How to Dry Bamboo Clothing – Flat, Hanging or Tumble Dried?

Short answer: The best way to dry bamboo clothing is air drying. Hang shirts, T-shirts and nightwear on hangers, and lay knitted or heavy items flat. The tumble dryer should be a last resort, as the heat shrinks and wears bamboo fibres. Fortunately, bamboo dries faster than cotton.

Hanging to dry: for most things

T-shirts, vests, nightwear and shirts dry best on a hanger or a drying rack. Give each item a light shake and smooth the seams with your hands as you hang it, and most creases disappear on their own. This applies to bamboo T-shirts for men as well as light everyday tops.

Nightwear on a hanger

Light nightwear hangs well on a hanger, where the fabric can fall naturally. Hang bamboo nightdresses for women by the shoulders, so the weight spreads evenly and the dress does not pull out of shape. When the fabric hangs freely, it dries quickly and almost without creases.

Flat drying: for heavy and stretchy items

Heavy or very stretchy items can grow longer if they hang soaking wet. The water in the fabric pulls downwards and stretches the fibres. Lay them flat on a drying rack or a towel instead, and turn them along the way. That way they keep their fit and dry evenly.

Hoodies and leggings

A bamboo hoodie for men contains a lot of fabric and holds plenty of water after washing. Lay it flat, and shape the sleeves and hood while it is damp. Bamboo leggings for women can hang over a bar at the middle, so the waistband does not stretch them.

Tumble dryer: watch the heat

The dryer shrinks bamboo and makes the surface fuzzy, because heat and friction act on the fibres at the same time. Elastic in waistbands also loses its stretch. If you are in a hurry, use a low spin and hang the clothes with space around them. Bamboo viscose releases moisture quickly.

Radiators and direct sun

Clothes placed directly on a very hot radiator can turn stiff and misshapen, because the heat hits them unevenly. Hang them near the heat rather than on it. Direct sun dries quickly but can fade dark colours over time, so turn clothes inside out.

Give the clothes space

Clothes that hang close together dry slowly and can develop a musty smell. Give each item some air around it, and leave space between items on the rack. A room with some airflow or an open window does more for drying time than extra heat.

Avoid creases from the start

Take the clothes out of the machine as soon as the programme ends. Laundry that sits wet and compressed in the drum gets deep creases that are hard to remove. Shake each item, pull lightly on the seams and hang it up straight away.

Ironing is rarely needed

When bamboo clothing is hung up neatly, the weight of the fabric smooths out most creases. If you do want to iron, use low heat and iron on the inside while the fabric is slightly damp. High heat can leave shiny marks on bamboo viscose.

In short

Hang most bamboo clothing on hangers or a rack, and lay heavy and stretchy items flat. Avoid the tumble dryer and very hot radiators. Give the clothes air and take them out of the machine promptly, and they will dry quickly and keep their shape and softness. See also complete washing guide for bamboo clothing and bamboo and temperature regulation.