Receiving your new bamboo sheets in the mail is an exciting day. By now, we imagine you have been reading up on the benefits of bamboo fabric and are ready to experience the softness, comfort and quality for yourself.
Regardless if these are your first bamboo sheets or if you are a returning customer, we are confident that with OLARA, you will create a sanctuary for the best night’s sleep.
The first impression: What to expect from bamboo fabric sheets
Bamboo fabric is a relatively new innovation in textile design. Although bamboo has been used as a building material and to make furniture and paper for more than 5,000 years, it has only been commercially produced as a fabric for a few decades.
Here are a few key things to know about bamboo fabric:
Bamboo fabric name
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What is bamboo fabric called?
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Bamboo fabric (although it has other names)
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What are the other names for bamboo fabric?
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Bamboo rayon, bamboo yarn, bamboo fabric, bamboo viscose
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Bamboo fabric properties
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Thread count
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250-500
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Breathability
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Very breathable
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Softness
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Similar to silk, although less slippery
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Moisture-wicking
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Up to 50% better than cotton
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Insulation
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Ideal in all seasons
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Stretch
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The sateen weave used in the OLARA signature range has minimal stretch.
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The term “bamboo fabric” can refer to a wide range of materials. As with any premium textile, be it sheets or clothing, the differences are often in the details.
Below, we examine some of the details you will experience when you receive your first set of luxuriously smooth bamboo sheets from OLARA.
Softness and texture
The first thing you will notice about your new bamboo sheets is how soft they are. One of bamboo fabric’s most appealing properties is its buttery smooth texture, while still avoiding the slipperiness of silk.
With the proper care, bamboo sheets stay soft for years.
Other fabrics become stiff and scratchy with time and frequent washing. But the durability and strength of bamboo fibres prevent this from happening, provided you treat your sheets gently.
Sleeping temperature
Body temperature fluctuates with the circadian rhythm, dipping around 1°C during the night. Although the ideal sleeping temperature varies from person to person, around 18°C is a good ambient temperature.
The trouble with fabrics like cotton and flannel is they can trap heat, preventing your body from cooling enough to maintain restful sleep.
Bamboo fabric’s naturally insulating properties regulate body temperature in two ways:
- Air pockets between the fibres regulate body temperature throughout the night, preventing you from cooling too fast in winter or overheating on warm nights
- Bamboo’s moisture-wicking properties allow sweat to evaporate so your body can cool gradually and comfortably
Sleep hygiene
Sleep hygiene is a holistic approach to healthy sleep habits. It encompasses bodily hygiene (such as whether you should shower before bed) and extends to daytime habits, night-time routines and even where you leave your phone to charge overnight.
“What do bamboo sheets have to do with sleep hygiene?”
Part of sleep hygiene is creating a sleep-inducing bedroom that encourages your mind to unwind at night. The right bedsheets support a sleep-inducing environment – and contribute to good sleep hygiene – in a few ways:
- Regulating temperature
- Reducing allergens, bacteria and dust
- Complementing a neutral, natural minimalist aesthetic
- Keeping you comfortable throughout the night
As well as their enviable aesthetic and supple softness, bamboo sheets have hypoallergenic and antibacterial properties that contribute to better sleep hygiene.
Appearance and drape
Whether you are designing a minimalist bedroom or treating yourself to new bedding to dress up your sleep sanctuary, our Signature range provides a refined sheen to elevate any space.
OLARA bamboo fabric sheets come in five naturally-inspired colours to complement calming, neutral bedroom designs. Choose matching sheet sets, pillowcases and duvet covers in white, smoke grey, charcoal, fawn and natural, or curate a mix of your favourite tones.
Bamboo fabric sheets with a sateen weave drape delicately, similar to Egyptian cotton or silk. The strong and supple natural fibres prevent deep wrinkles without needing to tumble-dry or iron your sheets.
Bamboo fabric with a percale weave has a slightly ruffled look, akin to high thread count linen or crisp hotel sheets.
- Discolouration and stains
Over time, it’s natural for bed sheets to display some discolouration. The best way to prevent sweat, oils, dirt and other stains from accumulating on bamboo fabric is simply to wash your sheets every 7-10 days.
You can also treat heavier stains by pre-soaking or applying non-abrasive stain removers like vinegar, sodium bicarbonate or an enzyme-based stain remover.
Be careful to avoid bleach or harsh stain removers. The chemicals can degrade some of bamboo fabric’s best qualities such as its softness, antibacterial benefits and durability.
Comparing thread counts
When you start searching for bamboo fabrics, you will notice the thread counts are often lower than cotton sheets. This is very deliberate.
Bamboo fabric naturally requires a lower thread count to create a sumptuously soft fabric with a delectable drape.
To understand why, it helps to understand that thread count refers to the number of strands present in a square inch of fabric, not the yarn quality. So cotton fabric with high thread counts (over 700, for example) simply means more short-staple fibres have been used making the textile.
Why 250-500 is the best thread count for bamboo fabric
Bamboo fibres are thicker, softer and stronger than cotton. Weaving the fibres too close together would impair bamboo’s temperature regulating properties and make the sheet heavier.
