Can You Wash Bamboo Pillowcases?

Can You Wash Bamboo Pillowcases?
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What is Bamboo?

Believe it or not, but Bamboo actually belongs to the grass family! It is the biggest of all of them, in fact. It is an evergreen perennial flowering plant which means that no matter the time of year, it’ll still keep on growing, even if it slows down when it gets cooler. It can grow up to 36” in a day which is exceptionally rapid compared to some plants. This, paired with its tolerance for a range of climates, makes it an easily sustainable and versatile material with a broad range of applications. Read Here: Top 5 Best Bamboo Pillowcases for Better Sleep

It is a natural composite, with both a hard outer shell that is ideal for building materials and inner fibers that have their own diverse applications. From building materials to baskets, from textiles to weapons, and even music instruments – bamboo is amazingly diverse. On top of this, it is also easy to grow which makes it one of the definitely underrated materials out there and something to consider in a world where sustainable materials are being prioritized by an increasing number of people.

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HOW ARE BAMBOO FIBERS PRODUCED?

There are two forms of bamboo fiber, both of which come from the inner part of the bamboo stem. The first is thick, fairly solid strips with some flexible bend to them. These are used for basket-making and similar applications. They are tough but still flexible enough to do the job.

The fibers themselves, the part that goes on to be used to make bamboo pillowcases and other textile products, are produced using a chemical process using the cellulose from the bamboo as a raw material. Alternatively, the fibers can be produced mechanically involving a process of wetting and crushing that is alternated until the final product is reached. The downside of the mechanical method is that it is time-consuming and therefore expensive. Additionally, the yarn that results is not soft enough to use in all-fiber applications – underwear is out of the question! Read Here: Hotel Sheets Direct Bamboo Bed Sheets Review

Chemically-produced bamboo rayon has its own disadvantages in terms of the chemicals used in its production. While there are ways to protect against the harmful effects, if you want to make sure that you are buying bamboo textiles from companies where the employees making it have been kept safe, take a good look into the company itself. Any company that takes care of the people who work for it should be proud to show off their safety practices.

WHAT MAKES BAMBOO PILLOWCASES SO POPULAR?

Bamboo bedding – pillowcases included – are among the more popular bedding fibers in this day and age because, all things in their production considered, it is an extremely sustainable material that can be cultivated with relative ease. As an added bonus, bamboo in the form of bedding and other textiles like pillowcases and clothing is also antimicrobial and hypoallergenic. This makes it perfect for people who are sensitive to other forms of bedding who may be struggling to find something that they react to. Two other added bonuses are that it eliminates dust mites and maintains an optimum temperature.

Blood, Sweat and the Icky Bits – Getting Rid of Stains

Getting rid of sweat, blood and other stains from your pillowcases is perfectly feasible. Don’t go throwing away your relatively new pillowcases! If you want to prevent the sort of stains that come from naturally sleeping in the first place, use a biodegradable detergent. Rub it into the pillowcase over the stain until it is fully absorbed and then wash as normal.

To get rid of blood, handwash the problem area in tepid water as soon as possible. Use an enzyme cleaner, biodegradable if possible, and then wash it in cool water like you would usually. Do not use hot water at all. Cool is the way to go.

If you don’t have a biodegradable detergent handy, baking soda does the job without damaging your pillowcases too much. No need to spend a lot on something you are only likely to use infrequently when there are options out of more routine household items.

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CAN YOU WASH BAMBOO PILLOWCASE?

Yes, you definitely can! So don’t worry about the idea of having to purchase a new set of pillowcases every 6 months. Washing your pillowcases will get out all of the stains and make them softer than ever. The more they are washed, the softer they get.

The Washing Process Itself

Washing bamboo pillowcases isn’t as easy as just throwing it in with the rest of your bedding or clothing. They take a little more special care and attention than bamboo pillowcases, but giving your pillowcases just the right amount of TLC will result in cases that are softer, last longer and give you a better night’s sleep than before. Sweet dreams are worth the effort!

How Often?

How often you should wash your pillowcases depends on a few factors. How often you as an individual sweat is something to bear in mind when deciding when is appropriate. The time of year is also something to consider in connection to that. In summer, when most people tend to sweat more, you should wash your bamboo pillowcases every 7 to 10 days to keep them optimally fresh and cozy. In winter, when most (but not all) people sweat less, you can drop how often you wash your bamboo pillowcases to every 2 weeks.

The Washing Itself

Bamboo pillowcases, unlike bedding, should be washed by hand in the sink where possible. The water should be tepid. Soak your pillowcase for 10 to 15 minutes, with occasional manual manipulation without being too rough. One bit of repeated advice is to never soak your pillowcases for more than 20 minutes. For optimal results, check the manufacturer’s label.

If handwashing isn’t an option, you can use a washing machine. Put your pillowcase into a net washing bag by itself, and put it on a 30 c wash. This is essentially what you do in principle when washing bamboo sheets, only scaled down! 

On that note, when you first buy your bamboo pillowcases, don’t be put off by how stiff they feel at first. They soften up after every single wash so it is suggested to wash them before you use them for the first time. This applies to other bamboo fiber products as well! Read Here: Top 5 Best Bamboo Comforters For A Comfy Night

For optimal results, use a biodegradable liquid detergent that is as mild as you can find. You still want it to work but you don’t want it to be too damaging either. Whatever you do, don’t use bleach when washing your bamboo pillowcases! Bleach contains toxic and non-eco-friendly chemicals that can damage your bedding. If you want to go the extra mile, look into investing in an eco-friendly pre-soak and stain remover. This is so then you can keep the colors of your bedding as bright and stain-free as possible for as long as possible. Nobody likes faded pillowcases after all!  

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After your wash cycle is complete, one thing that is recommended time and time again is to air-dry your bamboo pillowcases where possible. Whether that is pegging them out on the line or draping them over a door and letting time and the air do its work, it is something that is recommended often enough to listen to.

If you have absolutely no alternative to drying them quicker, you can use a dryer so long as they are put on low heat and a low tumble cycle. Just like washing them, you should treat your bamboo pillowcases with care so then they last as long as possible. Read Here: 5 Best Bamboo Viscose Baby Clothes

This gives you the excellent opportunity to check to see if there are any tears or holes, which are signs that a replacement is needed. One particular advantage of bamboo bedding is that you don’t have to worry about any creases or wrinkles that you may spot when you are hanging them out to dry. This is because bamboo fibers are self-smoothing. If only all clothes were like that!

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