Bamboo pillows are more practical than feather pillows. In addition, they are more environmentally friendly and safer than pillows with synthetic fillers.
Therefore, products filled with softened bamboo stems are becoming more and more popular every year. They are inexpensive, light weight, hygienic and breathable.
In addition, they are very easy to care for. You can wash them in different ways, but following simple rules. Let's take a closer look at whether and how to wash a bamboo pillow in a washing machine, either automatically or by hand.
What detergent to use
Bamboo pillows should be washed in fairly cool water. Dry powder granules dissolve poorly at low temperatures, do not cope with dirt and are difficult to wash out. Therefore, it is worth choosing products in gel or liquid form.
Laundry soap shavings are also an excellent cleanser. Baby soap will dissolve well in cool water, but will not cope with severe stains.
Important! If you don’t have a suitable detergent at hand, use a gentle (for example, children’s) washing powder, pre-mixed in a small glass of warm water.
To maintain the softness of the filler, use special fabric softeners.
Bamboo pillows
Bamboo used as filler is a product of processing the stems of a young plant. Bamboo fiber has a characteristic white color and fleecy consistency. To ensure that products with natural content do not lose their shape, manufacturers add a small amount of artificial materials to pillows.
Bamboo pillows are an unfavorable environment for bacteria to grow. Research has proven that the presence of a natural antiseptic in bamboo leads to the death of most bacteria within a few hours. Bamboo raw material does not attract small dry particles contained in the air.
How to wash a bamboo pillow by hand
Any washing method requires careful inspection of the product. The presence of holes and serious ties in the cover may result in the filling being exposed during the washing process.
If the cover is damaged, but you don’t want to part with the pillow, carefully but firmly sew up the hole.
Next, follow the instructions:
Important! Being in hot water spoils the shape of the product and the structure of its filler.
- Fill a clean bucket/basin with water not hotter than 40 degrees.
- Add detergent to the prepared container. This can be a concentrated capsule, liquid laundry detergent or finely grated laundry soap. In the first two cases, follow the mixing proportions specified by the manufacturer of the product. Mix well until a thick, fluffy foam appears.
- Place the pillow in the resulting solution for 60 minutes. Periodically crumple and turn it over.
- Drain the dirty soapy water and fill the container with clean water and rinse the pillow. Repeat the procedure several times until the foaming solution is completely washed away.
- To allow most of the water to drain, lift a clean, wet pad over the container. Do not hang it for a long time to avoid deformation! Squeeze gently, avoiding twisting movements.
- Dry properly.
Important! Dry laundry detergent is difficult to wash out of bamboo fiber and can cause allergies. It is unacceptable to use products containing chlorine or acids.
Differences between machine and hand washing
Washing large bedding by hand is very difficult, but sometimes such a need still arises if the washing machine has broken down or for some reason you need to handle washing a large pillow yourself. For these purposes, it is best to use a bath. The detergent should be dissolved based on the collected volume of water, immerse the bamboo product in it, lightly rub and rinse immediately.
Important! It is impossible to keep a bamboo pillow soaked for a long time. The filler fibers will lose their shape, swell and the item will be damaged.
How to wash a bamboo pillow in a washing machine
Many bedding items are safe from the washing machine, but not a bamboo pillow. As a rule, the manufacturer himself places washing recommendations on the product label.
If the tag has been missing for a long time or the instructions on it have become illegible, use the following procedure:
- Before washing a product with bamboo filling, rinse the machine additionally without adding any chemicals. There may be some laundry detergent, chlorinated detergent or bleach left in the drum.
- Use the “delicate wash” or “hand wash” mode.
- The water temperature should be no higher than 40 degrees.
- Use liquid or gel detergents.
- Rinse the pillow in the washing machine twice.
- A gentle spin is preferable - no more than 500 rpm.
- After washing, distribute the bamboo filling evenly.
- Dry properly.
Important! To prevent the filler from rolling off, wash the product with special balls.
Machine washing can handle more aggressive stains than hand washing.
Benefits of bamboo fiber
What is so attractive about bamboo products? Why have they become so popular? Let's list:
- Environmentally friendly material.
The area where bamboo plantations grow is located far from environmentally polluting industries. The method of obtaining fiber is mechanical, without adding chemical additives, which characterizes the resulting product as environmentally friendly. Bamboo products are suitable for absolutely everyone – even people prone to allergies! - Bamboo is a fiber that is good for health. The pectin, antioxidants, and vitamin E preserved during its production slow down the aging process and reduce the possibility of cancer.
- Has antibacterial and deodorizing properties.
- The fiber is constantly ventilated with air - due to its structure. It is impossible to sweat while sleeping on such a pillow; the sweat released is absorbed in a split second, eliminating skin irritation.
- Is a natural antiseptic. Therefore, bacteria entering the filler die within 24 hours.
- Has antistatic properties. This means that dust is not scary for him.
- It does not rot, therefore it will last for many years.
Do you agree that bamboo fiber has unique properties? In order for your bamboo wonderful product to please you for many years, you need to properly care for it. Let's find out how to wash bamboo pillows.
