Bamboo Sheets Keep Germs Out of Bed
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto 
on 01.16.07
For those germaphobes or laundry challenged, we learn from the Wall Street Journal about antibacterial bedsheets. They list a couple of brands treated with silver, another with copper, but also bamboo sheets from Elite Linens. "these sheets and pillowcases are made from bamboo fibers that the company says wick away moisture, block bacteria growth and are comfortable for people with night sweats. Some buyers may not like their shiny look." We have seen claims about bamboo's antibacterial properties before and looked further. It appears that "The natural antibacterial properties of bamboo fabric come from an inherent quality of bamboo commonly called “bamboo kun.” Bamboo does not require the use of pesticides due to this natural antifungal antibacterial agent. It is rarely attacked by pests or infected by pathogen. The same natural substance that protects bamboo growing in the field, functions in the spun bamboo fibers." ::Wall Street Journal More on antibacterial goodness below the fold.
A quantitative antibacterial capability test was performed by the China Industrial Testing Center (CTITC) from July 7th 2003 thru July 11, 2003. One hundred percent Bamboo Fabric was tested over a 24-hour incubation period with bacterial strain type Staphylococcus aureous. After the 24-hour period the numbers of live bacteria were counted in each sample. The results showed that 100% bamboo fabric exhibits 99.8% antibacterial kill rate.
Studies by the Japan Textile Inspection Association (JTIA) revealed long-term antibacterial efficacy of bamboo fabric. The quantitative test method JISL 1902 was performed using 100% bamboo fabric that had been washed industrially 50 times. Incubation over a 24-hour period with bacterial strain type MRSA Staphylococcus IID 1677 was followed by a count of live bacteria on each sample. Results showed that bamboo fabric showed antibacterial efficacy (greater than) 70% after 50 industrial washings. (Results obtained from Shanghai Tenbro Bamboo Textile LtD)
Antimicrobial and Antibacterial Textile Benefits:
Fifty individuals suffering from the fungal infection tinea pedis commonly called athlete’s foot were given antimicrobial, antibacterial socks. All fifty test subjects reported the disappearance of the burning and itching that accompanies athlete’s foot within 1-2 days of wearing the socks. Within 2-6 days the blistering and sores characteristic of athlete’s foot disappeared and the skin returned to normal. None of the fifty individuals reported any adverse effects after using the socks. ::Jonano (Press release from clothing company but sounds reputable)
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These may be helpful for hospitals, but more and more evidence accumulates that we suffer from too many antibiotic and antibacterial factors in our environment already. This still sounds counterintuitive to many people, but a low background level of microbe exposure may serve to immunize us from more serious attacks by pathogens, and an overclean envirnoment may kick autoimmune diseases into overdrive. A new study is cited below, dealing with intestinal parasites and autoimmune.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070109142008.htm
My own anecdotal experience has shown me that people with squeaky-clean houses seem to suffer more from allergies than people with more normal housekeeping habits.
Regarding: "My own anecdotal experience has shown me that people with squeaky-clean houses seem to suffer more from allergies than people with more normal housekeeping habits."
That would depend on the person I suppose. I spent a few months at my sister in laws home. Never in my life have I been so bothered by allergies and dirt. She was not bothered by "a little" dust or germs and thought it was amusing that I had to make several trips to the hospital and doctor for severe reactions to her "clean" house.
Now that I'm back in my very clean home my allergies have calmed down. No pets, dust, hair, etc and my floors are cleaned daily. I don't have to cringe when my feet or body touches some surface and no trips to the doctor for shots.
I think these sheets are wonderful! I can't wait to get a set.
Regarding: "My own anecdotal experience has shown me that people with squeaky-clean houses seem to suffer more from allergies than people with more normal housekeeping habits."
That would depend on the person I suppose. I spent a few months at my sister in laws home. Never in my life have I been so bothered by allergies and dirt. She was not bothered by "a little" dust or germs and thought it was amusing that I had to make several trips to the hospital and doctor for severe reactions to her "clean" house.
Now that I'm back in my very clean home my allergies have calmed down. No pets, dust, hair, etc and my floors are cleaned daily. I don't have to cringe when my feet or body touches some surface and no trips to the doctor for shots.
I think these sheets are wonderful! I can't wait to get a set.
People that I know who rush to the doctor for every little sniffle usually end up having more health problems because of drug complications from the drugs the docs push on them. WBR LeoP
Just like what you said, bamboo textile have many advantages:Natural anti-bacterial,Green,Breathable and Cool.We call the materials "bamboo kun" which is natural and add anti-bacterial to bamboo textile. More bamboo textile knowledge, pls check www.bambrotex.com.Bambrotex is bamboo fiber and yarn manufacturer, we have passed many certifications, such as OEKO, which can certificated that bamboo textile is green and eco material.Also you can find many bamboo products in our website, such as bamboo sock, bamboo towel, bamboo bedding, etc.
