Washing wool
Wool diapers, unlike other systems, don’t need to be washed after every use. Wool covers can go days or even weeks between washes depending on use. Although if wool gets soiled it should be washed right away.
It is normal for wool to get a little wet with use, usually only on the inside but can get damp on the outside as well. Wool should typically just be left to dry and can then be reused again with a new absorbency. If using wool full time for diapering, rotating between 2 or 3 wool covers during the day is generally enough. Of course depending on how often baby poops as wool needs to be washed if it gets soiled. Spot cleaning the wool is often enough. If the wool cover smells when it has dried, you know it is time to wash.
The fatty acid in lanolin counteracts the ammonia in urine to make salt and water. So while there is enough of lanolin present in your wool cover it will help keep your wool cover clean, and odor free.
Wool is breathable, temperature regulating and can absorb up to 30% of its own weight. Lanolin, helps to push the pee back into the diaper, to prevent leaking. If the diaper underneath is soaked already, wool will absorb a little of it without leaking, and water will evaporate. Wool is water resistant, not waterproof and is only as good as the diaper underneath it.
Washing wool by hand is generally always recommended to prevent felting, and to extend its lifetime. Temperature changes of the water used and washing wool vigorously will cause felting, causing wool to shrink and be less stretchy. Washing wool in the washing machine is generally never recommended, unless it is superwash. Superwash wool is wool chemically coated with plastic to prevent the fibers from feeling together. Superwash wool is usually not as stretchy and will stretch out more over time, sometimes spandex is added to keep it more stretchy. Superwash wool is not recommended for wool diapering as it does not take well to being lanolized. It is never recommended to dry wool in the dryer.
Wool should be gently hand washed in clean, lukewarm water with wool wash. Avoid regular detergent or hard soaps. Wool can soak for a few minutes, then all excess water is squeezed out. Wool cloth diapers should then be lanolized, but every other time might be sufficient, depending on use and soap used. It is not necessary to strip all lanolin out of diaper covers each time, and washing with a gentle wool wash with lanolin as an ingredient, is a great way to wash your wool diapers.
After washing, carefully squeeze out most of the water. Be mindful not to stretch or distort them. Do not twist or wring your wool items.
If lanolizing, prepare your lanolin soak.
Lay them flat to dry, they will need time and space to air dry. Pointing a box fan towards them can cut drying time.
Allow your wool soakers to dry completely before use.
Lanolizing wool
Lanolin is the natural substance found in sheep's wool and gives wool its "waterproof" quality. After washing your wool diapers you need to coat the fibers again with Lanolin, with a so-called lanoline bath. It depends on the type of wool wash that you use each time, whether you need to lanolized them again after every wash or less frequently. Every other wash can be just fine if you wash frequently, as long as you don’t strip all the lanolin out. It isn’t generally recommended to strip the lanolin out of the diaper each time, when washing. To prevent that we recommend using mild wool wash like Eucalan or a gentle castile soap, like dr Bronner or Unicorn Fiber wash.
If you need to deep clean your covers or if you buy them preloved we would recommend washing with a little more stripping wool wash without lanolin to strip all lanolin out and then reposit with your new lanoline bath.
People who are allergic to wool may want to avoid Lanolin, as that is considered to be responsible for wool allergies. Alpaca is another animal fiber that can be used for diapering and does not need to be lanolized.
Lanolin soak
After washing wool diapers you will need to add lanolin to the wool diaper again, or to lanolize the wool like it is called. Most common way to add lanolin to your wool is to do a lanolin soak.
To lanolize your diaper covers you will need
Lanolin (about 1 tsp per cover)
Wool wash
A cup of boiling water
A laundry sink or bowl of warm water to soak your wool in
Wool cover
Always start with a clean wool cover.
Turn your wool cover inside out.
Fill your bowl or sink with lukewarm water.
Add lanolin to the cup of boiling water and stir to dissolve the lanoline.
Add a tsp of woolwash to the cup, and stir until the mixture is milky and there are no visible clumps of lanolin. You might need to add a little more soap, depending on what soap you use to emulsify the lanolin. If you prefer to use a bar of soap to emulsify, simply just dip the soap into the cup and stir until the mixture is milky.
Now add the lanolin & soap mixture in the the bowl of lukewarm water, stir a little bit to mix.
Add your woolies and let them sit for a while. Do not agitate to prevent felting, let the cover sit there until the water has reached room temperature. You can let it soak for a couple of hours or overnight.
After lanolizing your wool, carefully squeeze out most of the water. Be mindful not to stretch or distort them. Do not twist or wring your wool items.
Lay them flat to dry, they will need time and space to air dry. Pointing a box fan towards them can cut drying time.
Allow your wool soakers to dry completely before use.
Dry lanolizing
Sometimes you are in a hurry, or the nighttime diaper might need extra love to keep moisture away. Dry lanolizing is a bulletproof method. Add a tsp of lanolin and equal amount of your emulsion soap (I love dr Bronner or Eucalan) rub your hands together until the mixture is milky, then apply inside in the wet zone of the wool diaper by dabbing the mixture on. Do not rub the mixture on as it can cause felting. Voila! The wool is now heavily lanolized. Heavily lanolized covers are great for heavy wetters or for overnight.
Lano spray is another option to touch up the wool. Lanolin spray is meant to touch up your covers before use, especially for nap or night time covers.
Lanolin spray recipe
1 oz boiling water
1 tsp lanolin
1 tsp Castile soap, wool wash or baby soap (we love Euacalan and dr Bronner Castile soap)
Mix everything together and let cool to room temperature, then pour into a small spray bottle. Spray on the wool as needed to add a little more lano love before use.
Wool diapering might seem intimidating and complicated at first, but with the right preparation and care it will become second nature. Follow these few simple steps to overcome your fear. Wool is amazing and using wool can be easy and fun!
