Bamboo T-shirts: How to Wash & Care

Bamboo fabric is made up of the stalks of the bamboo plant. This plant is grown until it gets taller, and then the stalks are harvested. Industrial units use alkaline solutions to break the stalk structure and create a pulp-like texture. They bleach this to remove color and convert the pulp (cellulose) into a solution. This solution is used to produce the bamboo yarn. Bamboo T-shirts are made up of this yarn. They are soft, smooth, and flexible to wear. Bamboo is a breathable and hypoallergenic fabric. It does not trap moisture and reduce the risk of skin diseases. Bamboo T-shirts are gentle, so they require special care when washing. Poor washing technique, chemical detergents, and sunlight drying minimize the lifespan of clothes. Follow the right guide to wash, dry, and iron bamboo T-shirts to reduce expenses.

How Should You Wash Bamboo T-shirts?

Here are four tips to wash the bamboo T-shirts:

1. Cold Water Wash: Wash the bamboo clothes in cold or lukewarm water at 30 °C. This water temperature preserves the original colors of T-shirts and protects threads from weakening. This is the ideal temperature to wash all types of fabrics. It’s not too cold to cause shrinkage and not too hot to destroy the threads.
2. Gentle Cycle or Hand Wash: Set the low spin speed when washing in the machine. Hard spinds increase the friction between clothes, and tangling increases. This tangling takes away the fresh look of T-shirts, and they appear wrinkled. It is recommended to hand-wash the bamboo and wool T-shirts. Soak them in a water bucket and gently rub with your hands to remove the stain. Remove excess water and spread them to dry.
3. Mild Detergent Only: Use mild detergents with no dyes and fragrances. These detergents are free from harmful chemicals like sulfates and phosphates that remove the skin oils. Use the liquid detergents as they dissolve easily and do not leave any residue like powder ones. 
4. Avoid Fabric Softeners: Fabric softeners reduce the absorbency and breathability of bamboo fabrics. They cause skin irritation, hormonal disruption, residue buildup, and non-biodegradable bioproducts. Don’t use any fabric softener and follow the right drying technique to enhance their look.

Can Bamboo T-shirts Shrink in the Wash?

Yes, bamboo T-shirts shrink in the wash. Here are the three factors that influence the shrinking:

1. Hot Water & High Heat: Manufacturers stretch the bamboo fabric during manufacturing. High heat and hot water cause the bamboo to tighten and contract. The length of bamboo T-shirts changes after shrinking. They apparently look smaller in the same size. Use chilled or slightly warm water to restore the shape. 
2. Pre-washed Bamboo: Ask the manufacturer about the pre-shrunk bamboo T-shirts. Don’t forget to read the label with pre-shrink tags. These pre-shrunk bamboo clothes do not change after washing, so they free us from all this hassle.
3. Air Drying: Air drying is the method to keep the bamboo T-shirts safe from shrinking. Dry the slightly damp shirts because it protects the threads from weakening.

What is the Best Way to Dry and Iron Bamboo T-shirts?

Here are the four tips to dry and iron bamboo T-shirts:

1. Air Dry Flat or on Hangers: Spread clothes for drying quickly after washing them. Use a clothesline or hangers because they prevent stretching. Make sure to dry all T-shirts in a shady area and prefer the flat dry. The collar, sleeves, and T-shirt are reshaped on a flat surface in this process. It protects the bamboo T-shirts from losing their shape.
2. Avoid Direct Sunlight: Protect the clothes from direct sunlight to reduce fading. Sunlight not only brightens the T-shirts but also affects the quality of the bamboo fabric.
3. Low Heat Ironing: Set the iron to low heat when ironing bamboo clothes. Unlike linen clothes that withstand medium to high temperatures, bamboo T-shirts only tolerate low temperatures. It is due to the soft texture of bamboo stalks and their composition.
4. Iron Inside Out: Turn the embroidered, printed, and designed shirts inside out to protect them from smudging. Using iron directly on prints or embroidery ruins the T-shirts. 

How to Remove Stains from Bamboo T-shirts?

Here are the tips to remove stains from bamboo T-shirts:

1. Treat Stains Immediately: Treat stains quickly with gentle stain removers like vinegar, salt, and baking soda. They lighten the stains and make them nearly fade. 
2. Spot Clean Before Full Wash: Always pre-treat the stains if it was not done at the spot. Use a stain remover and rub it to remove the stains. This step removes the loose dirt and dust particles from bamboo T-shirts. It also reduces the labour required to wash, even after a gentle spin.
3. Use Stain Remover: Use readily available stain removers (lime juice, baking soda) or synthetic ones from the market to remove patchy areas from T-shirts. 
4. Avoid Chlorine Bleach: Chlorine bleach causes serious health risks. It leads to respiratory, skin, and hormonal imbalance through the T-shirts that people wear. According to the National Institute of Health, bleach destroys the respiratory system, causes asphyxiation, and can lead to death.

How to Store Bamboo T-shirts Properly?

Here are the ways to store the bamboo T-shirts properly:

1. Fold Instead of Hanging: Fold T-shirts neatly instead of hanging them because they are prone to stretching. Folding also minimizes the risk of wrinkles.
2. Store in a Cool, Dry Place: Store the bamboo T-shirts in a dry place and make sure there is no moisture there. Moisture creates a bad odor in T-shirts and also increases the risk of mildew growth.
3. Use Breathable Storage Bags: Use breathable storage bags made up of fabric to allow the air to pass through the stored clothes. It keeps the bamboo T-shirts fresh even after a year.
4. Avoid Plastic Storage: Don’t use plastic bags to store clothes. They trap moisture and affect the quality nd lifespan of bamboo T-shirts.
5. Moth Protection: Use cedar-scented wooden blocks or dried flowers to leave a scent around the stoaeg area. It keeps the insects away and traps moisture from the surroundings.

What Are the Long-Term Care Tips for Bamboo T-shirts?

Here are the long-term care tips for bamboo T-shirts:

1. Wash Less Frequently: Don’t wash bamboo T-shirts too often. They are too soft to be damaged after multiple washes.
2. Rotate Usage: The best way to reduce the wash frequency is to rotate usage. Wear other T-shirts too, and provide enough turnaround time to the bamboo ones so they don’t fray.
3. Follow Care Label Instructions: Read the manufacturer's instructions before purchasing the T-shirts and ask for pre-shrunk requirements.
4. Handle Gently When Wet: Bamboo gets weaker faster when washed due to its porous and cellulose nature. Handle it gently to avoid weakening fibers.