I just bought a set of the bamboo sheets from Linen Locker at www.linenlocker.com and wow... I love them. I'm a college student and I love the fact that I might not have to wash them but once a semester! HA!
I found my bamboo sheets at Elegant Linens by Anna Rose. I was so thrilled when I woke up the second morning because my husband (and I) slept through the night. And they had twins for the kids!
How were these bamboo sheets processed? From the research I've seen, many of the companies are using bamboo, which in itself is eco friendly, to promote a product that is horrible on the environment! Very few manufacturing companies seem to be using an ecologically responsible method of turning the stocks into a viable fiber, but are actually dumping harmful chemicals into the water systems.
Just because something is grown organically or eco friendly doesn't mean the finished product is!
Someone mentioned the process in which the sheets/product is made. One ought to think about WHERE the item also comes from. Unfortunately a large amount of the bamboo comes from China. For multiple reasons including the lack of environmental responsibility I personally cannot willingly buy anything from them. Leaded or unleaded! LOL
Interesting to note TreeHugger promoting bamboo products, when just last week, TH featured an interview from Patagonia's founder who talked of green-washing, specifically about bamboo products made with high amount of chemicals in the processing phase.
Let's promote cradle to cradle examination of where things originate, how things are produced, how they are transported and consumed, and how they are disposed and/or recycled.
Touting one aspect of the production-consumption-disposal cycle being green is not enough - we have to consider the whole picture from beginning to end.
LA: We did that post over a year ago, before the current concern about the rayon process for making bamboo fabric became common knowledge.
Is there any solid proven record or test to prove that bamboo really works as an antimicrobial
please give links
Hello friends,
Well, we just recently purchased our first set of bamboo sheets from http://www.sleepbamboo.com and they are amazing. We are not the freaky clean type but we do appreciate being to at least sleep/rest....in a space that has limited bacteria etc. Not to mention these sheets just FEEEEEL sooo good on your skin and it is definitely an "eco-friendly" purchase too. Help you and help our planet in every little way we can. It is win-win investment! Happy sleeping....Carly
Unbelievable...bamboo is sexy sounding but grow up...I haven't read a real scientific article on bamboo...yet everyone is ready to use everything bamboo. bamboo Rayon appears to be a huge potential water polluter especially in China. These Rayon factories must be huge to supply the US do-gooder market...it is not five guys and a bucket as the high prices might indicate. Has anyone looked at a bamboo floor...you might notice that the pieces of bamboo are not very wide...have you ever wondered what makes them stick together...TOXIC glue from China...why don't we just use flakeboard (oh that would be too American-not cool enough). My intuition tells me that plastics and organic/petroleum based chemicals are bad for us, so why would you buy glued together flooring...yuk. OK I also just read one article from two geeks at a Colorado University who said Bamboo fabric had no anti-bacterial attributes...but I read a few articles form Chinese and Japanese companies and trade organizations saying that there were huge anti-bacterial properties...what a shock...producers saying their stuff is wonderful...yes and cigarettes make you look cool and sexy. WAKE UP middle-class and affluent Americans...quit chasing fads and embracing ignorance. I will try to read more as this has been only a 1 hr research effort. By the way I am a geologist and have worked heavily in the oil and mining industry as an environmental consultant and this all stinks of BS and stupidity. If bamboo is great so be it but I am starting to wonder what is wrong with a well managed N. American forest...and yes those evil forest companies have a huge incentive to be green...huge... unlike the Chinese. Think about it. Just remember plastics and pertoluem products are bad!
Unbelievable...bamboo is sexy sounding but grow up...I haven't read a real scientific article on bamboo...yet everyone is ready to use everything bamboo. bamboo Rayon appears to be a huge potential water polluter especially in China. These Rayon factories must be huge to supply the US do-gooder market...it is not five guys and a bucket as the high prices might indicate. Has anyone looked at a bamboo floor...you might notice that the pieces of bamboo are not very wide...have you ever wondered what makes them stick together...TOXIC glue from China...why don't we just use flakeboard (oh that would be too American-not cool enough). My intuition tells me that plastics and organic/petroleum based chemicals are bad for us, so why would you buy glued together flooring...yuk. OK I also just read one article from two geeks at a Colorado University who said Bamboo fabric had no anti-bacterial attributes...but I read a few articles form Chinese and Japanese companies and trade organizations saying that there were huge anti-bacterial properties...what a shock...producers saying their stuff is wonderful...yes and cigarettes make you look cool and sexy. WAKE UP middle-class and affluent Americans...quit chasing fads and embracing ignorance. I will try to read more as this has been only a 1 hr research effort. By the way I am a geologist and have worked heavily in the oil and mining industry as an environmental consultant and this all stinks of BS and stupidity. If bamboo is great so be it but I am starting to wonder what is wrong with a well managed N. American forest...and yes those evil forest companies have a huge incentive to be green...huge... unlike the Chinese. Think about it. Just remember plastics and pertoluem products are bad!
