Regardless of what you may think, wool is very easy to maintain.

 

Wool is a natural fiber and can absorb up to 30-40% of its weight in moisture without feeling wet to the touch. It is naturally anti-bacterial and won't retain smells.

 

Wool is breathable and helps to keep baby's bottom at a regulated temperature. Wool is cool in summer and warm in winter. It is also great for preventing diaper rash.

 

Wool soakers, longies or covers do not need to be washed after every use, unless soiled. In between uses, they can just be aired out.

 

When soiled, wash your woolen items in a cleaner made especially for wool. To wash these items, wash them by hand in cool water only and do not agitate. (Hot water and agitation will cause your wool item to "felt", which in turn will cause shrinking). After washing, DO NOT pick your wool (especially knitted or crocheted) item up out of the sink and let the legs dangle. This will cause stretching, due to the weight of wool when it is wet!!! Instead, while it is still in the sink, fold it up into a "heap" or ball. Then squeeze out as much of the water as you can...but do not wring or twist. After you have squeezed out as much water as possible, lay the item on a towel, and roll it up in the towel to blot out more of the water. Lay item flat to air dry.

 

Wool items will need lanolizing. Lanolin is the natural oil in wool what helps wool to repel moisture.

 

When you notice that your wool item starts to feel damp or no longer seems to keep wetness inside, it is time to lanolize.

 

To do this, you can use any product made for this purpose.

 

Use only about a large pea size amount of lanolin and put this in a cup of warm water. Stir until dissolved (I microwave it for a few seconds). Run barely warm water into a sink or basin. The water only needs to be warm enough to keep the lanolin dissolved. Pour in your lanolin mixture. Then place your wool item in the water. Make sure it gets saturated with this mixture. Let the wool item remain soaking for 20 minutes or so, then remove it in the same way as instructed above for washing. Generally, lanolizing is only necessary every 2-4 weeks, depending on the frequency of use of a wool item.