Can you wash clothes with zips together with bamboo
Short answer: Yes, you can, as long as the zip is closed and the clothes go in a mesh laundry bag or are turned inside out. The open metal teeth cause the damage, not the mix of garments itself.
Why zips can damage soft clothing
An open zip has small teeth of metal or hard plastic, and in a turning drum they act almost like a file. Bamboo viscose is a smooth, soft fibre, and many knitted garments are made from quite a fine yarn. If the fabric rubs against those teeth for a whole wash, it can get pulled threads or tiny holes. You rarely see it after one wash, but after many washes there is often a rougher surface, small loops and fluff in exactly the places that touched the metal.
Close the zip and turn the garment inside out
The single most important step is to close the zip completely before anything goes into the machine. The teeth then sit protected inside each other, and only the smooth back faces outwards. Turn jackets, trousers and hoodies with zips inside out where you can. The same goes for press studs and hook and loop fastening, which can also catch. Hook and loop is often worse than a zip, because the hooks grab fine fibres and tear them loose.
Use a laundry bag for delicate items
A fine mesh laundry bag is a cheap and simple fix. Put the soft bamboo clothing in the bag, such as underwear and thin tops, and let the heavier items with zips move freely in the drum. That way both kinds of clothing can be washed at the same temperature without touching directly. It suits everyday items like bamboo underpants for men, which are washed often and should keep their shape for a long time.
Choose the right programme and temperature
When you mix clothing, the programme should suit the most delicate item in the load. For most bamboo garments that means 30 or 40 degrees, a gentle cycle and a moderate spin speed. A high spin increases friction between garments and presses the clothes hard against any metal parts. Do not fill the drum to the top either, as fuller loads mean more rubbing. Always read the care label in each garment, because the maker's advice is what applies to that item.
Sort by weight and colour
Heavy jeans with metal buttons and zips are much harder on thin fabric than a light jacket with a plastic zip. It is better to wash the heaviest items on their own and group light items together. Sort by colour as well, since new dark jeans can release dye. A pale shirt from a range of bamboo polos for men can quickly take on a grey tint if it is washed with dark denim the first few times.
Check your clothes after washing
Take a quick look at the bamboo clothing when it comes out of the machine. If you see a pulled thread, do not cut it off. Instead, ease it gently through to the inside with a needle, which keeps the knit intact. Hang the clothes to dry rather than using a tumble dryer, so the fibres are worn less. Light pieces like a bamboo tank top for men dry quickly on a hanger and keep their fit better that way.
Frequently asked questions
Should the zip be open or closed in the wash
Closed. A closed zip hides its teeth, while an open one can snag other clothing and become bent itself.
Are plastic zips gentler than metal ones
They are slightly softer, but they can still catch. Close them and turn the garment inside out whatever the material.
Does a laundry bag really help
Yes. The bag keeps thin clothing away from buttons, zips and hook and loop fastening, so there is less friction.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
