It’s not difficult to start diapering with wool. Really. Below you will find a brief summary on how it works. Curious?
For our wool covers we use organic merino wool and optionally organic cotton. Through greasing with lanolin the wool cover becomes water repellent. It then is combined with absorbing inserts that are directly placed in the cover or folded around the child. For all our inserts we use natural fibres only, such as organic cotton and hemp. Both fibres are cultivated in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. No chemicals. No synthetic materials.
A wool nappy consists of three parts: The wool cover, absorbing inserts, and optionally a fleece liner
The wool cover forms the water repellent barrier. There are two type of covers: 100% organic merino wool or a combination of merino wool (lining) and organic cotton (outer fabric).
Absorbing inserts absorb moisture and form the heart of a wool nappy. Therefore we use natural fibres only, namely organic cotton and hemp. No polyester. No viscoses. Promised!
The fleece liner catches the solid poop, which is thrown in the bin afterwards. Hence, the poop goes not into the washing machine. The use of a fleece liner is optional.
The wool nappy offers plenty of freedom of movement, is washable and the right choice for sensitive baby skin. For you, your baby, and the environment.
What to do with the cover, inserts and fleece liner after use
Air-out the wool cover after use and thoroughly clean it about every 2-3 weeks. This washing interval is possible because of the self-cleaning effect of wool and its antibacterial properties. If the wool cover is dirty or leaky, there are little tricks to get it back up and running quickly. For example, remove small stains with a wool washing soap. The soap contains lanolin and greases the wool while washing.
Store the soiled absorbing inserts in a wet bag or bucket with lid for maximum 2-3 days. Wash them afterwards in the washing machine. And no worries, poop will not get in there!
What if your baby pooped? Throw the fleece liner with the poop in the bin. Alternatively give the poop in the toilet, but still throw the liner away. The fibres do not decompose easily and it can lead to blockages in the pipes. Your baby only peed? Give the fleece liner to the soiled absorbing inserts. Wash it together with the inserts, and re-use it.
The washing routine
Wash the wool cover by hand or in the wool-washing program of your washing machine at max. 30°C. However, washing wool covers by hand removes dirt and residuals more thoroughly than the washing machine. This is especially important on the long-term.
Wash the absorbing inserts in the washing machine every 2-3 days at 60°C. You can also wash the load together with towels and/or bed linen.
Few tips about drying
Never wring wool because it will felt. To dry wool roll it up or fold it in a towel. Then lay it flat on the ground and trample on it. This process gently pushes the water out of the wool without applying any friction. Afterwards lay the wool cover on a drying rack to dry completely. Don’t hang it up by the leg elastic, otherwise they will permanently stretch out.
Put the absorbing inserts (and optionally) the fleece liner in the tumble dryer or on a drying rack. Depending on the weather and the material (cotton or hemp) the inserts dry within 1-2 days. A tumble dryer is for sure faster.
What you need to diaper full-time with wool
The information given below is the minimum you will need to diaper with wool full time, for example with a newborn. For more relaxed diapering, i.e. less frequent washing or not panicking when suddenly all the wool covers are dirty, then a few more absorbing inserts and/or 1-2 wool cover(s) are advisable.
What and why
For the day – In principle, you can diaper with 3 wool covers only. All absorbing inserts are usable till the end of the nappy time. In total you need approx. 30 flats (cotton or hemp). Combine the hemp booster with a flat to increase absorption capacity. In direct contact to the child needs to be a fast absorbing cotton insert, while hemp comes below.
For the night – Since a newborn doesn’t sleep through the night an extra cover is not mandatory. You can simply use the day-covers. For older children you will need extra wool covers and probably high-absorbing inserts (e.g., hemp flat).
Wool care products – In total two tins of lanolin is sufficient for the entire nappy time plus minimum 2-3 wool washing soaps. In addition, green olive soap flakes for preparing the lanolin emulsion and an olive soap bar for deep cleaning of the wool.
You got your first wool nappy? Let’s start!
Here are a few steps to take before using the covers and absorbing inserts for the first time. Let’s start diapering with wool!
Wool cover
- Wash the cover by hand or in the washing machine using the wool program at max. 30°C. Therefore, you can either use conventional wool soap or olive oil soap.
- Grease the cover after washing 1-2 times before first use (find detailed instructions here).
- Express the cover in a towel, but do not wring.
- Dry the cover flat on a drying rack.
Absorbing inserts
- Wash the inserts several times before first use. That way they achieve their full absorbency; The rule of thumb here is about ten times.
- You can speed up the process and soak the inserts in water overnight and then wash them in the washing machine at 60° Celsius.
Start diapering with our “Packages for Beginners”
You want to try Jovoh nappies and start diapering with wool? Great! The package is the perfect introduction to the wonderful world of wool nappies, for beginners and experienced cloth nappy users. It contains one wool cover of your choice, lanolin for greasing, a sample bag of olive soap flakes, and different absorbing inserts. You can choose between a wool cover made of 100% organic merino wool or a cover that is a combination of organic merino wool (lining) and organic cotton (outer fabric).
