Review: Cariloha Bamboo Bed Sheets, Towel, and Skirt

Growing up in the Philippines, I was surrounded by bamboo and we used many things made out of bamboo, from furniture, to coin banks, to cooking implements.

So it was a pleasant surprise when I began seeing fabric products made out of bamboo.

And the benefits of fabric made from bamboo are numerous: they’re incredibly soft, breathable, hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial, and provide UV protection.

And bamboo is probably the most ecologically sustainable source of fiber. You see, bamboo grows without the need for pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. And, because they mature fast, they’re very easy to replenish.

I had the opportunity to try bamboo fabric products from Cariloha, a US-based company specializing in leisure wear and other products made of a proprietary blend of bamboo.

Resort Bamboo Bed Sheets – Blue Lagoon

The Good:

• Incredibly soft and luxurious – These sheets are so soft that my children wanted to sleep on our bed. Hubby and I had to beat them away with a stick, LOL! These sheets are as soft as my high-thread count cotton sheets. No, maybe softer.
• Cool to the skin – These sheets are perfect for summer, because they keep you cool and wick moisture (sweat) from your skin, so you stay comfortable as you sleep.
• Impressive packaging – The sheets come in this beautiful, sturdy, and reusable box. It would make an impressive gift:

The bad:

• Wrinkly – Probably because they’re ultra soft, they wrinkle terribly. Reason why I couldn’t take any photos of mine. Even if I ironed or steamed mine (which I would never do, lazy as I am), the sheets wouldn’t have stayed nice and smooth.
• Expensive – They cost more than some cotton sheets with upwards of 1500 thread count.

The Bottom Line:

• If you have sensitive skin, want natural, eco-friendly sheets, and are willing to pay for quality, then these bamboo bed sheets are a good alternative to cotton or silk sheets.

Bamboo Bath Sheet – White

The Good:

• Soft and thick – Like the bed sheets, this towel was super soft and luxurious to use.
• Versatile size – Until I received this bath sheet, I didn’t know towels came in this larger 40″ x 70″ size. It’s great for swimming. It will keep up with you as you dry off, get wet again, dry off again…. And you can use it as a beach towel.

The Bad:

• Hard to pack, store – Because of its size, it may not be the best towel to pack for a trip. (But if that’s an issue, note that Cariloha offers regular-sized bamboo towels as well.)

The Bottom Line:

• I’m not picky when it comes to towels. A towel only needs to be reasonably soft and absorbent. But if you’re the type who wants the most luxurious towel, or you only want sustainable products, then you should definitely check out the Cariloha bamboo-cotton towels.

Bamboo Burnout Reversible Skirt – Merlot

The Good:

• Super soft and comfortable – This is now my most favorite skirt! Although I made the mistake of requesting this longish skirt (I’m petite) instead of the shorter cotton-viscose skirt, and even though it’s too loose for me now that I’ve lost some weight, I still love wearing this skirt! It’s super soft and cool, and the A-line style is so easy to move in, even in the hottest of days.
• Value – This is a reversible skirt, so it’s like getting two skirts for the price of one. And if you happen to buy it when Cariloha has a sale, then it’s an even better deal. This is also a good skirt to pack during a trip, since you get two skirts but without the bulk. Here’s what the other side of my skirt looks like;

• Crease-resistant – I was surprised that this skirt isn’t wrinkly at all (probably because it’s mixed with polyester). This is another reason why this should be your go-to travel skirt.

The Bad:

• Not 100% natural – This skirt is 35% Viscose from bamboo and 65% polyester, so it’s not made with 100% natural fabric. That can be a deal-breaker for some.

The Bottom Line:

• If you don’t mind some polyester in your clothing, you’ll enjoy this soft, cool, and flattering skirt that retains the hypoallergenic properties of bamboo fabric. If it’s important for you to use only natural fiber, then the Bamboo Sinclair Skirt, which is 60% organic cotton and 40% viscose from bamboo, is a better option. Although I suspect it doesn’t flow as nicely as this one. Also, the Burnout skirt’s reversibility is a unique feature that makes it particularly useful.

