A checklist before you wash bamboo clothes for the first time
Short answer: Before the first wash, read the care label, sort by colour, choose a gentle programme and skip the fabric softener. With a few fixed steps, bamboo clothing keeps its shape and softness for longer.
Step 1: Read the care label first
The care label is the most important information you have. It tells you which temperature the fabric tolerates, whether it may go in the tumble dryer, and whether it may be ironed. Clothes made of viscose from bamboo are often washed at 30 to 40 degrees, but always follow what it says on the actual garment. Keep the label, or take a photo of it if you cut it off because it irritates the back of your neck. That way you can always look it up later.
Step 2: Sort by colour and weight
Wash new clothes with similar colours, and keep dark and light apart the first few times. New clothes can release a little dye, especially in dark shades. Sort by weight too, so heavy items such as jeans or towels do not rub against thinner fabric. This applies especially to training trousers and underwear. See bamboo training trousers for women if you need something for both sport and daily life, and wash them with pieces of the same kind.
Step 3: Turn them inside out and use a wash bag
Turn the clothes inside out so the surface gets as little friction as possible. A wash bag protects underwear, bras and socks in particular from catching on other things in the drum. Close zips and hook-and-loop straps so they do not snag the fabric. Do not fill the drum completely, because the clothes need room to move. If it is overfilled, the detergent rinses out badly and the fabric easily turns stiff.
Step 4: Choose a gentle programme and a mild detergent
A gentle programme with a low spin speed is kind to the fibres. Use a mild detergent without bleach, and dose it according to water hardness and load size, not by eye. Fabric softener can leave a film on the fabric and make it less breathable, so it is best to do without it. If you are unsure how the fabric reacts, wash a single piece first and see how it looks before you wash the rest.
Step 5: Drying and first wear
Let the clothes air dry on a rack or hanger, and avoid direct sun or a hot radiator. Strong heat can make fibres stiff and pull the seams. Pull the clothes into shape while they are damp so they dry true to form. Iron at a low temperature if the label allows it. If you have ordered something for the home, you can also look at home and homewear in bamboo and wash it by the same simple principles.
Step 6: Plan the routine for the future
After the first wash you can set a fixed routine. Wash often-worn clothes as instructed and let them rest between wears so the fibres can recover. Underwear should be washed after each wear, and here you can look at bamboo underwear for women if you want a soft and gentle basic wardrobe. Write a short note for those you live with, so the clothes do not end up on too hot a programme by mistake.
Frequently asked questions
Should bamboo clothes be washed before first wear
Yes, that is a good idea. It removes residues from production and transport, and it lets you check the size before the clothes are properly used.
Can bamboo clothes go in the tumble dryer
It depends on the care label. Many people prefer air drying, because high heat can wear down fibres and elastic.
Why should I avoid fabric softener
Fabric softener can leave a film on the fabric that makes it less breathable and less soft over time. Ordinary rinsing is usually enough.
See our range of Copenhagen Bamboo.
