The world has recently seen a global increase in viral and bacterial infections. This opened our eyes to the importance of cleanliness around our home and environment. Since we spend almost 30% of our life in bed, it’s crucial to keep our bedding clean and germ-free.
Are Bamboo Sheets Antibacterial?
Many companies make the claim that their bamboo sheets are antibacterial. However, there is no evidence to prove this claim. In fact, bamboo fibers do not have any natural antibacterial properties, and the “antibacterial claims” companies make should be taken with a grain of salt.
So, what does this mean?
This basically means it’s up to consumers to make sure our sheets are clean and germ-free!
Disclaimer: The information in this article should not be taken as medical advice or as an alternative to government guidelines.
5 Ways to Disinfect Bamboo Sheets
To ensure that your bamboo sheets stay germ-free between washes, follow these 5 easy steps:
1- Rotating Your Bed Sheets
Germs and Viruses can survive between 3 hours and up to 3 days on surfaces once they leave our bodies. This is the main reason hospital beds are changed on a regular basis.
So the first method you can take to ensure a germ-free night’s rest is to have several sets of sheets to change into after each night.
This may sound like a lot, especially if you have a large family and multiple beds to worry about. But there are many inexpensive bed sheets on the market that are a great alternative to washing them every morning. You can even find some Bamboo Sheets for less than $50 on Amazon.
This isn’t exclusive to bamboo bed sheets either. You should also consider changing all other types of bed sheets on a regular basis, especially when you are sick.
Once you remove your bedsheets, you can follow our Ultimate Guide to Washing Bamboo Sheets.
2- Disinfecting with Heat
Most bacteria and viruses thrive in temperatures between 40°F to 140°F and the average temperature of our bedrooms is between 60°F and 82°F. Heat is one of the oldest and most effective methods of disinfecting.
In order to kill viruses and bacteria from bedsheets, they need to be exposed to temperatures of at least 150°F for 20 minutes or more. You can do this by washing them in Hot Water or putting your sheets in a dryer on high heat for 20 minutes or more.
Another method to disinfect bed sheets with heat is to use an iron. Standard irons can reach temperatures between 180°F and 220°F.
Using a hot iron to kill germs on bed sheets may be more convenient than washing them daily. You can also get rid of any wrinkles at the same time! Just double-check the care instructions before using an iron to avoid burning your sheets.
3- Using Chlorine Bleach
Bleach is a common household product that can be found in many homes around the world. It is very effective in killing certain viruses and bacteria. The CDC has included it as an effective product for sterilizing surfaces.
You should only use the least amount of bleach to disinfect bed sheets and only after checking the care instructions. Bleach has been known to weaken threads and cause fabrics to tear more easily.
Only use bleach on white sheets and always refer to the care instructions located on the tag or label.
4- Germ-Killing Detergents
There are many detergents and cleaning products that can kill germs and virus-causing bacteria from fabrics and bedsheets. Many companies claim their products kill 99.9% of germs and bacteria.
You can even mix a batch of homemade germ-fighting power yourself, as shown in the video below.
5- Disinfect With the Sun
The final method to disinfect your bamboo bed sheets is found all over the world, the Sun. The sun gives off UV rays that are known to naturally kill certain germs and bacteria.
Leaving your sheets outside to bathe in the sun’s rays is another step you can take to help kill any bacteria or viruses that may have survived the washer or dryer.
Using the sun is sometimes the only way to disinfect and kill germs from certain bedding or furniture. Some bedding, such as mattresses and pillows, that can’t be washed, may be taken out into the sun to freshen up and get disinfected.
Conclusion
To conclude, there are definitely other methods of disinfecting your bedsheets, but I wanted to share with you the most practical and easiest ones.
Feel free to leave a comment below with any common household products you’ve used to disinfect bamboo bed sheets.
Disclaimer: The information in this article should not be taken as medical advice or as an alternative to government guidelines.