01/05/2020 Category: Pillows
- 1 Benefits of bamboo fiber
- 2 Features of bamboo pillows
- 3 Is it possible to wash bamboo pillows in a washing machine?
- 4 How often should you wash a bamboo pillow?
- 5 How to choose a detergent
- 6 Washing rules 6.1 Setting the mode
- 6.2 Temperature selection
- 6.3 Recommended spin parameters
Knowing how to wash bamboo pillows, you can safely choose inexpensive but comfortable products for sleeping. The natural filler is unpretentious and, with proper care, serves its owners for a long time. The main thing is to adhere to a washing technology that does not destroy the natural structure of bamboo.
Bamboo pillows have become a common attribute of bedrooms. Users felt all the charm and convenience of such things.
Features of bamboo pillows
When caring for bedding made from natural filler, you need to know that the filler can deform when exposed to heat. In a humid climate, things will have to be ventilated often, otherwise they will cake. With a pronounced form of osteochondrosis, it is advisable to choose special orthopedic pillows rather than ordinary ones.
The orthopedic properties of bamboo products and springing ability depend on the quality and looseness of the filler.
Subtleties of washing
All bamboo pillows have a label that contains recommendations from the manufacturer. Most often, the information on textiles looks like this:
- The water temperature should not exceed 40 degrees.
- Allowed modes are delicate or manual.
- Spin - quite often this information is not indicated on the label.
- The use of bleach is prohibited, as is the use of various dry cleaning products.
- Pillows made with bamboo fiber cannot be ironed.
It is strictly forbidden to hang dry bamboo pillows, as they become compressed and lose their quality.
It is advisable to study all the information on the label before purchasing the product. If something is unclear, it is better to contact your sales consultant for clarification. Large textile stores often have entire instructions on caring for bedding with bamboo filling.
It is not recommended to wash the pillow with other laundry; it is better if it is washed alone. Be sure to take into account the technical capabilities of the washing machine. So, automatic machines with a small drum may not be able to wash such a bulky textile product.
Is it possible to wash bamboo pillows in a washing machine?
When buying things with vegetable filling, the question immediately arises of how to properly care for them. During operation, products become dirty, this is inevitable. During sleep, a person develops traces of sweat and fat; a pillowcase cover is not always able to protect completely.
Is it possible to wash bamboo pillows in a machine without extra effort? Certainly. It is only necessary to reduce the residence time of the fibers in water to a minimum. No pre-soaking required. After the drum stops, it is advisable to immediately remove the items to the air. The features of drying are discussed below. How to wash bamboo pillows in a washing machine and which mode to choose can be found in a separate section of the text.
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.
How often should you wash a bamboo pillow?
Although bamboo fibers are durable, exposing them too often to water and detergents is harmful. Plant raw materials after factory processing retain their cellular structure and absorb moisture well.
It must be taken into account that the filler is able to repel dust, has bactericidal properties, and kills most pathogenic organisms. Therefore, it is better to choose products with a removable cover and change pillowcases more often.
The composition of the pillow matters a lot; the filling consists of only 50–70% bamboo. The rest is other types of fibers. Branded items are washed no more than twice a year, but pillows can be vacuumed at every linen change.
Note! When the pillowcases are made of thick fabric, the cover stays clean longer and yellowness does not appear on it.
Liquid detergents produced by popular brands dissolve quickly even in cold water and have good penetrating ability.
Caring for Bamboo Fiber Pillows
Even the most correct and careful washing can lead to deterioration of the product over time, so it is necessary to properly care for it in order to avoid the unnecessary need to use a washing machine.
To do this you need:
- Avoid long-term storage in rolled form or plastic bags.
- Fluff and thoroughly ventilate the pillow, this will get rid of the unpleasant odor and accumulated dust, which will delay the need for washing. After all, bamboo filler does not like water.
- If small stains form on the fabric, it is recommended not to use a machine to remove them. You can deal with it in a more gentle way. Simply dilute the detergent with a little water and manually wipe the stain off the cover.
How to choose a detergent
Washing powder used for bed linen dissolves unevenly. Small particles penetrate through the covers into the filler, settle on the plant material, and are not completely rinsed out. Although pillows do not cause allergies, after unsuccessful washing the properties of the bedding will change. The mucous membranes of the eyes may turn red and sneezing may occur if microscopic detergent granules are present.
Gels wash off dirt just as well. Some manufacturers offer special liquid products labeled “For bamboo.” Housewives more often fill their cars with capsules with liquid contents or pour liquid analogues of effective powders into the container. Fortunately, the range is huge. You can buy bottles with familiar labels from well-known brands.
It is necessary to avoid aggressive components, so products for the care of delicate items and wool would be a good option. Usually, fragrances and softeners are added to gels, after which the textiles straighten more easily.
