Angelina Jolie is one of many women, many thousands of women, who have undergone mastectomy operations and breast reconstruction surgeries this year.

Post-surgery finds patients there are many wounds to worry about from emotional scars to physical ones.  And one bra designer has chosen an innovative approach (and fabric) to helping breast surgery patients heal.  Elle Terry-Dawson, owner of a lingerie boutique in the United Kingdom, designed what she is calling the “hospital bra” when she herself was recovering breast surgery.

“I think the designs of post-surgery bras should listen to people who have had breast surgery,” explains Terry-Dawson of her bra-buying dilemma post-surgery, “[as] after my own experience I realized I could see faults in the bras in the market.”

What makes this bra appropriate and appropriately comfortable are some unique features:  a front-fastener for easy dressing, a wire-free design, shock-absorbent pads throughout to reduce discomfort when changing bandages and just moving around and is made from the naturally antibacterial bamboo fiber!

And while the FTC will claim that bamboo fabric (viscose from bamboo) does not offer any antimicrobial benefits, numerous studies from around the world soundly contradict them.  One such study validated by Japan Textile Inspection Association found that even after fifty times of washing, bamboo fiber samples still possessed excellent function of anti-bacteria, bacteriostasis.  Its test result shows over 70% death rate after bacteria incubated on bamboo fiber samples.  After extensive testing, it was observed that bamboo had GOOD antimicrobial properties followed by 50/50 bamboo/cotton mixes, cotton and then rayon.  Results also showed that there is no appreciable level of antimicrobial activity for cotton samples and it supports the growth of micro-organisms on it.  The study concludes that it is evident that bamboo samples possess an indigenous antimicrobial effect.

That effect makes bamboo ideal for use in bandages and even bras to help fight off infections that can often turn out deadly for post-operative patients.

But it’s not just the patients showing interest in the “hospital bra.”  Terry-Dawson recently met with a leading breast surgeon, Adrian Richards, who was recently voted Home Counties Leading Surgeon by the Daily Mail and Leading Breast Surgeon UK by the Independent.  (It may not mean much stateside but in the UK, it’s a really big deal!).

There are more meetings with other surgeons scheduled for the forward-thinking “hospital bra” creator and she hopes to put her product on popular retailer’s shelves soon.

In the meantime, stateside shoppers can take advantage of sexy and soft bamboo lingerie from Green Earth Bamboo along with fabulous bamboo women’s clothing!

Bamboo Bra: Support And Healing For Surgery Patients is a post from: Green Earth News

The Canadian caribou population is in crisis and has been for years.  Between 1986 and 2006, the largest herd diminished from 472,000 animals to only 128,000.  Over a recent ten year period, the overall population of caribou in northwestern Canada may have declined by as much as eight-six percent. In the southern region of the Peace River, the herds virtually covered the landscape half a century ago.  Today, barely over a thousand caribou remain in the area, and habitat destruction has fractured them into smaller and smaller groups.  The local herd in the area of the West Moberly First Nation in British Columbia now consists of about twenty animals and is on the verge of extinction.

In local regions and throughout the areas of caribou habitation, the problem has well-recognized for many years, and yet precious little has been done about it.  Federal and provincial interventions have been rightly criticized for over-relying on the culling of wolf populations.  This isn’t so much a solution as it is creating a second problem that makes it easier to ignore the first.  Predation, after all, is not the only problem facing the caribou, nor can it reasonably be construed as the main one.

Natural pressures like predation and food scarcity continue to threaten individual caribou, but those challenges are now dwarfed by the effects of unsustainable resource development, excessive hunting, a warming climate, and willful human blindness.  Federal and provincial governments are largely shirking their obligations to protect animal populations identified by the 2003 Species at Risk Act, as well as violating treaties with First Nations, which require sustainable management of animal herds that are of traditional importance to the survival and way of life of native peoples.

