What a Homeowner, User and the Professional Carpet Cleaner Must Know About Bamboo and How to Clean It.
We all of us heard about bamboo as the newest material to hit the market a few years ago. Well, now not only it is here, but it's dirty. Here are some things you must know about bamboo and how to clean it effectively.Bamboo is on it's way to becoming the most sustainable fabric and flooring choice for companies wishing to transition into being environmentally friendly. Consumer have also embraced the uniqueness and price of bamboo.
The high demand of bamboo is leading to deforestation since the industry is still not regulated. On the other hand bamboo grows fast and is often farmed without pesticides and harmful chemicals. Bamboo takes 5 to 7 years to mature and grows to 70 feet 10 times faster than trees. Cutting it down produces new sprouts that generate another 3-5 new plants. All the parts of the bamboo is used, even the dust - used to power the machinery the machinery to process it. Kiln dried prevent bubbling. Like wool, bamboo has the ability to wick moisture away from the skin and stops the breeding of odor-causing bacteria.
After hard wood bamboo flooring, bamboo is most popular in area rugs. Carpet fibers can be 1/4" thick. Some are raw fiber basket weaved other processed and dyed and some even print dyed. Slight variations add to the carpet's uniqueness.
So what do you need as a cleaner to effectively deal with bamboo without damaging it while cleaning.
Vacuum thoroughly in different directions. If it is an area rug, take it outside and "beat it". Vacuum on both sides if possible. This will remove up to 79% of the insoluble dirt.
Use a butter knife to remove any residue from spots and stains.
Test the fabric for color-fastness. To do this, take some neutral pH detergent mixed with water and apply it with a towel in an inconspicuous area to check for color transfer. If color transfer occurs, then use dry cleaning sponges to clean. If there is no color transfer, then proceed to wet clean. Although bamboo isn't as absorbent as cotton, for cleaning purposes clean it like cotton. pH of the cleaner should be neutral and dry it as fast as you can using fans and bonnets. A lot of novices advocate the use of vinegar to clean. Be leery of this because vinegar does not have any surfactants and simply wastes your time by providing mediocre results.
The above cleaning instructions also apply to wood bamboo flooring.
Here are the items mentioned in the article that you may need to get depending on your situation. Dry cleaning sponges for cleaning non color-fast fabrics. Neutral carpet and upholstery cleaning chemicals.