How to properly dry a pillow
Unlike its down counterparts, a bamboo pillow does not tolerate drying at high temperatures. In the room where the product is dried, the air temperature should be no more than 30 degrees.
Such bedding should be dried in a horizontal position. A special clothes dryer, floor, coffee table, or at least a clean window sill will do. This should be done periodically by turning over (the best option is every half hour).
You can place the product either in open sunlight or next to heating or ventilation devices, but do not forget about the temperature!
Advantages and disadvantages
Why is bamboo so highly valued in home textiles? In short:
- Increased hygroscopicity;
- The ability to suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria;
- Hypoallergenic;
- Softness;
- Does not accumulate dust and static electricity;
- Affordable price.
The antibacterial effect - the ability to suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria - is the most valuable property of bamboo. The material is actively used in medicine and buyers are confident that towels, bed linen and clothing will only bring benefits! Bamboo filling is safe for allergy sufferers and asthmatics, which is important in our time when every tenth inhabitant of the planet suffers from allergies and respiratory diseases.
The fibers of the plant are more porous than cotton and absorb one and a half times more liquid. They are also softer than cotton, which is why bamboo terry towels have recently been in high demand.
However, shortcomings should also be mentioned here. The fact is that bamboo fibers are much smaller than cotton fibers and towels “clip” after washing. Therefore, many manufacturers make products from a mixture of cotton and bamboo, which, of course, affects the quality of the material. The towel becomes more voluminous and fits less, but, for example, we can no longer talk about suppressing pathogenic bacteria.
In addition, if you have back problems, it is better not to use a bamboo pillow, but to prefer an orthopedic product that will better support the neck muscles and better allow them to relax.
Care instructions
Your favorite bamboo pillow will last much longer if you follow simple rules for caring for it:
- Ironing or treating any bedding with bamboo filling with hot steam is prohibited. High temperatures can melt the fiber.
- Try to sometimes ventilate your bamboo pillow in the fresh air.
- Do not wash too often.
- Fluff the bamboo pillow as often as possible.
- Compressed storage is not permitted. Do not change the shape of the pillow; if you plan to put it in storage for some time, use the cover in which it was sold. Keep the case open or cut a few holes in it before storing.
Important! The bamboo pillow does not require professional dry cleaning. On the contrary, such products do not tolerate the use of aggressive cleaning agents and rough mechanical impact.
If you found this article useful, share it with your friends and family! Tell us about your success in caring for bamboo bedding. And if you know secrets that we haven’t listed, reveal them in the comments!
What is the material
Bamboo fibers for making fabrics and filling pillows are raw materials of plant origin. Bamboo grows in Asia, Africa, Australia and Oceania. This is an environmentally friendly, renewable raw material that people have learned to use in a variety of areas:
- Construction of houses, engineering and utility structures;
- Manufacturing of furniture and interior items (curtains, mats,);
- Making weapons;
- Tailoring;
- Cooking and gastronomy and much more.
How is this possible?
The fact is that bamboo has several stages of growth. Young shoots are used for food, and trunks that are at least six months old are used for construction. Yes, yes, you read that right. The plant grows very quickly and accordingly hardens just as quickly. To make fabric or bedding filling, mature plants are softened into fibers, a simple and healthy process.
Bamboo does not require stimulants to grow - just suitable soil and climate. It usually grows a lot; in the Middle Ages, entire groves were cut down for fields. In general, it is a cheap, environmentally friendly, renewable raw material, which also has undoubted health benefits.
Advantages of bamboo material
First, let's highlight the main advantages of bamboo fiber. Is it worth buying this product? Are there any problems in caring for it?
Pillows made from bamboo fabric are very different from ordinary feather and down pillows.
But what advantages are inherent not only in pillows, but also in all products made from bamboo.
- hypoallergenic;
- durability;
- elasticity;
- naturalness;
- nice smell;
- breathable (porous) structure;
- safety for the body;
- versatility of use;
- hygroscopicity (moisture is absorbed).
They are softer and more elastic, provide comfortable rest and perfectly relieve fatigue.
It is pleasant to rest under a bamboo blanket both on hot summer nights and on chilly winter evenings. The body does not sweat, breathes, warms up. Thanks to the unique properties of the plant, bamboo, bed bugs and other bed pests will not be present. This means that the plant is a good antiseptic (an additional plus in the piggy bank).
But, like any other textile, they need care.
Data from surveys conducted by volunteers in the capital of our Motherland show that housewives prefer proven pillow fillings. Down, feather, holofiber and its derivatives are the three leaders. But the use of bamboo fiber is gaining momentum. Although such pillows are not leaders in surveys, young families have begun to switch more to natural fillings.
The fiber itself has antibacterial and antistatic properties, meaning it practically does not get dirty.
How to prepare a product for washing
You should inspect the pillow for stubborn stains. If there are such stains, then a solution of vinegar or a piece of laundry soap will help you get rid of them. Only after this can you start washing.
You should also look for damage to the material. If there are small holes, or the seams are coming apart, the filling crawls out, this item cannot be washed right away. First, it will need to be cleaned and repaired, and only then sent to the machine.
