Stains Out Of Bamboo Sheets
Most times, all it takes is a good washing with the right detergent. Other times, you need to apply some household method to remove that pesky stain.
Washing Your Bamboo Sheets
It's the same process you follow when washing your other bedding with slight modifications to accommodate the special needs of your bamboo sheets.
Start With Soaking
Soak your bamboo sheets in water and detergent first, and the washing process will be much easier. Soaking your bamboo sheets in water prepares them for cleaning. It also gives the sheet more time to absorb the detergent.
Soak the bed sheets in warm water and detergent, and set them apart for a few hours. Do this in the morning or overnight and then set the sheets in the washing machine.
How Long Should I Soak My Bamboo Sheets?
There is no specific time. The basic rule of thumb for soaking clothes is the longer you soak, the easier it is for stains to come out. This is because soaking lets the detergent spend more time working on the stain.
Should You Use Cold Or Hot Water
Hot water is believed to be better than cold water when washing fabrics. This could be the case but hot water also tends to deteriorate the fabric.
Hot water can shrink the fibers on your bamboo sheets. You might not notice much difference after the first wash, but with subsequent washes, you will notice that your sheets are losing their shape and shrinking. They will also deteriorate faster.
To prevent this, we recommend washing your bamboo bedding with cold water. Using cold water is also good for the environment and you spend less money and resources heating the water.
Choosing The Right Cycle
Other sheet fabrics can deal with an intense a regular cycle is, but your bamboo sheets shouldn’t. Use the gentle cycle when you are washing the sheets.
When the spin is done, check your sheet for stains and if you notice any, throw them into the washing machine and give it one more cycle.
Use The Right Detergents
When washing your bamboo sheets, you should use a mild detergent. Both liquid and solid detergents work well. Avoid harsh detergents and washer balls as they can reduce the bed sheets lifespan. Read the care label on your bamboo sheets to see the right detergent to use and what to avoid.
Avoid These While Washing Your Bamboo Sheets
Refrain from using bleach while soaking and/or washing your bamboo sheets. Bleach is considered a powerful stain remover, but in the case of your bamboo sheet it will ultimately reduce the quality of your bed sheets and may alter the color of the fabrics.
The same goes for fabric softeners. Your bamboo bedsheets are soft, so there is no need to use fabric softeners. Using fabric softeners will affect the quality of your bamboo sheets.
Do not wash your bamboo sheets or any of your bedding along with other clothes that have different colors, as this might cause colors to bleed onto your bed sheets.
Drying Your Bamboo Bed Sheets
Your sheets are washed, and the stain is gone. It's time to dry. When drying your bamboo bedding, there are two options to choose from. You can line dry or use the machine dryer.
Using The Machine
This is the easier option and is best if you want to use your bamboo bedding as soon as possible. When you are done washing, allow the bamboo bedsheet to drip dry a little, toss it into the dryer and set it to the lowest heat. Allow it to tumble dry.
Using the lowest heat setting is best because a higher temperature might cause damage to your bamboo bedsheets.
Line Dry
Although it takes longer, this is your best option. You are letting mother nature dry the bedding with its gentle hands. However, there are a few things to note here. You are air drying, not sun drying, so do not expose them to direct sunlight. All you need is fresh air to help remove the excess moisture.
Spread the bedding properly on the line to prevent wrinkling, shrinking, and abrasion. Line drying is eco-friendly; the only downside is that it takes a bit more time.
Once done with this step, your bamboo bedsheets should look as good and feel as soft as when you first bought them.
But What If This Isn't The Case?
We're aware that some stains can be hard to get rid of. Coffee stains, oils, and blood are especially hard to deal with. Soaking and washing your bamboo sheets might not be enough. So here are some solutions you can find around your home that can help remove hard stains from bamboo bedding. All these household tips have to be tried on a small portion before applying whole. We cannot guarantee either their efficacy or that they will not alter the products composition or color.
Vinegar
You probably have White Vinegar in your kitchen cabinet. It works as a stain remover and can remove hard stains on your bamboo bedsheets.
Add 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts water and soak the stained area of your bamboo bedding. Leave this to soak for several minutes, and the vinegar will lift the stain without causing harm to your bedsheets.
Hydrogen Peroxide
This is another common household compound that helps remove hard stains, especially blood stains, from your bamboo sheets. If you notice blood stains, add a bit of hydrogen peroxide on the stained area before washing.
Sodium Bicarbonate
Do you bake? Your baking soda is also a powerful stain remover that is gentle on bamboo sheets. Mix a bit of sodium bicarbonate in water to make a paste. Apply this paste to the stained area and wash it off. Your bedding should be good as new.
Other Materials That You Can Use To Remove Hard Stain
It will be unlikely that you do not have the ingredients above in your home, but on the off chance that this is the case, here are other materials that can help:
- Enzyme cleaner is a great substitute for hydrogen peroxide because natural enzymes are effective for removing blood stains.
- Dish detergent is also great for removing grease from your bedding.
Conclusion
With this guide, washing your bamboo sheets should be simple. Follow the tips we have listed here and avoid chemicals that might be too harsh on your sheets.
Even if there are no stains, wash your sheets after every few weeks to ensure they stay clean and fresh. If you take proper care of your bamboo bedding, it should last more than a decade.