OLARA uses the highest thread count available, 500TC, across our bamboo bed sheet range.
500TC bamboo fabric is comparable to Egyptian cotton with a thread count of around 1,000TC or silk with a similarly high thread count. The same softness, with the added benefit of bamboo’s hypoallergenic and moisture-wicking properties.
Caring for new bamboo sheets
Washing and drying your new sheets before use removes any residues from the manufacturing and packaging process, giving you clean, soft sheets with all bamboo’s natural benefits.
The small time investment has a significant payoff. Not only will your sheets be cleaner and more comfortable from the start, but they will also last longer and treat your skin with kindness.
Something special, just for you
As an extra little gift, OLARA bamboo sheets come in an eco-friendly drawstring bag that can be repurposed in several thoughtful ways.
Suggestions for reuse of the satchel include as a toiletry bag, for shoe storage or as a travel pouch.
Why you should wash your sheets before using them
Washing bamboo fabric before use – or any fabric – cleans any residues or bacteria picked up during the manufacturing and packaging process. It also helps work out any light creasing that may occur when your bamboo sheets are folded for delivery.
There are other benefits as well:
- Maximises the health properties of bamboo fabric
Bamboo fabric is naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites, bacteria and fungi. The best way to maintain these properties is with regular washing.
So washing your sheets before you use them for the first time provides the best protection against allergens, dust and other microbes.
OLARA bamboo fabric is Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX® certified, meaning our sheets are guaranteed to not contain any harmful chemicals and be gentle on sensitive skin. You only need to wash them with mild detergent and line-dry before they are ready to use.
Although OLARA sheets are safe to use against skin right away, washing them first avoids wrinkles and creases.
- Ensures ultimate softness
Bamboo fabric does not stiffen over time or become scratchy like other fabrics. Quite the opposite: bamboo is known to soften over time as the strong natural fibres become more supple.
Washing your bamboo fabric sheets before the first use softens the fibres, giving you the best possible feeling right from the start.
Treat bamboo fabric gently to keep it soft
We mentioned softness being one of bamboo’s most desirable properties. Keeping your sheets soft wash after wash is simple.
The golden rule of caring for bamboo sheets is to be gentle. We advocate a ‘less is more’ approach to washing and drying OLARA bamboo fabric. Gentle care prolongs the life of your sheets, maintains the softness and retains the hypoallergenic benefits of bamboo.
Wash your sheets every 7-10 days in 30-40°C water using a mild detergent and no added fabric softeners or bleach. Detergent, water and gentle agitation are all it takes to clean bamboo fabric and renew the vitality of the fibres.
- The best way to dry bamboo sheets
Bamboo fabric dries the best hanging on a line in a dry, shady place. The fabric dries quickly in fresh air thanks to bamboo's moisture-wicking capabilities.
If this is not possible, you can tumble-dry bamboo fabric. Remember to use low heat and remove the sheets as soon as the cycle ends to prevent wrinkles.
- Removing stains from bamboo fabric
Discolouration is natural over time. Life happens. Bamboo’s absorbent fibres may pick up the occasional discolouration from sweat, oils and dirt, but a regular wash should restore the sheets to full vitality.
To remove tougher stains, pre-soak your sheets or use a mild household stain remover to lift the stubborn particles from the fibres.
Are you buying high-quality bamboo fabric?
Bamboo’s rising profile among sleep enthusiasts has seen a rise in the popularity of bamboo bed sheets.
How do you know you are getting the genuine article? Here are a few signs that your bamboo fabric meets your expectations for a relaxing sleep sanctuary.
OEKO-TEX® certified
Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX® is a global quality benchmark that guarantees a product contains no harmful chemicals.
Certification is rigorous, voluntary and standardised worldwide. So when you see the Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX® logo on a product like OLARA bamboo fabric, it means every part of the production process meets the highest product safety standards.
Thread count
As we outlined a little earlier, a high thread count does not necessarily mean better quality bed sheets.
At the same time, however, if the thread count is below 300, then you may not be looking at a high-quality product.
Premium bamboo fabric has a thread count of 350-500, imbuing your sheets with the softness, durability, strength and resilience that help you get a better night’s sleep and wake up refreshed.
Sustainably sourced
Bamboo is naturally more sustainable than cotton. Shoots can grow several inches in a single day and release up to 35% more oxygen than trees of equivalent size. Cotton plantations use up to three times as much water as bamboo for the same yield while degrading the soil, unlike bamboo.
Australians are increasingly seeking to make sustainable purchase decisions, and we wholeheartedly support the movement.
OLARA bamboo fabric uses 100% organic bamboo sourced from sustainable farms in Asia. We’re invested in supporting the communities whose livelihood depends on growing high-quality bamboo.
Experience the quality of bamboo fabric for yourself
OLARA bamboo bed sheets give you all the properties of premium quality bamboo fabric in your curated naturally-inspired shades.
Browse the range online and enjoy free shipping Australia-wide.
