With the temperatures in the Lowcountry nearing the 90's, it hard to imagine why anyone would put wool on their baby!?! However, wool is a natural fiber that is breathable, biodegradable and renewable. It keeps us warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It also has the awesome ability to absorb 30 percent of its own weight in moisture without feeling damp! If you have a heavy wetter or are having trouble with leaks overnight than wool may be the perfect option for you. Wool covers, shorties or longies paired with an organic cotton fitted diaper, a hemp/cotton blend fitted or even a prefold underneath work wonderfully. Wool is also naturally anti-microbial- meaning it does not need to be washed after every use. You can let the cover air dry in between uses. If you notice that it is starting to leak, it may be time to lanolize.
Lanolin is a natural substance produced by a sheep’s skin. It interacts with the ammonia in urine to produce a natural soap like compound. This keeps your wool from developing odors and means that you only have to wash your wool once every week or two. Lanolin also helps to make wool diaper covers more water resistant.
How to wash your wool:Fill your sink with enough lukewarm water to sufficiently cover your wool. Add a bit of woolwash (Eucalan is great option) to your running sink water. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Eucalan is formulated so there is no need to rinse. Drain water and gently squeeze wool. Lay in between 2 bath towels and roll to remove excess water. Or if you are doing several covers, put them in your washing machine and run the spin cycled (no water) to quickly and efficiently spin out the excess water. Reshape, and lay flat to dry away from direct heat or sun. Do not machine dry your wool! It will shrink!
How to lanolize your wool:Prepare your sink with warm water and wool wash. Take a small jar and add a pea sized amount of lanolin, drop of baby shampoo, and very hot water. Shake to completely dissolve the lanolin and add this to your sink, swish to mix, then add your wool cover inside out. Allow the wool to soak for about 15-20 minutes, then drain allowing the lanolin rich water to run through the cover. Make sure your wash water remains relatively warm to prevent lanolin from pooling and forming spots.
Our wool from Babee Greens is made from upcycled sweaters and is really adorable. Check it out:
Lanolin is a natural substance produced by a sheep’s skin. It interacts with the ammonia in urine to produce a natural soap like compound. This keeps your wool from developing odors and means that you only have to wash your wool once every week or two. Lanolin also helps to make wool diaper covers more water resistant.
How to wash your wool:Fill your sink with enough lukewarm water to sufficiently cover your wool. Add a bit of woolwash (Eucalan is great option) to your running sink water. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Eucalan is formulated so there is no need to rinse. Drain water and gently squeeze wool. Lay in between 2 bath towels and roll to remove excess water. Or if you are doing several covers, put them in your washing machine and run the spin cycled (no water) to quickly and efficiently spin out the excess water. Reshape, and lay flat to dry away from direct heat or sun. Do not machine dry your wool! It will shrink!
How to lanolize your wool:Prepare your sink with warm water and wool wash. Take a small jar and add a pea sized amount of lanolin, drop of baby shampoo, and very hot water. Shake to completely dissolve the lanolin and add this to your sink, swish to mix, then add your wool cover inside out. Allow the wool to soak for about 15-20 minutes, then drain allowing the lanolin rich water to run through the cover. Make sure your wash water remains relatively warm to prevent lanolin from pooling and forming spots.
Our wool from Babee Greens is made from upcycled sweaters and is really adorable. Check it out:
Come talk with us if you are interested in trying out wool.
