Wool

Wool diaper covers feel warm in the winter and cool in the summer while allowing a child’s skin to breathe.  They absorb 30% of their weight in fluid and are anti-bacterial and anti-microbial. Unlike PUL and vinyl covers, they only need to be washed every few weeks.

At this time, we use Blackberry Ridge hand-painted merino wool, Little Turtle Knits^TM hand-painted wool yarns, PeaceFleece wool/mohair yarn, and Blue-Faced Leicester British wool, and Targhee wool for our diapering products.

To care for your wool, you’ll need both a wool wash such as Eucalan and lanolin.  Lansinoh purple tubes used for breastfeeding work great and can be purchased at Target. When the cover becomes soiled or begins to smell even when dry (every couple weeks), use the wool wash. To minimize felting of the yarn, dab at any spots instead of rubbing them. Wool covers can be slow to dry—hanging them near a fan or rolling in a towel can speed the process.

Wool can “sweat” onto clothing when it’s fully saturated, particularly overnight, but when the cover begins to leave large wet spots on clothing (about every 2 months), it needs to be lanolized. I use a teapot to heat some water to near boiling. Meanwhile, fill a bucket with tepid water. Pour the hot water into a small jar with a tight-fitting lid and add some lanolin (about a one inch length when squeezed from the tube).  Shake the jar until the lanolin has dissolved, then pour it into the bucket. Turn the cover inside out and swish it gently in the bucket.  Turn it right side out and repeat.  Flip it back wrong side out and leave in the bucket.  I generally let it sit overnight, but an hour is plenty.  Hang to dry, or leave on a towel—DO NOT RINSE.

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