I recently purchased bamboo sheets from Amazon.com... http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QU4MDU/ and they are amazing! Much better than even the fine cotton sheets I was using before. They feel very cool in the summer! Also, they not very expensive compared with http://www.sleepbamboo.com which has sheets 4x more expensive!!! Try the ones from Amazon, you won't be sorry!!!
Also, their bamboo towels are truly AMAZING!!! Those were one of the best purchases I've ever made.... the girlfriend LOVES them (and the sheets!) These towels dry you off much faster than cotton, and they are SUPER soft!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OMRYNK/
I'm concerned about the claim that bamboo fabric is antibacterial. It struck me as very suspicious that the claims all appear to originate at textile-manufacturing or distributing companies. They obviously have a dog in the ring, and so can't be fully trusted.
One company linked to above (Jonano) refers to several studies that they say support their claims. Some of the studies aren't cited, some don't actually demonstrate the antibacterial or antimicrobial properties of bamboo, but there is one study they mention that supposedly demonstrates precisely this, AND was published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. This is the one mentioned in the above article, about bamboo socks curing athlete's foot.
What does the journal article actually say? Nothing like what Jonano claims! The journal article referred to isn't available online, so it takes some real hunting to dig it up (my university library doesn't even have the old issue containing the article the company cites). Through persistence, and the help of a librarian, I got the article anyway.
The article doesn't include the word 'bamboo' at all--nowhere in the 60-page article. Moreover, the article doesn't include any new research: it's a survey of other research on how to treat the foot disorders of diabetics. This is meant to be used by doctors as a practical guide to the latest diagnosis and treatment techniques. There is no mention of athlete's foot (or tinea pedis), definitely no mention of bamboo socks, and DEFINITELY no research in which (I quote from the article at Jonano's website):
"Fifty individuals suffering from the fungal infection tinea pedis commonly called athlete’s foot were given antimicrobial, antibacterial socks. All fifty test subjects reported the disappearance of the burning and itching that accompanies athlete’s foot within 1-2 days of wearing the socks. Within 2-6 days the blistering and sores characteristic of athlete’s foot disappeared and the skin returned to normal. None of the fifty individuals reported any adverse effects after using the socks."
The article they cite as the source of this study is this one: Frykberg RG, Armstrong DG, Giurini J, et al. Diabetic Foot: A Clinical Practice Guideline. J Foot Ankle Surg, 2000;39(5 Suppl):S1-60
Given the blatant lie about this research, I'm strongly inclined not to believe their claims about the other studies that they mention but don't even cite.
Of course, bamboo COULD be antibacterial, but Jonano sure hasn't proven it by faking evidence!!
How do we know that the antibacterial properties of the sheets (a claim by the manufacturers) isn't a residual chemical bonded to the fibers from the processing of the bamboo? Is Bamboo known for having antibacterial properties before processing? I dunno. Logically to retard bacterial growth the bamboo has to have SOMETHING on it that kills/slows bacteria, either an organic or man made chemical. More than likely it's the man made chemical they are using in production. Assuming the claim is even true.
Do you really trust anything from China anymore after the numerous toxic products shipping out of there? They just don't care about people getting sick in America as long as they hit their profits. If they made leaded children's toys, that says a lot right there. China has NO oversight for consumer protection and I'm not sleeping for 8 hours in Chinese chemically treated sheets. Also breathing in the bamboo fibers treated in God knows what chemical might not be healthy either. I'm surprised anybody still considers buying anything they put on or in their body from China. Even herbs from China have be found to have lead in them (to increase the weight, and therefore price the suppliers get).
Personally I will buy cotton sheets made anywhere else. Buy some high threat count Cotton sheets if you want to pay premium prices for sheets. That product doesn't kill any trees either. What about hemp sheets? Just too many other options out there that aren't potentially toxic to you.
Knowing China it's not an eco friendly product at all. And it's possible it's not human friendly either.