If you want to give Cariloha bamboo products a try, remember that they offer two guarantees:

There’s a 90-Day Satisfaction Guarantee, which says if you don’t love the product, you can return it within 90 days for a full refund (less shipping charges).

And then there’s the Lifetime Quality Guarantee. You read that right, a lifetime guarantee. At any time after purchase, if you’re not completely satisfied with the quality of the product, you can return it and exchange the item(s).

I think it’s great that companies like Cariloha are providing various products made out of bamboo and other natural fibers. Now those with sensitive skin, those who value natural fibers, and those who want to use ecologically sustainable products have more choices. Cariloha proves that eco-friendly products can be good for you, good for the environment, and look good all at the same time.

Have you tried bamboo-based fabric products before? What do you think of them? And what are your favorite bamboo-based fabric products?

PS: I received these products for free to review on my blog. Nevertheless, I’ve provided my honest opinions about the products.  :

5 Uses for Baby Furniture After Baby Grows Up

Don’t you just love finding multiple uses for things? If so, then you’ll enjoy this guest post. You don’t have to get rid of the baby furniture when your youngest baby grows up. Just check out all the possibilities below.

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by Kaitlin Krull

Choosing furniture for your new baby’s nursery is exactly like shopping for a new car: exciting, nerve wracking, and so (so) expensive.

After months of searching for the right pieces to fit you and your family, you finally choose the perfect models. Once you’ve kitted out your baby’s room with the finest furniture money (and baby shower gift cards) can buy, you might think your job is done.

Fast forward five or 10 years, when your children have moved out of the nursery and are on to bigger and better things, like bunk beds, computer desks, and forts. Your precious furniture is left in the garage and you can see the money you’ve wasted.

If this sounds familiar, don’t worry! Over at Modernize, we know this sad story, and are here to help you out with a little upcycling DIY.

Here are five of the most ingenious (and simple) ways to reuse your baby furniture once your little one is all grown up.Continue reading

Neck Pain Means It’s Time for a New Pillow

Have you ever woken up with a crick in your neck? If so, maybe you need a different kind of pillow. Today’s guest post will walk you through the different considerations you need to make when choosing the most comfortable, most supportive pillow.

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If you’ve swapped out your mattress and bought a new pillow but still wake up with neck pain in the morning, you might have chosen the wrong neck support. For people with chronic back and neck pain, there are any number of options for specialty pillows that can make every morning more pleasant.

Here’s a look at some of the fundamental considerations when choosing the perfect pillow for you.

Why Pillows Matter

The basic reason we use a pillow is to keep our heads and necks in alignment with the rest of our bodies while we sleep. However, there are a lot of complicating factors that play a role in a pillow’s efficacy. For example, if you are a side sleeper but use a pillow that is too tall, you could wake up with shoulder pain or neck stiffness. Or, if you are a back sleeper but have a completely flat pillow, you are not getting the head support you need to sleep soundly and comfortably. Any specialty pillow you consider buying should hold your head in the proper position no matter which sleeping position you take during the night.Continue reading

Paper: The Eco-Friendly Alternative

If you’re like me, you often look for ways to use up less paper. You print on both sides of the paper, reuse the back of used paper, and make sure to put used paper products in the recycling bin.

But thanks to improved technology and vigorous tree-planting efforts, paper is now a very eco-friendly alternative. This infographic tells us why:

An All-Natural Cleaner That Really Works? Yes, Please!

How do you keep your oven door clean and clear?

This problem has plagued me since I made oven baked fried chicken in a cast-iron skillet. And because I don’t use chemical-laden products, my options have been limited. Vinegar and baking soda are great for cleaning almost anything. But greasy oven doors with baked-in gunk? Not so good.

So for the longest time, I put up with an oven door so dirty, I couldn’t clearly see what I was baking.

That is, until I discovered Universal Stone Cleaner.

I’m going to pause from typing now, because, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words:Continue reading