Marking
To avoid mistakes in care, you need to know exactly what components are included in the filler. Typically, bamboo pillows are marked with one of the following marks:
- bamboo linen;
- bamboo viscose;
- bamboo rayon;
The first marking means that the product is made from natural raw materials, without any additives. The next two indicate that the filler has been treated with chemicals.
If there is synthetic padding in the composition, the pillow quickly loses its beautiful appearance. Products that contain holofiber, comforter or ecofiber are much more durable.
It's drying time
If washing bamboo pillows does not cause any discomfort, then with drying things are different. It is important to know that spinning the product in a washing machine is strictly prohibited. Why? Because it is so tender and airy that after an intense spin it can turn into... In general, you understand, right?
So, the washed “object of adoration” is removed from the machine drum, straightened out and placed on a horizontal surface. You can dry it in the sun or under a fan. But it is worth remembering that the temperature of the room where the drying takes place should not exceed 30 degrees.
If you ventilate
In general, it is not necessary to wash bamboo pillows in a washing machine (and not only). Sometimes it is enough to ventilate them. Bamboo material has amazing properties. It does not retain dust and does not absorb foreign odors. But regular ventilation still won’t hurt.
There is nothing complicated here. Take a pillow and lay it out on the balcony in a horizontal position. Air one side, then the other, and then lie down on it and see wonderful dreams.
Is it possible?
With prolonged use, any textile requires washing. If you just need to update the pillow, you can vacuum it. But for more thorough cleaning, the product should be washed by hand or in a washing machine.
The material allows you to do this, you just need to adhere to certain principles:
do not bleach by any means;- do not wash in hot water;
- do not resort to chemical cleaning of the product;
- do not use dry powders for washing;
- do not wash together with other products;
- do not rub with brushes or hard sponges;
- Do not iron;
- Do not dry in a vertical position.
Nowadays there are pillows on sale that are positioned as products made entirely from bamboo, but in fact they consist of a bamboo cover and a synthetic filler.
The filler is usually:
- padding polyester,
- holofiber,
- "swansdown".
Washing rules may vary depending on the type of filler.
Bleach and other harsh chemicals can destroy the structure of bamboo fiber and ruin the pillow. It will lose its shape, form a solid lump and will not be suitable for use.
Bulk products are dangerous because they do not completely dissolve during gentle washing with low water temperatures. As a result, powder particles get stuck between the filler fibers.
Using a pillow with powder in the fibers can negatively affect human health. In addition, powder microgranules destroy the material from the inside .
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Hands
Hand washing, just like machine washing, begins with inspecting the cover. If there are holes, even the smallest ones, they need to be sewn up. After this, you should prepare a clean container of a suitable size.
Large pillows can be washed directly in the bathtub, but the bathtub must be washed thoroughly first.
Warm water (no more than 40 degrees) is filled into the container . After this, liquid detergent for delicate laundry (40-50 mg) is added.
You can use the product for children's clothing. The main thing is that it is hypoallergenic, since when washing by hand it is not always possible to completely rinse out the detergent.
The detergent needs to be mixed in water, but not whipped to a rich foam , because in this case it will be more difficult to rinse the pillow.
Next, the pillow is placed in soapy water. It must be completely wet, slightly wrinkled and left in water for 15 minutes.
After the allotted time has passed, the pillow should be turned over several times without removing it from the water. If it has not been washed for a long time, you can leave it for another 10 minutes. After this, you need to drain the water and begin the rinsing procedure.
Products with bamboo filling should not be rinsed under running water , as this may lead to the filling becoming churned. You need to pour clean water into the container and rinse the pillow until the water becomes soapy. After this, the water is drained again and the container is filled with clean water.
The procedure is repeated several times. The process ends when the water stops foaming.
The final stage is drying . But first, the pillow must be removed from the water and placed on a grate installed above the bathtub or washbasin to drain.
In 20-30 minutes the water will drain from it. The product cannot be left in this position for longer; it must be placed correctly to dry.
Wash by hand using mild, gentle detergents, without the use of bleaches. There is no need to separate the cover and the filler . But if separate cleaning of the cover and filling is required, then the filling is placed in a bag or pillowcase made of non-fading fabric.
When it's time to wash
In the crazy world of modern technology, you really want to at least be “natural and cozy” at home. And this desire is completely justified, because whatever one may say, instincts take their toll. It's the same with pillows. How to wash your favorite bamboo pillow? It turns out there is nothing simpler.
When laundry is unavoidable, feel free to open the washing machine and load up your favorite pillow. Select a program where the washing temperature does not exceed 40 degrees, and press the “Start” button. Now go about your business with peace of mind.
Bamboo bedding is not fancy. You can wash them in any powder. The only requirement is not to use bleaches or conditioners. So stop wondering, “Can bamboo pillows be washed in a household washing machine?”, and go ahead and enjoy the results.
It’s even easier if the pillow is covered with a cover. You take it off, wash it and that's it. The filler remains safe and sound, and the product will last you even longer.
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