Bamboo has recently been one of the more popular materials for workstations, desktops, and other surfaces. Bamboo has numerous advantages, and it has become a booming product in recent years despite previously receiving little attention in the Western world. While most people would not consider decorating a whole room with bamboo products, their charm rests in their capacity to lighten up a room or provide a touch of the exotic.
Per the Britannica, bamboo is a subfamily of tall tree-like grasses that includes over 1,400 different species. Larger varieties of the bamboo look like trees and are frequently referred to as 'bamboo trees.' Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on the planet. Many species can grow up to 35 inches per day, per the Guinness Book of World Records. Bamboo is also one of the most durable plants on the planet. It grows throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America's subtropical and tropical regions. It is also found as far north as the southern United States or central China, as far south as Patagonia. China has almost 500 species, followed by Japan with 139, India with 119, and Indonesia with 118.
Manufacturing Bamboo
Bamboo seems to be relatively rigid in its natural condition but fragile and irregular. As a result, raw bamboo is rarely used in modern applications. Manufacturers take multiple procedures to arrange for processing.
- Strand-Woven: Strand-woven bamboo is made by weaving bamboo fibers in a sticky base, leading to an improved textile.
- Planks: Heat, pressure, and a particular adhesive combine to bind individual slices into solid pieces, called chips. The appearance of the plank is determined by how the chips are stacked up. After the glue has dried, the thick planks are planed and sanded to achieve a smooth, flat surface—the addition of a UV lacquer aids in the curing.
- Carbonized: Carbonization is accomplished through either high-pressure steam or heating kiln-baked bamboo. The sugar within bamboo caramelizes, making it darker across all the layers.
Bamboo's Versatility
Bamboo's adaptability is evident in a variety of applications and industries:
- Culture: Bamboo has been used for a variety of purposes across history. Paper, pens, brushes, and musical instruments are among the items available.
- Cloth and Paper: Bamboo paper has the same qualities as wood paper when transformed.
- Flooring: Bamboo flooring is brighter, more robust, smoother, and more pliable than wooden floors.
- Fuel: bamboo paper has the same qualities as wood paper when transformed. Bamboo may be converted into three different products: charcoal, gas, and oil. Extracts are used in pharmaceuticals, creams, and beverages. Bamboo gas is a petroleum replacement, and charcoal is used in cooking.
- Furniture: Traditional bamboo comes in two varieties: natural round bamboo and split bamboo. Glue-laminated bamboo panels are becoming increasingly popular.
- Housing: Traditional bamboo dwelling is home to an estimated one billion people.
- Landscaping: Bamboo helps to keep soils, steep slopes, and streams from eroding.
- Panels: Because bamboo fibers are lengthier than wood fibers, it offers some vast innovations over wood.
- Weaving: Bamboo crafts and woven mats have been popular for thousands of years.
Bamboo Furniture
Bamboo furniture is an exquisite and striking addition to any home, both inside and outside. While the furniture takes minimum upkeep over time, the biggest issue with bamboo is moisture exposure and, inversely, extreme dryness. Water and moisture promote decay and mold growth, impairs the wood quality of bamboo, while too much dry air can strip it of natural oils. Bamboos, both unpolished and varnished, require some maintenance to retain their color, shape, and durability.
Bamboo can be seen in kitchens as bamboo worktops and frequently used in bathrooms since it is resistant to dampness. Ergonomic furniture makers have also come up with height-adjustable standing desks made of bamboo desktops, and they could not get any more pretty and minimalist than this! Check out FlexiSpot's bamboo offering：
Kana Bamboo Standing Desk
Pair innovative height adjustment capabilities with an eco-friendly bamboo tabletop. With FlexiSpot's ecological bamboo desktops, you can bring a little bit of nature into your workplace. We provide you with a naturally derived desktop constructed entirely of bamboo. Every inch of the tabletop fosters sustainability: it is held together with an environmentally friendly adhesive free of formaldehyde. It will not import air pollutants or chemicals into your home.
Bamboo Furniture Storage and Care
Though bamboo furniture is often sold for outdoor purposes, it cannot withstand long-term exposure to environmental elements or intense sunlight. Place bamboo in a sheltered spot, such as beneath a roof deck, if you use it outside. To avoid overexposure to moisture, store outdoor bamboo in times of lengthy rainy weather. Indoors, dry air can cause splitting. Indoor bamboo needs sunshine protection as well, and washing it down monthly with a lightly dampened cloth will help avoid overdrying and cracking, especially in cold weather when the heater is blowing heated, dry air into the home.
Here are a few simple techniques to help you preserve its magnificence every day. With practice, the following recommendations can help you extend the life of your bamboo furniture:
- Keep in mind to use mats or coasters to protect your furniture from moisture, weight, and temperature fluctuations. You don't want a coffee cup ring imprinted on your new bamboo standing desk.
- Items should not be dragged or moved across the surface. Make it a habit to lift the things you put on your bamboo furniture surface to clean beneath them. Although FlexiSpot's bamboo tabletops and all bamboo surfaces are scratch-resistant, it never hurts to take precautions to ensure that your furniture lasts a long time.
Cleaning your Bamboo Furniture
Bamboo furniture is a long-term investment that benefits both the environment and your house. Effective proper maintenance and care will extend the life of your bamboo furniture investment. Try these basic rules to keep your bamboo looking beautiful and functional for years to come.
- Regular cleaning: Use a soft cloth or duster to dust your bamboo furniture. Wipe it down with a gentle detergent and water mixture regularly.
- Thorough Cleaning: Begin with a solution of soapy water. To clean surfaces and gaps, immerse a soft bristle brush, such as a toothbrush, in the mixture.
- Stain Removal: Stains seldom penetrate deeply into the bamboo when it is thoroughly cleaned and waxed. If a minor stain does happen, remove it as soon as possible with a soft-bristled brush and soapy water. Deeper stains may be cleaned with a light sanding using fine-grit sandpaper, but the bamboo will need to be waxed afterward. We can also use sanding to remove frazzled bamboo areas. Sand the bamboo only when it is entirely dry, as sanding wet bamboo might shred the fibers.
- Mold Removal: If mold grows on your furniture, carefully clean it up with soapy water. To eliminate any evidence of mold development, use the coarse side of a sponge or an old toothbrush. To prevent future fungal growth, completely dry the area.
- Linseed Oil: To keep the sheen of the bamboo, treat it with linseed or bamboo-specific furniture oil every month or two. Because very low humidity might lead the bamboo to crack, adding a tiny amount of oil regularly can be pretty advantageous for indoor furniture.
Final Word
Weekly cleaning, paired with thorough cleaning regularly, prevents damage and ensures that the bamboo stays lovely for many years. As a bonus, the brilliance and integrity of the design will be preserved. Because your bamboo furniture is an investment, doing the easy measures outlined above can help you lock in the quality of that investment for the coming years.