In light of this lack of action on the part of government, the West Moberly First Nation has taken the unprecedented step of drafting its own action plan for saving its vanishing herd.  The plan specifies the goal of raising the population of that herd to 650 over a twenty-one year period.  Growing an animal population that’s on the verge of death isn’t exactly as easy as growing bamboo, so this unique First Nations plan is truly ambitious and noble.  Strategies including fencing in calving females to protect newborns, mingling this herd with its neighbors to increase birthrates, and, of course, preserving and restoring the animals’ natural habitat.

Unfortunately, the First Nations cannot fully implement such plans without help, and that fact might make the plan for conservation and restoration a bit of a tall order.  It seems clear that the predominant reason for widespread government inaction is simply a predictable imbalance in Canada’s priorities.  The nation has been vigorously pursuing the goal of making itself an energy superpower through such measures as expanded coal mining and the extraction of ecologically destructive tar sands oil.  Two new coal mines are currently expected to open in the area of the West Moberly herd, and elsewhere, tar sands extraction creates immediate devastation to local areas, and then ultimately pours huge quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, thus damaging much larger swaths of ecosystem in the long run.

In an interview on CBC Radio’s As It Happens, West Moberly Chief Roland Wilson emphasized the need for external help in saving his communities herd, commenting, “I hope that… people start paying attention to what’s going on here.”  That is indeed the essential hope that any concerned individual must keep in mind, not just with respect to the dwindling caribou populations, but with respect to all the interconnected environmental threats created by short-sighted energy policies and hasty development.

Until people start to really pay attention to what’s going on, they won’t realize the implication of their misaligned priorities.  Until then, people will continue to value familiar, unsustainable resources over environmentally beneficial one’s like bamboo.  And that situation holds back the political will to work for such things as the survival of the caribou, the native populations who rely on them, the global climate, and ultimately the planet.

On the plus side, a situation of increased public awareness may not be all that far off.  In the same interview, Chief Wilson also remarked that he was surprised by the speed of the media’s response to his action plan.  The plan was announced only this past Monday, and brief articles on the story, along with the As It Happens interview, began to appear the very next day.  People in general may not being paying attention, but some people are, and they care deeply.  And that could be the first step towards providing the help that is needed, not just for West Moberly, but for the world.

Natives Take the Lead to Save Vanishing Caribou is a post from: Green Earth News

An old saying goes that no fan can create a cool breeze unless it is soaked with the maker’s sweat.  And while some amazing bamboo fans can take almost 100 days to complete between picking the perfect bamboo pieces and hand painting intricate designs, there are easier methods to creating not-quite-so-spectacular-but-equally-effective hand-powered cooling systems.

Here’s what you need to make your bamboo fan:

• 14 x 17 in. sheets of paper (pick fun colors or patterns!)
• 11 12-inch long bamboo sticks
• Sharpie/Marker
• 2 inch headpin
• Needle
• Thread (not too thick but not too thin either)
• Needle nose pliers
• Scissors
• Tape
• Glue

Here’s how to make your bamboo fan:

1. Start by creating the bones of the fan.  Mark the middle of the sticks (width wise) and one inch from the one end of each of the sticks (the same end please!).
2. Use the needle to create holes through the marks on the middle of the bamboo sticks.
3. Thread the sticks together through the newly-created holes in the middle.  Pull the bamboo together as if the fan were in a closed position.  (Hint:  If you wanted to decorate and/or paint the bones of the fan, now is the time to do so!)
4. Thread the head pin back through the holes.  Using the needle nose pliers, twist the other end of the head pin just tight enough to keep the bones together but loose enough to allow for pivoting.  Trim any extra thread with scissors.
5. Spread the paper out and set the bamboo bones evenly down on the paper.  Tape the bones to the paper.
6. Mark the paper ½ inch above the top of the bones and 1 inch on each side.  Cut the bottom and top of the paper in an arc.  (If you wish, remove the bones carefully to paint or draw designs on the paper.)
7. Glue the bones to the paper and let dry completely.
8. To fold the fan, start on one end and begin folding by bringing the first bone to the second bone and folding the paper in.  Continue to fold in this manner and once done, trim any excess paper.