Washing rules
Now about how to wash a bamboo pillow in a washing machine. You can load bamboo items into the machine, but only in the correct mode, otherwise the pillow will have to be thrown away. Before loading, you must make sure that there is no bleach residue or powder grains in the containers. It is better to rinse the machine first by turning on the “spin” mode. Before washing, vacuum the pillow and, if necessary, restore the integrity of the seams. So that the filler does not come out.
Setting the mode
For bedding, several modes are considered correct. One of them will definitely be found on the control panel. Options:
- "handwash";
- "delicate wash";
- "duvet blanked".
After washing without spinning, do not take things out of the drum, turn on the rinse and spin mode at minimum speed.
Note! To effectively clean the cover and maintain the looseness of the filler, it is recommended to load special laundry balls or tennis balls into the drum along with the pillow.
Be careful when placing pillows in the drum. The item is laid out evenly across its entire width, and balls are placed on top.
Temperature selection
In summer, it is permissible to wash bamboo without heating. When it is too cold or the cover has turned yellow from sweat, set the temperature to 30 or 35 degrees. When good processing is needed, set the regulator to o. But it is better to wash the fiber at a minimum temperature.
Recommended spin parameters
When options allow, set double rinse or spin the machine twice. The maximum speed is 500, then the pillow will retain its attractive appearance.
How to machine wash correctly?
Although there are differences between bamboo fiber pillows from different manufacturers, there are a few optimal conditions that are suitable for the vast majority of products. The approximate washing order is as follows:
- Carefully inspect the drum of the machine and make sure there are no residual detergents or powder.
- If possible, choose a delicate wash program and set the water temperature to no more than 30-40 degrees.
- If necessary (if there is appropriate information on the label), you will need to manually adjust the mode, for example, select double rinse.
- Thoroughly shake off dust and other accumulated dirt from the pillow. Carefully check the integrity of the product, otherwise the fiber may be damaged during operation of the machine.
- The pillow must be washed separately from other items.
Differences between machine and hand washing
If it is not possible to use a machine, you have to put the bedding in order manually. It is worth considering that blankets and pillows with bamboo filling become heavy due to bamboo’s good ability to absorb moisture.
Fill the container with warm (NOT hot!) water within 30 degrees. The selected detergent is dissolved in the liquid; it is better to use a special gel for bamboo products.
The pillow is briefly immersed in the solution for a short time. Rub the cover lightly if necessary. Then they immediately begin to rinse. Rinse the bedding in several waters until the soapy effect disappears.
Important! If soaked for a long time, the item will lose its shape. The structure of the fibers changes when hot water is used.
Over time, the products lose their former attractiveness and shape, and sleeping on such pillows is uncomfortable.
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!
What can cause damage to a bamboo pillow?
Although bamboo has many advantages, when caring for products you have to take into account the disadvantages of plant materials. This is not synthetic, please be careful. Main rules:
- No dry cleaning, only gentle wash. Aggressive reagents destroy the cellular structure.
- Due to the high rotation speeds of the washing machine drum, the filler becomes very loose and dense lumps form.
- A yellowed cover can only be bleached separately from the fibers.
- Bamboo is afraid of exposure to hot steam; it is prohibited to dry pillows in machines with a drying mode.
- Excessive compression leads to irreversible deformation of bamboo; twisting bedding is fraught.
Knowing all the prohibitions, you can preserve the presentation and functionality of eco-friendly hypoallergenic items for a long time.
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.
How to dry a pillow correctly
Washed bedding is removed from the drum immediately after stopping the machine. The cover and contents are leveled with light movements. Lay out on a flat horizontal surface (for example, the bottom of an inverted basin installed in the bathroom), allow excess water to drain. Moisture can also be removed using a dry cloth. When the house has a mesh dryer, place the pillow on the strings. You can use several ropes stretched in parallel. You need to be prepared for the fact that water will be released drop by drop.
Twisting or compressing the fiber is strictly prohibited. It’s easy to spoil the filler, but it’s problematic to restore it, you’ll have to try. When there is no visible water, it is advisable to periodically turn the pillow over so that the bamboo is ventilated evenly through the fabric cover. Leaving a thing in one position for a long time is harmful. With prolonged exposure to moisture, the fibers swell too much and become brittle after drying. Heating above 30 degrees is not recommended. In the summer, create a draft, protect the filled case from the scorching sun, and put it away from the battery.
You can’t dry pillows with an iron, and you can’t hang them by the corners either. Even in a special mesh, the fiber will suffocate and begin to rot. It will take 3 or 4 days to bring the bedding to condition, depending on air humidity. After this, the items are allowed to rest for 2 days.
Important! The evaporation of moisture is accelerated by using a household fan. The propeller blades are directed so that the air flow slides over the textile.
Drying bamboo filler in the open air is useful, but it is advisable to avoid direct sunlight to avoid damping off.
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.
