Almost all bamboo fabric is viscose made from bamboo pulp, so it behaves like viscose in the wash — weak when wet, prone to shrinking.
How to wash bamboo
| Garment | Wash | Dry | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bamboo | 30°C (86°F) | line dry; low tumble at most | mild, no bleach |
Use a gentle cycle and mild, no bleach. It is genuinely more absorbent than cotton, which is why it is common in towels and bedding, and why it takes longer to dry.
Drying and ironing
Dry line dry; low tumble at most. For ironing: low.
Bamboo lyocell exists and is much stronger, but is rarer and labelled differently. The distinction matters more than the plant does.
How long it should last
Two to five years for viscose-process bamboo.
Quick reference
Bamboo at a glance
- Wash: 30°C (86°F)
- Cycle: gentle
- Detergent: mild, no bleach
- Dry: line dry; low tumble at most
- Iron: low