Use your beautiful bamboo fan to stay cool this summer!  And for more fun do-it-yourself ideas, visit Green Earth News’ Bamboo Crafts section.

Stay Cool This Summer: How To Make A Bamboo Fan! is a post from: Green Earth News

Hurricane season roared onto the Atlantic Coast with Tropical Storm Andrea dumping heavy rain, winds and tornadoes on the state of Florida.  Bamboo housing and its wind-resistant qualities has yet to take hold in these United States but in a pinch, if needed, bamboo shelters are becoming more prevalent in disaster relief operations.

For anyone in the path of a potential hurricane, here are some tips to be ready for the storm:

• Take stock:  Inventory the house in case any damage occurs.  It will make dealing with the insurance companies much easier.
• Stock Up:  The urban legend of grocery store panic over bread and milk isn’t entirely untrue as some can attest.  Beat the crowds and make sure to have the following on hand.
  • Water (enough to last 7 days)
  • Non-perishable food items (enough to last 7 days)
  • Pet food for the little critters (enough to last 7 days)
  • Propane and a small grill or a camp stove to cook with if power goes out
  • Flashlights and LOTS of batteries
  • Coolers
  • Candles and matches/lighters
  • Bug Repellent (standing water after the storm will draw mosquitoes)
  • Medications (ask the doctor for refills when a storm is approaching)
  • Emergency supplies including a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher
  • Rain gear, extra clothing (packed is preferable)
  • Stash of Cash (keep a minimum of $100 handy)
  • Prep the property:
    • Keep tarps, plywood, nails and hammer on hand to cover the windows.
    • Determine where outdoor plants, furniture and yard ornaments will be stored when the storm hits.
    • Trim loose tree branches and limbs in the yard.
    • Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten the roof to the frame structure.
    • Clean the gutters.
    • Reinforce garage doors because if wind enters a garage the structural damage can be extensive.
    • Keep in Touch:  Keep a battery-operated radio on hand and spare batteries.  Charge cell phones to the fullest capacity as the storm approaches and if possible, keep charged batteries on hand.  Also, car chargers are a must!  Put a list of emergency contact numbers in a Ziploc bag or laminate one if possible.  Make sure to include phone numbers for family, friends, neighbors and emergency shelters.
    • Evacuation Routes:  Don’t wait for an evacuation order to know the routes out of the storm.  Review maps before the storm approaches to know exactly where to go if evacuation is necessary.  And make sure that all vehicles have a full tank of gas!
    • Don’t  Scatter to the Wind:  Determine a meeting spot or way of communication in case a storm lands while family members are separated.
    • After the Storm:  Once officials give the all-clear signal, check for downed power lines around the house.  Stay away from them and wait for local utilities to repair them.  Stick to bottled water until the local water has been declared safe to drink (or if power is still available, boil tap water before drinking).  Be neighborly and make sure everyone is safe and not in need of medical help.  And once the stores are stocked again, re-stock storm supplies for the next emergency.

Stay safe this hurricane season!

Hurricane Season Preparation Tips is a post from: Green Earth News

I don’t usually follow celebrity news, and I certainly don’t have much desire to write about it, but I’m going to break with that tradition – and on a typically environmental news site, no less – because you know what?  Screw Justin Bieber.

There are probably dozens of teen-idols in today’s popular culture whom I’ve never even heard of, because there are few things about which I could care less.  But if you ever go online, or turn on the television news, or if you live within four miles of a fourteen year-old girl, you’re probably painfully aware of Justin Bieber.  And if you pay any attention, you probably realize that his douche bag quotient has been steadily rising towards atmospheric levels lately.

Well now the news has broken that he will shortly take those atmospheric levels of douche baggery up into the actual atmosphere, having just bought himself a quarter million dollar ticket on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip Two.

