White bamboo bed sheets hanging outside for drying

How To Dry Bamboo Sheets

Caring for your bamboo sheets is paramount to helping them last longer and maintain their exquisite softness. But this doesn’t end with washing your bamboo sheets. How you dry your bamboo sheets can impact the quality of the fabric, for better or for worse.

The best way to dry your bamboo sheets is to hang them to dry outside, with a slight breeze to encourage movement. If you can’t air dry your bamboo bed sheets, you can tumble dry them on your dryer’s low or delicate setting. Never use high heat with bamboo sheets, as this can damage the fibers.

We all know how disappointing faded, stretched, or stiff bed sheets can be. To help you keep your bamboo sheets in top shape, we take a closer look at how different drying methods impact plant-based materials such as bamboo fabric. We’ll also get into the do’s and don’ts of drying bamboo sheets so you can keep them velvety soft for years to come!

How to dry bamboo sheets

Before drying your bamboo sheets, you’ll want to wash them with a mild detergent and cold water first! Once your bamboo sheets are all cleaned and ready to dry, there are two options to evenly dry your sheets while still preserving the quality of the bamboo fibers.

Hang dry outside

The best way to dry your bamboo sheets is to hang dry them in mild weather. Whether you use a clothing line and pins or have a collapsible drying rack, hanging your bamboo sheets allows them to dry evenly and without stress. Having sunlight beating down on your bamboo sheets isn’t necessary, but it removes strong odors and naturally brightens clothes.

Woman hanging washed bamboo bed sheets under the sun for drying

A gentle breeze is helpful because it will dry the fabric a little faster (as long as it is secured to the line and doesn’t blow away with the wind). A breeze also helps the fabric move so it doesn’t become stiff, though you can also shake clothes to loosen them up, too. Of course, you’ll want to avoid drying outside when it’s raining, which will prevent your bamboo sheets from drying and may even make them wetter.

While warm weather certainly speeds things up, did you know that it’s possible to dry your bamboo sheets in freezing temperatures? This is known as freeze-drying and it’s a form of sublimation – in this case, water freezes to ice which then evaporates without becoming liquid again!

Can you hang dry bamboo sheets indoors?

While hang-drying your bamboo sheets outdoors is the best method, you can air dry your bamboo bed sheets indoors if you’ve got the space for it. When drying your bamboo sheets indoors, you want to mimic those idyllic drying conditions as much as possible. Pick a warm, dry spot with plenty of air circulation, such as near a window.

With drying indoors, you want to make sure that your bamboo sheets are not staying damp for too long, or they may get musty. This is not an issue limited to bamboo fabrics; just about every fabric left damp for too long will develop a musty smell. Unfortunately, that musty smell indicates mold, which thrives in damp environments.

You can avoid the musty smell by immediately removing your wet bamboo sheets from the washer to begin the drying process. Don’t leave them in the washing machine, in a laundry hamper, or on the floor for more than a few hours. Hanging your bamboo sheets in a sunny spot, in a room with ventilation, or near an open window will speed up the drying time and prevent that musty smell. If you live in a humid climate, you can try using a dehumidifier to manage your home’s humidity.

Dry your bamboo sheets using the gentle setting on the dryer

Another option to dry your bamboo sheets is in your dryer. However, you don’t want to use the normal setting on the dryer, as this can damage the fabric. That’s because the natural fibers are prone to breaking or piling at high heat. Instead, choose the “delicate,” “gentle,” or “tumble dry low” setting. These settings use less heat, and in most cases, the drum tumbles slower as well, both of which are better for the longevity of your bamboo sheets.

Using a dryer to dry bamboo sheets

It may vary depending on the brand of your machine, but most delicate settings are around 120-125°F (49-50°C), whereas high heat can get up to 150°F (66°C) or more. Something else to remember is that different types of dryers can also cause heat intensity to vary. For example, gas dryers tend to get much hotter and heat up quickly, so be cautious if you are drying bamboo sheets using a gas dryer.

Why are high temperatures bad for bamboo sheets?

In most cases, fabrics contain 55-60% water when put into the dryer. Heating the water within the fabric too quickly can damage sensitive material like bamboo fabric. The dryer, once started, will cause the water within the sheets to evaporate using heat and air circulation. Clothing is generally considered “dry” when it contains 2-3% water in the fabric.

However, fabrics made from natural fibers like cotton, linen, wool, and even bamboo have a natural moisture content that is higher than most materials. If too much moisture is removed during the drying process, it will damage the fabric. Materials made from plant fibers like bamboo will attempt to replenish that moisture by wicking it from the atmosphere, but by doing this, they will become much weaker.

When the sheets are tossed around in the drum of the dryer, the fibers become raised on a microscopic level. This isn’t always a bad thing – many towels tumbled dry on high heat become fluffier. For other fabrics, including bamboo, this can contribute to a weakened, stretched fiber that can shorten its lifespan. The damage from tumbling around in the dryer increases when the bamboo sheets are wet since they are heavier and hit the sides of the drum with more force. You can minimize this damage by drying your bamboo sheets separately from other fabrics on a lower heat setting.

Can I use dryer sheets?

No, I don’t recommend using dryer sheets. I abandoned them from my house many years ago because of several reasons (toxins, single-use trash…). A better option is to use dryer balls. They help speed up the drying process and reduce wrinkles. In addition, you can add your favorite scent to them to make your sheets smell fabulous!

Visible wrinkles on a dry bamboo sheet

What to do about wrinkles in your bamboo sheets?

The best course of action is to avoid getting wrinkles on your bamboo sheets in the first place, although they can still happen. Fortunately, wrinkles don’t harm the fabric itself, so it’s fine to leave them in.

If you must rid your bamboo sheets of wrinkles, the best way is to iron them on the lowest heat setting. You can also use a garment steamer to remove wrinkles, but only if it has a low heat setting. Be very cautious when ironing your bamboo sheets so as not to let them get too hot, as it can damage the fabric’s fibers.

Typically, any wrinkles in your bamboo sheets will vanish when you wash and dry them again. Just make sure to fold them or lay them flat on your bed immediately after drying to prevent wrinkles from setting in while the fabric is still warm.

Storing dry bamboo bed sheets on a shelf to avoid dirts

How to store your bamboo sheets once they are dry

If you are rotating bed sheets, you may want to store your recently cleaned and dried bamboo sheets until you use them again. Make sure that you are only storing bamboo sheets that are clean and dry to avoid the buildup of bacteria. While there are types of bamboo sheets that are naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial, that doesn’t mean you should store them dirty.

The best way to store your bamboo sheets is in a clean, cool, and dry environment. Store them in a place away from appliances, particularly those emitting heat. Avoid keeping your bamboo sheets in areas with direct sunlight, as prolonged sun exposure can cause discoloration and may even damage the fabric. Lastly, give them plenty of breathing room. Don’t pack your bamboo sheets down, as this can cause them to become stiff.

Have you used one of these methods to dry your bamboo sheets? Which one worked best for you?
Woman (Natalie) and man (James) in front of bamboo
About the Author: James Zimmerman

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