Stains on Bamboo Clothing – The First Aid Guide
Short answer: Stains on bamboo clothing should be treated quickly, gently and cold. Dab the stain with cold water and mild detergent, let it work, and then wash at 30 to 40 degrees. Never use chlorine or strong bleach, which weakens the bamboo fibres.
Act quickly
The sooner you act, the better. A fresh stain sits only on the surface, while a stain that has been left to dry works its way deeper into the fibres. If you do not have time for a thorough treatment straight away, at least rinse the stain through with cold water.
Dab, do not rub
Dab the stain with a clean cloth or a piece of kitchen roll, and work from the edge towards the centre. Hard rubbing wears the smooth surface of bamboo viscose, can leave a dull patch and often spreads the stain over a larger area. Place a cloth underneath the fabric, so the stain is drawn down and away.
Cold water rather than hot
Use cold or lukewarm water when treating a stain. Hot water can actually set protein stains such as blood, egg and milk, making them hard to remove. Cold water is also gentle on fibres and colours, which makes it the safe place to start, whatever kind of stain you are dealing with.
Test the stain remover first
Always test a stain remover on a hidden spot first, such as the inside of a seam. Leave it for a few minutes, and check whether the colour changes or the fabric turns stiff. Bamboo viscose reacts more strongly to harsh products than cotton does, so a mild product is almost always the best choice.
Blood
Rinse with cold water immediately, ideally from the back of the fabric, so the stain is pushed out the way it came in. Then dab with a little mild detergent, and leave it for half an hour. A stubborn stain can soak in cold water overnight. The same applies to bamboo bedding.
Coffee and tea
Rinse the stain through with cold water as soon as possible, and soak the garment in cold water with a little detergent for about an hour. Milk in the coffee adds a protein stain on top of the colour, so cold water matters even more here. It is a typical stain on bamboo T-shirts for women.
Grease and oil
Put a little washing up liquid directly on the stain, and spread it gently with your finger. Washing up liquid is made to dissolve grease and is mild enough for bamboo. Leave it for ten minutes, and then wash the garment. Check afterwards whether a dark edge remains, and repeat the treatment if needed.
Deodorant marks
White streaks and yellow patches under the arms are typical on an undershirt for men. Soak the undershirt in cold water with a tablespoon of vinegar for half an hour before washing. The vinegar helps dissolve the residue. If the marks keep coming back, a different deodorant may be worth trying.
After treating the stain
Wash the garment as usual at 30 to 40 degrees with a mild detergent, and check the stain before drying. Heat from a dryer or the sun can set any remaining residue. If the stain is still there, repeat the treatment rather than washing hotter. This also applies to delicate bamboo nightwear.
What to avoid
Avoid chlorine and strong bleach, which weaken and discolour bamboo fibres. At most, use an oxygen based stain remover, and only after a test. Avoid acetone and other solvents too, as they can damage viscose. Fabric softener removes no stains, but leaves a film that can make new stains harder to shift. See also complete washing guide for bamboo clothing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use chlorine on white bamboo clothing?
No, chlorine weakens bamboo fibres and can cause yellow patches and holes. Instead, use a mild oxygen based product after testing it, or soak the garment in cold water.
What do I do if the stain has dried in?
Soak the garment in cold water with mild detergent for a few hours or overnight. Then treat the stain again, and wash at 30 to 40 degrees as usual.
Can I tumble dry after removing a stain?
Wait until you have checked that the stain is completely gone. The heat can set any residue, and bamboo clothing generally does best drying on a hanger or a rack.
See our range of Copenhagen Bamboo.