A common theme of my editorials here at Green Earth News is the notion of demonstrating social responsibility and setting a good example with one’s consumer behavior.  Of course, a space-flight is a luxury, and I’m not against luxury per se.  Indeed, sometimes the best purchase of all is a product like bamboo sheets and clothing, which serves the ends of responsibility and luxury at once.  What is always wrong is spending lavishly amidst callous disregard for the meaning or significance of your actions.

If you’re in the public eye, and especially if you’re admired by teens and tweens around the world, you have a rather severe obligation to set a good example with your copious amounts of money.  And that means not buying a pet monkey, ignoring the potential impact it could have on foreign ecosystems, and then abandoning it in Germany.  It means not buying a Ferrari so you can drive it at highway speeds through a gated community.  It means not buying a ticket to space just because the money has no value to you and you think it would make you look cooler.

What makes Bieber’s space-flight especially suspect is the fact that it came shortly after the price of the ticket went up by twenty-five percent.  Other celebrities like Bill Nye had already made the more responsible decision to avoid going up in SpaceShip Two until the price comes down.  That’s Bill Nye as in “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” and thus someone who actually can be expected to care deeply about space.

If he or another celebrity scientist took a trip to space, it would probably serve as an inspiring lesson about the value of education.  When Justin Bieber does it, it’s probably just going to be a depressing lesson in society’s embrace of individual self-importance.  Do we have any evidence that Justin Bieber has the slightest interest in astronomy, or even in seeing what Canada looks like from the outer boundaries of planet Earth?

As a matter of fact, I think we have evidence to the contrary.  In a tweet at Virgin CEO Richard Branson, the nineteen year-old douche bag superstar says, “let’s shoot a music video in SPACE!!!” followed by the hashtag “nextLEVEL.”  I dare say the pretty plain implication of that kind of comment is that the kid isn’t even interested in what he’s going to experience or what he’s going to see.  He’s just interested in being seen, in being regarded more highly than those of his ilk.  And that is a horrible, narcissistic example to set for our youth.

In an article at Cracked.com, former child star Mara Wilson made some fine observations about why such stars go crazy as they age, and she mentioned the fact that universal adulation can become normal and taken-for-granted over time.  That situation certainly applies to Bieber, who now has forty million Twitter followers – more than anyone in the world.  No matter what stupid or irresponsible thing the young man does, he has literally thousands of fans who will excuse him for it and insist that they really understand him.  Meanwhile, he’ll channel that ever-inflating ego into justifications for doing ever more stupid and irresponsible things.

I see that becoming a vicious cycle, and one which ought to be broken for the sake of all involved – the spoiled celebrity and all his fans.  So say it out loud because I know you’re thinking it: screw Justin Bieber.

Space-Flight is Wasted on Justin Bieber is a post from: Green Earth News

Sometimes it’s the simplest recipes that are the tastiest.  And grilling season presents plenty of opportunities for quick and delicious cooking including this recipe for grilled bamboo from Canadian Living.  It works best with fresh bamboo shoots so do some exploring to find a local Asian market or cultivate from your very own bamboo garden.  If none are available, opt for the canned variety of bamboo shoots.

Here’s what you need to make Grilled Bamboo Shoots:

• Bamboo shoots, ½ lb. fresh or 8.5 oz. can
• 1 tbsp sake
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp mirin
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• Bonito flakes

To make Grilled Bamboo Shoots:

1. If using fresh shoots, cut bamboo lengthwise.
2. Fill a small saucepan with water.  Add the sake and salt to the water and bring to a boil.
3. Add the bamboo shoots and blanch for 3 minutes.
4. Drain and pat dry.
5. Heat grill pan or grill to medium-high heat.
6. Brush the vegetable oil over the bamboo, coating evenly.
7. Cook the bamboo shoots on the grill, turning once, until grill-marked (roughly 6 minutes).
8. Transfer the grilled shoots to a small bowl.
9. In a separate bowl, combine the mirin and soy sauce.
10. Pour over the bamboo shoots and let cool.
11. Before serving, sprinkle with bonito flakes.
12. Serve at room temperature or cool.  If making ahead, the shoots can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.)

