Bamboo wind chimes are one of the preferred types of wind chimes of those people who like to “go green”. Bamboo wind chimes can last for years, but you have to care for and clean them regularly to get the lifetime out of them.
Properly cleaning bamboo wind chimes means avoiding severe conditions, wiping them down, removing mold buildup, and applying varnish coatings when necessary.
This guide aims to provide you with various methods of cleaning your bamboo wind chimes to keep them alive, and to prevent them from decaying and breaking.
Here we will examine:
- When should you bring bamboo wind chimes inside?
- How do you clean dirt and grime off of bamboo wind chimes?
- How do you clean mold off of bamboo wind chimes?
- How do you varnish bamboo wind chimes?
- How long do bamboo wind chimes last?
When should you bring bamboo wind chimes inside?
There are certain times of the year when your bamboo will need protection from outside forces, depending on your climate and where you live.
Bamboo is a very sturdy material; however, certain harsh winter weather and intense heat can still result in cracks, dirt, mold, and breaks.
This is because the bamboo expands and contracts with the extreme changes in the weather.
So, you should bring in buffalos wind chimes in extreme winter weather or the entire winter season so you can protect them from breaks that could happen in extreme conditions.
How do you clean dirt and grime off of bamboo wind chimes?
One of the most important jobs associated with your bamboo wind chimes will be to regularly wipe down the dirt and grime that is sure to build up on your wind chimes.
Cleaning your wind chimes is a fairly straightforward task as you can simply take a clean, damp cloth and wipe down your bamboo chimes to remove grime and other debris.
Just be careful to be responsive to your bamboo wind chimes and very gentle when wiping off any unwanted debris, as you would hate to do more damage and cause harm to your wind chimes.
In the spring, it will be good to put down a light coat of varnish for your wind chime.
Consider looking into how to pick the best wind chime for your home or garden.
How do you clean mold off of bamboo wind chimes?
Similar to how you would clean dirt and grime off of bamboo wind chimes, you could also clean any mold that might grow on them in a similar manner.
You should wipe the bamboo with a clean, damp cloth. We simply disposed of the cloth after cleaning the mold so we didn’t contaminate any other surfaces with mold spores or potentially hazardous growth.
If the mold has gotten pretty bad, you may need to use some bleach on your bamboo wind chimes to clean them thoroughly.
Bamboo wind chimes are especially susceptible to mildew, since they often hang in shady spots and do not get enough sunlight to properly dry off the moisture.
Mildew builds up and may seem harmless, but it can result in allergic reactions and can affect our ability to breathe.
In this case, sometime you could mix a little bleach with water, and give your wind chimes a thorough clean by getting off growth and bacteria…
Mixing a few tablespoons of bleach with roughly one cup of water may achieve a good mixture to help remove the mildew stains.
You might want to let this sit for about five minutes before using a clean, soft cloth to clean them off.
After you use water or liquid to clean the bamboo, be sure to wipe it dry or leave it out in the sunshine until it completely dries.
This will also help avoid any more issues with mold and mildew.
How do you varnish bamboo wind chimes?
Another option for protecting your bamboo wind chimes for longer service is to varnish them after cleaning and drying them.
Ideally, this is done once a year but not necessarily more thoroughly than that.
In this sense, varnishing is going to seal the surface of the bamboo, giving it some protection against potential dirt and mold that could otherwise get trapped in its grains.
It also protects the bamboo from extreme weather conditions, like excessive highs and ice/snow adventures.
How long do bamboo wind chimes last?
While this can differ from one wind chime to another, if the wind chime is well made, and you take care of it, keeping it out of extreme weather, you can keep them for a few years outdoors (up to around four years).
Bamboo is a durable material. It won’t rust or oxidize like metal wind chimes do in many cases. However, your bamboo wind chimes will still get cracks or breaks if you don’t maintain them and take care of them regularly.
Sealants, like stains, wax, or polyurethane, are all good options to varnish your bamboo wind chime.
You can purchase all of these sealants at reasonable prices online, in craft stores, or home improvement stores. Two examples include Krylon UV-Resistant Clear Acrylic Spray Coating and Seal It Green Xtreme Sealer.
Conclusion
Cleaning bamboo wind chimes regularly makes them last longer and saves you money on frequent replacements.
When it comes to caring for your bamboo wind chimes, there are three things to keep in mind: keeping them clean, keeping them free of mold, keeping them out of harsh weather, and keeping them dry.
Maintaining your bamboo wind chimes for the next few years can be done by using a damp microfiber cloth to wipe away surface dirt and mold, using diluted bleach to treat mildew stains, and applying varnish to protect the wood in the spring.