How to Wash Bamboo Pyjamas and Keep Them Soft
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Short answer: wash bamboo pyjamas cold, at 30°C or below, on a gentle cycle. Turn them inside out, use a mild liquid detergent and skip the fabric softener. Then reshape them and dry them flat. Don't tumble dry, bleach or dry clean them.
That's exactly what the care label in every HAMORÉ piece says. Below is how to do each step, what the symbols on the label mean, and the mistakes that wear bamboo out fastest.
Quick care checklist
- Wash cold, at 30°C or below, on a delicate or wool cycle
- Turn pieces inside out
- Use a mild liquid detergent, and no fabric softener
- Wash with similar colours
- Reshape while damp and dry flat, away from direct heat
- Iron on the reverse at a low setting, only if needed
- No tumble dryer, no bleach, no dry cleaning
What the symbols on your care label mean
| Symbol | What it means |
|---|---|
| Washtub with 30 and lines underneath | Machine wash at 30°C or below on a gentle cycle |
| Triangle with a cross | Do not bleach |
| Square with a circle and a cross | Do not tumble dry |
| Iron with one dot | Iron on a low heat setting |
| Circle with a cross | Do not dry clean |
The label also says to dry flat and iron on the reverse. Always follow the care label in your garment; it's the definitive guide for that piece.
How to wash bamboo pyjamas
- Turn them inside out to protect the surface from rubbing.
- Wash cold, at 30°C or below, on a delicate or wool cycle.
- Use a mild liquid detergent. Liquid dissolves more evenly than powder.
- Skip fabric softener. The fabric is already soft, and softener can build up.
- Wash with similar colours, especially Cocoa Brown with lighter pieces.
- Use a mesh laundry bag if you're washing with heavier items.
Can you hand wash bamboo pyjamas? Yes. Use cool water and a mild detergent, press the water out gently, and don't wring.
How to dry bamboo pyjamas
- Do not tumble dry. Heat can shrink viscose and affect the elastane.
- Reshape while damp and dry flat, away from radiators and strong sunlight.
Do bamboo pyjamas shrink?
Bamboo viscose can shrink if it's washed hot or tumble dried, because heat affects both the fibres and the elastane. Washing cold and drying flat is the simplest way to avoid it.
How to iron bamboo pyjamas
Most of the time you won't need to. If you do, iron on the reverse at a low setting, or use a steamer.
How to store bamboo pyjamas
Fold them rather than hanging them for long periods, so the fabric doesn't stretch.
The most common mistakes when caring for bamboo
- Washing hot. Stick to 30°C or below.
- Tumble drying. It's the quickest way to shrink viscose.
- Using fabric softener. It isn't needed and can build up.
- Wringing them out. Press water out gently instead.
- Washing with zips, towels or Velcro. Friction can cause pilling.
- Hanging them wet. The label says dry flat, which helps them keep their shape.
Why has my bamboo piece gone slightly bobbly?
Friction, for example from a bag strap or bedding, can cause light pilling on most soft fabrics. A fabric shaver used gently will tidy it.
What is the downside of bamboo fabric?
It needs a little more care than cotton: no hot washes and no tumble dryer. Like most soft fabrics, it can pill with friction. And bamboo viscose is made by a chemical process, which we explain honestly in What Is Bamboo Viscose?
Do bamboo pyjamas actually work for sleeping?
That's the question our founder Kaya looks at in Does What You Wear to Bed Really Matter?, including what research says about fabric, temperature and sweat.
Choosing your set? See How to Choose the Right Bamboo Pyjamas.
Shop: Bamboo pyjamas · Bamboo nightdress · Bamboo robe