Make sure to check out Green Earth Bamboo’s Bamboo Flavors section for more yummy bamboo recipes including more grilling options!

Grilled Bamboo Shoot Recipe: Simple Yet Delicious Recipe! is a post from: Green Earth News

Millions of vacationers will head to sandy shores this summer for relaxing vacations.  Many are heading to one of the Top 10 Beach Resorts Around The World which includes the Four Seasons Maui and the Montage in Laguna Beach while others will opt for Family Friendly Beach Vacations at locales like Hilton Head, South Carolina or Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

No matter if the beach is full of fashionistas or parents chasing children in the surf, there are staples that every beachgoer needs this summer:

1. Sunscreen:   A real no-brainer but often overlooked by the young and the reckless.  With UV exposure more prevalent than ever (despite the global warming naysayers) it’s important to apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before hitting the beach and reapply every 90 minutes to stay protected all day.   For eco-friendly options look to Seventh Generation or Honest Company products!
2. Sunglasses:  The big ball of fire that shines down on all can be just as damaging to the eyes as the skin.  Invest in quality sunglasses that will block 99% – 100% of UVA and UVB light.  (Make sure they are labeled as such instead of assuming that dark tinted shades = great protection.)  And follow these summer eye-care tips to keep healthy this summer.
3. A fantastic swimsuit:  Now it’s time for the fun shopping!  Two-pieces, boy shorts, itty-bitty bikinis or tankinis – there are just so many styles to choose from.  And if sustainability is a must-have for a beachgoer, consider a unique eco-friendly swimsuit option!
4. Beach Cover-Up:  A very unstylish term considering there are so many stylish cover-up options.  After a day of swimming, surfing and sand-castle building always have a tunic or wrap to throw on.  Great cover-ups not only feel comfortable after a day on the beach but they make it easy to transition from shoreline to dinnertime.  My personal choice this season is the sleek and luxurious yet still playful Mia Tunic!
5. A Beach Tote:  Heading to the beach requires a lot of gear.  Sunscreen, toys, towels and a myriad of other necessities all need a convenient way to travel so make sure to have a gorgeous yet functional tote such as this Yala Mandala Tote made from 100% organic cotton!
6. Flip-flops:  The term may conjure up visions of cheap, blue and plastic-y but today’s flip-flops are trendy and comfortable.  And thankfully there are many eco-friendly versions available!  Kindersoles promotes “flip flops for the socially conscious” with their ingenious flip flops made from recycled water bottles while other lines such as Ethletic have created a vegan line of footwear!
7. Hydration:  Water fountains are few and far between at beaches which makes the essential task of staying hydrated a bit difficult.  Try to avoid plastic water bottles and use nalgenes or bamboo water bottles instead!  However, if plastic bottles are the only option, make sure to recycle or repurpose them into a portable bar like this inventive vacationer did.  It won’t help with hydration but it will keep the day lively!

Make sure to visit Green Earth Bamboo for easy-to-pack bamboo clothing that will keep everyone cool and comfortable while on the go.  Happy Vacationing!

Seven Things To Pack For the Beach This Summer! is a post from: Green Earth News

Wal-Mart has just pled guilty in court cases in California and Missouri related to the dumping of toxic chemicals and the improper disposal of pesticides.  The mega-corporation has agreed to pay over eighty-one million dollars in penalties.  It’s a meaningful sum, but also a drop in the bucket for a business that takes in some 400 billion annually.

According to Tammy Dickinson, US Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, the current criminal penalty “should send a message to companies of all sizes that they will be held accountable to follow federal environmental laws.”  Call me cynical, but I think that is a little overly optimistic.  The judgment may send that message to all companies, but the message will be a lot louder for smaller companies that cannot easily absorb the loss.

