Does Bamboo Clothing Shrink in the Wash? How to Avoid It
Short answer: Yes, bamboo clothing can shrink in the wash, but only if it is treated the wrong way. Shrinking is almost always caused by too high a temperature or by tumble drying. If you wash at 30-40 degrees and air dry, bamboo clothing keeps both its shape and its size wash after wash.
Why bamboo shrinks in the wash
Bamboo viscose is a cellulose fibre that absorbs water and becomes more elastic when wet. High heat makes the fibres contract, and that is what you experience as shrinking. The culprit is rarely the wash itself, but the temperature and above all the tumble dryer. Read the full care routine in our complete washing guide for bamboo clothing.
How to avoid shrinking
Wash at 30-40 degrees, use a gentle programme with a low spin, and skip the tumble dryer. Hang the clothes up or lay them flat to dry, and they will keep their fit. That goes for everything from bamboo T-shirts for men to bamboo leggings for women.
What if the damage is already done?
Slightly shrunken bamboo clothing can often be saved: dampen it, gently pull it back into shape and let it dry flat. If the garment has shrunk a lot, it is unfortunately hard to put right. Better to buy the right size from the start with help from our size guide for bamboo clothing, and have a look at the range under bamboo clothing for men and bamboo clothing for women.
Frequently asked questions
Does bamboo clothing shrink in the wash?
Only if it is treated the wrong way. At 30-40 degrees and air dried, bamboo clothing keeps its size. High temperatures and tumble drying are the typical causes of shrinking.
How much does bamboo shrink in the tumble dryer?
It varies, but tumble drying at high heat can shrink bamboo clothing noticeably and make the fabric look more worn. Air drying is always the safe choice.
Can shrunken bamboo clothing be stretched back?
Light shrinking can often be fixed by dampening the garment and gently pulling it back into shape while it dries flat. Severe shrinking usually cannot be corrected.
