Bamboo clothing and ironing and when it is necessary

Short answer: Bamboo viscose rarely needs ironing. If you hang the item up while it is damp, the weight of the water smooths out the creases on its own.

Why it is rarely needed

Bamboo viscose is a soft, supple fabric that drapes well when it hangs. Most creases form because clothes stay crumpled in the machine or dry in a pile. If they can hang freely while drying, most creases disappear by themselves. The iron then becomes an exception rather than a fixed part of laundry day.

Hang it up damp

Take the clothes out of the machine straight away and put them on a hanger while still damp. Give them a light shake and pull seams and edges into place with your hands. The weight of the water pulls the fabric smooth as it dries. That is the whole method, and it works for most items. Read more about washing and care.

Be gentle in the machine

Creases set most when clothes are pressed hard together. Do not overload the machine, and choose a lower spin speed for shirts and blouses. The clothes then come out with fewer and softer creases. A tumble dryer can also cause creases if clothes are left in it after the programme ends, so take them out at once.

Low heat if you do iron

Viscose does not tolerate high heat. Use the synthetic setting or the lowest one with steam, and test on a small hidden spot first. If the iron is too hot, the fabric can turn stiff or get marks that will not go away. Better slightly too little heat and a few extra strokes than too much.

Steam rather than pressure

Steam smooths out creases without you having to press hard. Hold the iron just above the fabric or glide it lightly over the surface. Hard pressure on viscose can leave shiny marks that do not come out. A garment steamer is a good alternative if you often need shirts ready, and it works while the clothes hang.

Iron on the reverse side

Turn the item inside out before ironing. That way the heat does not touch the visible side directly, and the risk of shiny marks is lower. A thin cloth between the iron and the garment adds extra protection. This matters most on dark colours, where marks show most clearly.

The collar is the exception

On shirts, the collar is often the only part that needs smoothing, because it has more structure and sits close to the face. Iron it from the reverse side with low heat and steam, working from the points towards the middle. The rest of the shirt usually does fine on a hanger. See bamboo shirts for men.

Never iron over stains

Heat sets stains permanently in the fabric. Check the item before ironing and remove any stain first. This also applies to underwear and T-shirts, where small marks from deodorant or food are easy to miss. If a stain did not come out in the wash, wash again before any heat gets near it. See bamboo underwear for men.

In short

Bamboo clothing rarely needs ironing. Take it out of the machine straight away and hang it up damp on a hanger. If you do need to iron, use low heat, steam rather than pressure, and iron on the reverse side. The collar on a shirt is often the only part that needs the iron, and never iron over a stain.

Frequently asked questions

Does bamboo clothing need ironing?

Rarely. Hung up damp from the machine, it smooths itself out. The collar of a shirt is often the only part that needs a little steam.

What temperature should the iron be set to?

Low, as for synthetics. Viscose does not tolerate high heat, so test on a hidden spot first and iron on the reverse side.

Why does the fabric turn shiny?

Because it was pressed too hard with an iron that was too hot. Use steam rather than pressure, and iron on the reverse side to avoid marks.

See our range of Copenhagen Bamboo.