Time will tell whether an eighty million dollar fine will be enough to prompt Wal-Mart to reassess its priorities.  But I wouldn’t leave it to chance.  It seems certain that priorities are indeed the issue here.  We cannot reasonably expect a huge entity like Wal-Mart to be a perfect environmental steward, but we ought to at least demand that they show basic concern.  They appear not to have done so in the present case, as evidenced by their disinterest in providing essential waste-disposal training to their employees.

This should really come as no surprise, relating as it does to a company that is no stranger to PR fallout from its tendency to privilege low prices ad high profits over every other concern.  In fact, Justice Department attorney Ignacia S. Moreno observes that the mishandling of hazardous materials gave Wal-Mart an unfair economic advantage over competitors.  Paying adequate attention to environmental impacts would have involved costs to the company, and it seems fairly likely that Wal-Mart saw greater economic value in risking a fine than in paying the up-front costs of doing the right thing.

The only thing that would really call that view into question would be if the PR fallout from this misdeed was bad enough to outweigh what the company gained in the short term.  Wal-Mart has already answered to the government – until the next environment or labor-related lawsuit.  The question now is whether it will answer to the public.

There are still far too many people who shop at Wal-Mart simply because it’s a convenient source of every consumer good, or because the prices are reliably low.  There are not nearly enough people who realize that doing so every cost saving measure, however socially irresponsible, from purchasing clothing from unsafe Bangladeshi factories to dumping toxic waste into municipal sewers.

What’s important to remember in light of Wal-Mart’s guilty pleas is that they really aren’t clear examples of the law working to protect the environment, the worker, and the consumer.  The enforcement of the law should be the start of the process, not the end.  If it’s seen as the end, then Wal-Mart and other large companies will take it as an opportunity to pay off the government and then go about business as usual while trying harder not to get caught this time.  We shouldn’t read the news and then turn around and keep giving our money to the same entities unless we have a really good reason to believe that their priorities have changed.

The trouble is that we can’t really believe that Wal-Mart’s priorities have changed unless it believes that the consumer’s priorities have changed.  As long the average buyer prefers Wal-Mart because it’s cheap, Wal-Mart will keep doing whatever it takes to sell its crap cheaply.  It’ll change its mind only once the money starts migrating to the most environmentally sustainable and socially just companies – the sellers of fair trade merchandise, organic foods, bamboo fabric, biofuels, and so on.

Sure, it will be a while before the average consumer has those priorities.  And it may take a while after that for the average company to see more value in responsibility than in legal payouts.  But in the meantime that is all the more reason for extraordinary consumers and extraordinary companies to work together to reverse the tide.

Will Wal-Mart Answer to Consumers Now? is a post from: Green Earth News

Americans will spend roughly $12 billion this year to celebrate Dads!  (And you thought the tab was high for Mothers Day.)  While a large amount of that will go towards neckwear apparel, a recent study found that most dads would rather get no gift at all in lieu of another tie.  Rather than deprive a dad of their gift whether they be your own dad, a husband or brother, here are some wonderful gift ideas from Green Earth Bamboo!

Extra Roomy Opening Dreamsack by Yala:  Perfect for the dad who travels or occasionally is banished from the Master Bedroom for some horrendous snoring.  This Dreamsack is made of 100% silk and works thermodynamically with the sleeper’s body temperature to ensure a comfortable snooze.  It is lightweight enough for easy travel and is available in male-approved colors of dusty blue, midnight blue, Surf and Sage.

Bamboo Sheets:  Luxurious and soft and made from a wonderfully sustainable resource, these organic sheets promise a good night’s sleep to hard-working dads.  Available in chocolate, natural undyed, Rain and Plum (among other colors), families can go in together and include coordinating bamboo pillowcases and an ultra-soft organic duvet cover in a big bundle of Father’s Day goodies!

Bamboo Socks:  Dads are on the go most of the time.  Running to work, running for pleasure, running after kids – no matter what the day odds are they are working up a sweat.  Treat them to cozy and super absorbent bamboo socks and consider putting them to good use by finding a Fathers Day 5K!

