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Are wool
diaper covers hot?
Diaper Covers: Why Wool's Cool
by Heather L. Sanders
My first reaction to wool as a choice fabric for diaper covers was less
than informed.
I was considering an old scratchy sweater my grandfather had graciously
given me. He had worn it years back when living in Germany. The colors
were beautiful, but the 'feel' was itchy, heavy and altogether
uncomfortable. I could not don it without first pulling on beneath it a
turtleneck undershirt with arms that extended beyond the sweater's arm
length. Yes, it was THAT BAD! There are many that feel their reaction
to wool extends beyond discomfort to a definite allergy. I do not
believe this was my case as I have since found wool that does not cause
a reaction. Rosemary Brock wrote that she has known "many people who
thought they were allergic to wool and what they were allergic to was
either the wool processing or the type of wool." (3) For more
information on wool and allergies,
go
here.
Since then, however, I have learned and experienced that just as with
nearly every other fiber, wool has many variations. Select wools can
provide a soft, lush, highly effective waterproof layer that is
surprisingly easy to maintain and launder.
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Choices . . . choices . . . choices!
Just as I did, many begin cloth diapering without a clue as to the
vast array of choices available on the market. Few are fortunate
enough to be introduced to cloth diapering from family members or
friends. Over and over we hear of how mommas just knew they
wanted a more natural choice for diapering and so, they went
looking. Most local communities lack knowledgeable cloth diapering
educators and/or advocates. In addition, not all are aware, nor
have the resources available, to read/inquire within the cyber cloth
diapering communities on the world wide web. (That is a whole
different article altogether, now isn't it?) No matter how the
information is gained, once acclimated to the idea of cloth
diapering in general, the next step is making decisions about the
specifics. What type of cloth diapers to use? What kind of
covers? What are the benefits of one over the other? Here I will
list some of the attributes of wool. Being informed is the key to
deciding whether or not wool needs be a component of a baby's cloth
diapering system.
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Rotating/Airing out wool covers throughout the day extends their
use between washes. |
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Why choose wool?
Wool covers are just more proof of what those making natural parenting
choices already know - that nature is no less than perfect. Nature's
gift of wool can maintain three seemingly contradicting qualities
simultaneously. First, a wool cover is thermal - "it can store water
vapour up to 35 per cent of its own dry weight yet it remains dry to
touch and speeds up the body's own cooling system." (2) To attest to
this fact, wool is most regularly suggested for night-time usage when
leaks most often occur in abundance, although certainly can extend to
everyday wear. Second, while absorbent, they still remain breathable,
allowing for a maximum amount of circulation around baby's bum. This
helps prevent diaper rash, but also alleviates the health concerns of
trapped heat within a diapering system. Finally, wool contains natural
lanolin which creates a natural waterproof barrier or repellancy. For
more information on the benefits and structure of wool as a workable
natural fiber for cloth diapering systems, read Marc Pehkonen's
Diapering Articles: Right Down to the Fibers.
Wool through the ages.
Though it is unknown the exact moment the revelation of wool as a choice
textile came to mankind, "the earliest dated surviving textile,
found in a Danish bog, originates from 1500 BC, while the oldest fine
woolen fabric dates to the fifth century BC and was found in a Greek
colony." (1)
Wear and tear of Wool.
Before going any further, let's talk about the 'wear' of wool. After
all, our concern is that baby be completely comfortable and cool,
right? Wool boasts of the finest comforts - "its elasticity means
garments fit so well and yield to body movement, it absorbs moisture,
allows your body to breathe, yet never feels damp and clammy." (2) Baby
can bend, stretch, crawl, pull-up easily and get the added benefit of a
completely breathable diapering system. Cloth diapering enthusiasts
often veer away from choosing wool because of a common misconception
that wool products are not easy to care for and/or maintain. First, I
would like to point out that wool need not be washed as regularly as
synthetic diaper covers. Wool is "dirt resistant - the crimp and the
scales prevent dirt from penetrating the surface of the wool fibre and
the static resistance also helps to resist dust and lint from the air."
(2) That, in and of itself, makes it a more agreeable diapering item
for those wanting ease of use because it will cut down on the amount of
time dedicated to diaper laundry. Wool is also known for its longevity
and durability due to "the interlocking protein molecules . . . wool
fibres have the power to elongate, stretch and recover, creating an
extremely robust fabric that will last for years." (2)
Naturally antibacterial.
Shortly following diaper changes, wool covers may smell of urine,
however a system of rotating and airing them out (as seen in the picture
above) will cause the smell to dissipate completely. Why is this? The
same natural properties of lanolin that allow wool to be virtually
waterproof pull double-duty as an anti-bacterial, thus killing germs.
One way to know that a wool cover needs laundering (outside of being
soiled with fecal matter), is if the urine smell does not fade after an
airing. This means the lanolin has worn thin and most likely the wool
diaper cover is losing its waterproofing as well.
So how DOES wool wash up?
As with any cloth diapering system, it is important to read the wash and
care information given by the WAHM (Work-At-Home-Mom) or manufacturer
who produced the specific wool item purchased. Some wool does require a
simple hand washing system, while others can be placed on a gentle cycle
in a washing machine. It is important to pay attention to these details
lest one end up with a doll size wool cover for their life-size baby.
However, in general, the following applies.
Do an initial rinse in cold water to cleanse away any surface urine or
solid waste. Then fill the sink with warm water, adding the wool wash.
The amount of wool wash needed is directly in proportion to the amount
of covers being washed and the amount of water being used - the brand of
wool wash that you use will stipulate tsp. per gallon increments.
