Wool Care
Wool only requires cleaning about every one to two weeks, unless it becomes soiled. After a diaper change, simply allow your cover to air out until the next change.
To wash:
- Rinse your cover in cool to lukewarm water to remove any surface urine or solid waste.
- Fill a basin or sink with cool to lukewarm water, and add a teaspoon or two of baby shampoo or wool wash (like Eucalan No-Rinse Wool Wash- available at your local yarn shop).
- Add your woolens, gently squeeze suds through the fabric, then allow them to soak for about 15 minutes. If using baby shampoo, rinse gently with cool to lukewarm water. Be sure not to wring your cover, as this may cause ‘felting’ (shrinkage).
- Gently squeeze out excess water, and then roll in a towel to get more moisture out.
- Lay flat and allow to dry
If you begin to notice your cover does not seem as effective, or if a urine odor becomes noticeable, this probably means that your cover’s lanolin is wearing thin. Usually covers only need ‘lanolizing’ every few washes, sometimes longer if you use a wool wash containing lanolin. You will also want to lanolize your wool covers prior to their first use.
To lanolize:
- Start with a clean cover (you do not need to dry it first)
- Melt about a ½ inch strip of lanolin (like Lansinoh) in a cup of HOT water
- Add a few drops of baby shampoo or wool wash to help keep the lanolin from clumping.
- Add lanolin mixture to a basin of lukewarm water.
- Place your cover in the basin, allowing to soak 15-30 minutes.
- Gently squeeze out excess water, and then roll in a towel to get more moisture out.
- Lay flat and allow to dry.
Refrain from wringing, excessive agitation and sudden changes in temperature to avoid shrinking your wool covers. When drying your covers avoid direct sunlight and heat sources (like the top of your dryer) as well.