Bamboo Shirts:  Treat dads to more useful and versatile articles of clothing with a Men’s Short Sleeve Shirt by Yala or a Men’s Long Sleeve Shirt by Yala! Both are incredibly soft, breathable and easy to throw on and be ready for the day.  We guarantee that these shirts will get more use than the usual Fathers Day tie!

Bamboo Towels:  With terms like “mansome” and “metrosexual” perfectly acceptable in the modern lexicon, treat Dad to a spa-like experience with luxurious and light bamboo towels.  Pair them up with a new shave kit, skincare products and even “manly” bath salts.  Many bath products including bath salts and bath bombs are now available in more masculine scents such as balsam, sea salts and bamboo charcoal options!

Bamboo Lingerie:  Okay, not technically a gift for dad to wear but a great treat for wives to surprise their husbands with!  Make it a kid-free night and slip on flirty bamboo lace boyshorts and an Ecolux Lace Cami to celebrate. Or choose the ultra-feminine sleek and sexy Ecolux Lace Trim Chemise!

Green Earth Bamboo is offering 10% off all orders in honor of Fathers Day!  Use the code FATHER13 at checkout to take advantage of some great Father’s Day shopping.  And if all those old Fathers Day ties aren’t getting any use, simply use them to tie up these great Green Earth Bamboo gifts!

Green Earth Bamboo Fathers Day Sale: Great Gifts, No Ties Allowed! is a post from: Green Earth News

Bamboo clothing is amazingly soft and luxurious and needs proper care to maintain those wondrous qualities.  And now that we know how to take care of other bamboo products, let’s focus on bamboo clothing.  All fabrics react different to laundry detergents and stain removal products (and unfortunately, into every life stains will fall) so make sure to follow these cleaning tips:

• Avoid chlorine bleach!  The harsh chemicals will weaken the fibers that keep bamboo so soft and moisture-wicking and will kill any micro-bacterial properties.  IF bleach is needed, opt for oxygen-based bleach to remove stains and brighten.
• If not washing by hand, choose the gentle cycle and use cold water.
• If clothes are heavily stained, crank the washing machine up to warm water and pre-soak the clothes. No matter how bad the stains though, DO NOT USE HOT WATER!
• If pre-soaking doesn’t do the trick, use this eco-friendly stain removal method:
  • Combine 2 parts hot water, 1 part baking soda and 1 part hydrogen peroxide.
  • Spot treat the stained area(s) and let sit overnight.
  • Wash again on the gentle cycle or by hand.
  • Similarly, avoid the high heat setting on the dryer.  Air-dry on a clothesline by doubling the garment over the line to avoid fabric distortion. Or lay flat and let dry.  If clothes must be dried in a hurry, use the low heat cycle on the dryer.
  • Irons are not friends of bamboo clothing!  Thankfully bamboo clothes remain relatively wrinkle-free making them great for travel.  If ironing is absolutely necessary (and really it shouldn’t be), use a dry iron at low settings.  High ironing heat will burn the fibers leaving scorched or yellow marks and those cannot be fixed.
  • Use a garment bag when washing.  Bamboo fibers tend to lose some strength when wet so the garment bag will help clothes retain their shape and keep the fibers from snagging on the washing machine agitator during the spin cycle.
  • Heavy detergents filled with chemicals are not great for the environment or bamboo clothing.  Choose natural laundry detergents that are free of bleach, phosphates and dioxane.  (I personally prefer Seventh Generation or Jessica Alba’s Honest products.) Or make a homemade batch of all-natural laundry detergent that will keep clothes clean and chemical-free!
  • Bamboo clothes and bamboo bedding are naturally silky to the touch so fabric softener is not a necessity when washing.  However, some with very dry skin choose to use softeners.  For bamboo fabric, try using a ¼ to ½ cup of white vinegar instead.  The smell will evaporate and fabric will remain soft!

If making the smart investment of purchasing sustainable and luxurious bamboo clothing, make sure to care for the fabric appropriately to ensure that they will last for many years to come!

Taking Care Of Bamboo Clothing is a post from: Green Earth News