To simplify, we choose to use
Eucalan® No Rinse
Woolwash. As the name stipulates, it does not require a
rinse . . . cutting down water usage and making the process easier. It
is a non-phosphate gentle cleaner that contains lanolin for
waterproofing and conditioning wool. More often than not, I have found
that it is suggested/recommended and/or sold by those that sell wool
products.
Once the wool wash is added, soak your covers in the mixture . . . I
usually get busy with tasks around the house and tend to leave it in the
soak for 15 to 30 minutes. Once it has soaked, gently squeeze out all
excess water. It is unnecessary and counterproductive to writhe and
wring the cover. I usually lay the covers out flat on a towel, and roll
it up for a bit to absorb a bit of the moisture, then unroll and place
on a fresh/dry towel or hang to dry. Our covers are normally washed
about once a month. We have several wool covers in our rotation which
extends the washing routine.
Machine washing is much the same - again, read the washing guidelines
that come with your wool item as some specifically state NOT to machine
wash. Fill the washing machine with tepid/warm water FIRST before
adding wool wash . . . gently agitate the wash to 'mix.' ALWAYS utilize
the gentle cycle when washing wool covers. Add wool covers once wool
wash has been agitated to mix well with the water. Allow the washer to
agitate. Remember, if using Eucalan® No Rinse Woolwash, the rinse cycle
is unnecessary. Either way, pull from washer and hang to dry. If 'no
rinse' . . . follow the same steps used when soaking in the sink
(above).
Here's a little humor for you
- I came across a Terms & Definitions list for textile people and fiber
producers. The term Blowout Factor means "The rapidity with
which an animal's fiber diameter thickens with age. (A bad thing.)" (4)
Here in the Diapering World the term Blowout Factor has a slightly
different slant, however it does still deal with rapidity and possible
thickening with age (a bad thing) as well. :)
Other products can be used to wash wool as well.
Some prefer to use baby wash for cleansing and lanolize with melted
lanolin. Lansinoh® is a commonly used brand. To use Lansinoh®,
dissolve a teaspoon or so per diaper cover into very hot water - adding
just a tad of natural soap to maintain a fluid consistency to the
Lanolin. This HOT mixture can then be added to warm water already drawn
in a sink. Add the wool covers and soak. With this system, if the
'soak water' does not stay warm, the lanolin may begin to harden and
clump in the water and/or on your covers. So watch the water
temperature carefully. Pull out and gently squeeze, roll in towel to
absorb excess moisture and hang or lay flat to dry.
Variety of styles, hues and textures.
Wool is a very versatile fiber used to make a wide range of products
from upholstery to . . . well - baby's diaper covers! Wool diaper
covers can be found in any shape or form that a synthetic diaper cover
can take and more - from front hook and loop (velcro/aplix) or snap
closures to side snapping or pull-on soakers, there is a broad
spectrum. Wool is also recognized for being "easy to dye - the scales
on the surface of the wool fibre tend to diffuse light giving less
reflection and a softer colour and wool holds its colour well as the dye
becomes part of the fibre." (2) Many WAHMs in the diaper sewing
industry are experimenting with all sorts of methods of hand-dyeing wool
for their custom creations. Everything from
Kool-Aid dyeing
to basic
Vegetable Dyes
are being utilized to add vibrance, or as
Lori
Taylor of Fuzbaby
would say, to create 'Diaper Art' on wool diaper covers. For Helpful
Tips on using natural plant dyes for your own wool dyeing experiments a
very informative site is
The
Joy of Handspinning.
Peruse Karla Fischer's very detailed and extensive wool reviews at
Cloth
Diaper Geek's Recommendation of Wool Covers and Wool-In-Ones.
Last Thought: Storing your wool diaper covers for the next baby.
With the onslaught of plastic storage containers that can fit anywhere
from between your washer and dryer to under the bed or stackables for
your closet . . . you may not think twice regarding storing your wool
(or any other textiles) in that manner. However, due to a lack of air
circulation within plastic containers or bags, it is not a choice
environment. Fabric "needs to breathe and storing it in vinyl airtight
containers causes fiber deterioration from chemical interaction and
imparts awful odors over time." (5) "Any moisture remaining in the
container will result in a musty smell at best, and possibly even mold
or mildew damage." (1) So what do you use? To protect your wool covers
from mold, mildew and moth larvae, try storing them in cedar wood,
wicker baskets with cedar chips, cotton bags or any other type of
container that will allow the textile to breathe. (1) For the best
protection, choose acid-free products, as well as boxes containing rag
content or linen stationery (you can get these from printers - just ask
for their empty boxes). Do not store in cardboard shoes boxes as they
are produced from less than 'friendly' products. However, cardboard shoe
boxes can be lined with acid-free tissue so that fabric will not touch
cardboard if it is your only alternative. Another suggestion is to
store your wool covers in newspaper. Yep, you read right! Moths do not
like newspaper, so simply wrap your wool covers in tissue and then in
newspaper and store them in dresser drawers, closets, cabinets or
wherever there is space. Remember to store away from direct sunlight,
damp basements, hot attics and/or dusty garages. (5)
Sources:
(1) Amy Pang, Ass. Editor,
A Brief History of Wool
. Vintage Voice.
(2)
Wool Fibre: Natural
Properties.
Australian Wool Innovation Limited.
(3) Rosemary Brock,
Wool and Allergies.
(4) Rosemary Brock,
Terms and Definitions.
(5) Joan Kiplinger. Storage - where and in what.
Fabrics.net.
March/April 2000.
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