How to Wash Bamboo Sheets

Using the Washing Machine

Wash bamboo sheets every 7-10 days to keep them in peak condition. Bamboo sheets are antibacterial and hypoallergenic, but they still need to be washed regularly if you want to keep them clean. Aim to run your sheets through a wash cycle every 7-10 days. Bamboo fabric is quite resilient, so you can wash the sheets more frequently, if necessary. During the less humid winter months, you can get away with washing your bamboo sheets every 2 weeks or so.

Pre-treat stains with a chlorine-free stain remover, if needed. Feel free to use a pre-treatment product to deal with stains, but check the product label to make sure it's chlorine-free first. Apply the pre-treatment directly to the stain and let it soak in for 5 minutes before tossing the sheets in the washing machine. Go with an enzymatic stain remover for oil and blood stains. Application instructions may vary from product to product, so be sure to check the packaging before using the stain remover.

Place your sheets in the washing machine by themselves. Bamboo material tends to attract lint from other items, especially towels and blankets, which can be difficult to remove and cause pilling. Additionally, zippers, buttons, and hardware on garments can damage the bamboo fibers. To prevent issues, don’t put any other laundry in the machine with your sheets.

Add mild liquid laundry detergent to the washing machine dispenser. Measure out the recommended amount of detergent for your load size and add it to your machine. The mild liquid detergent that you use for your other delicates will work just fine for this—you don’t need to buy a special detergent. Never use laundry detergent that contains bleach.Warning: Avoid using liquid fabric softener, which can break down bamboo fibers. Bamboo fabric is already extremely soft, so you don’t need a softener anyway.

Set your machine to the cold water setting and start a gentle cycle. Bamboo is durable, but it’s best to wash your sheets using the gentle cycle to extend the life and quality. Since hot water can damage and shrink bamboo, always use the cold water setting on your machine. Press “start” to begin the wash cycle after updating your machine’s settings. Cold water is sufficient for removing odors, stains, and dirt from bamboo fabric.

Drying and Storing Bamboo Sheets

Line-dry bamboo sheets to preserve the fabric's integrity, if possible. If it’s a nice day out and you have the right supplies to do it, line-drying is best for bamboo sheets. Hang the sheets outside in the sun and be sure to give them enough time to dry completely before bringing them inside. Line-drying isn’t always possible or convenient! It is perfectly fine to put bamboo sheets in your dryer. You can also hang bamboo sheets indoors to air-dry them, if you prefer.

Transfer the sheets to a machine dryer if you aren't line-drying them. You may want to quickly shake out the pillowcases and sheets to straighten the hems before tossing each piece in the dryer. Transfer 1 piece of bedding at a time to confirm the linens aren’t twisted around each other. If you grab the whole load and shove it in the dryer without shaking out each piece, the fabric may dry unevenly or end up wrinkled. If the wet fabric feels a bit rough or stiff, don’t worry—this is totally normal. The sheets will soften back up during the drying process.

Set the dryer to low heat and low tumble settings to prevent damage. Check on your sheets after about 30 minutes to see how dry they are. Continue to dry them in 15-minute intervals until they’re completely dry. Avoid exposing them to more heat than is absolutely needed. Do not use dryer sheets with bamboo sheets.

Remove the sheets from the dryer when the cycle ends to prevent wrinkles. It's important to take the sheets out of the dryer quickly to limit heat exposure. If you can’t put the sheets back on your bed immediately, don’t worry! Wrinkled bamboo sheets tend to flatten back out nicely a few hours after you make the bed with them. You can iron your sheets using low heat and no steam if you like, but it’s usually not necessary.

Store folded sheets in a cool, dark place if they aren't going on your bed. Stack your folded linens loosely in a dark closet or cabinet. Avoid placing them in airtight plastic containers. Make sure your storage space is moisture-free, since bamboo holds on to moisture and can mildew over time. Avoid storing them in direct sunlight, which can break down the fibers.