Wool covers are a powerful addition to any night-time cloth nappy routine. They are breathable, naturally antibacterial and surprisingly easy to care for once you understand one simple habit: lanolising. If you have just bought your first wool wrap (another name for wool cover), or you own a few and are unsure whether you are doing it right, this guide walks you through the process from start to finish.
Lanolising wool nappy covers sounds like a fiddly chore, but it is really a small task that takes minutes of hands-on time. The main requirement is patience while the cover soaks. With the right ingredients and a simple method, you can keep your wool covers soft, protective and ready for another night with your little one.
What Does Lanolising Do?
Lanolising is the process of adding lanolin to wool. Wool fibres naturally contain lanolin, a waxy substance produced by sheep to protect their fleece from the elements. When wool is processed into fabric, much of that natural lanolin is removed. Lanolising replaces it, helping the wool cover repel moisture while remaining breathable.
For cloth nappy families, this matters because a lanolised wool cover acts as a waterproof layer over a fitted nappy or night nappy. The wool absorbs a small amount of moisture and holds it away from bub, while the lanolin stops the fabric from becoming saturated too quickly. The result is a comfortable, leak-resistant layer that lets air circulate far better than plastic-based options.
Baby Beehinds wool covers use 100% Australian wool interlock material, with 2% spandex interwoven to give just enough stretch for a perfect fit over a night nappy or fitted nappy. That combination of natural fibre and a little give makes them a favourite for overnight use, and regular lanolising keeps them performing at their best.
Wash Before You Lanolise?
You don’t need to wash a brand new wool cover but it does need to be lanolised. You should wash your wool cover with wool detergent after your first few weeks of using, then re-lanolise at the same time.
Hand washing is the gentlest way to clean wool but our wool covers are machine washable cause who has time for hand washing! Most other brands of wool covers recommend hand washing but you can machine wash ours on a delicate or wool cycle. Avoid harsh top loader washing machines, hot water and regular laundry powders that contain enzymes, as these can felt the wool or strip away too much of its natural oil.
- Lanolise new covers before their first use
- Hand wash in cold water with a wool detergent or machine wash on wool/delicates cycle.
- Lanolise straight after washing while the cover is still damp.
How to Lanolise Wool Nappy Covers
There are several well-tried ways to lanolise a wool cover, and most follow the same basic pattern. You dissolve solid lanolin in hot water, add something to help it emulsify, then soak the cover in the mixture. Here is the general process, followed by three reliable methods for preparing the mixture.
- Wash your wool cover and leave it damp.
- Prepare a lanolin mixture using one of the methods below.
- Pour the mixture into a large bowl big enough to hold the cover comfortably.
- Submerge the wool cover in the bowl and allow it to soak for at least a couple of hours.
- Lay a towel flat on a surface and place the cover on it.
- Gently shape the cover back into its original form and leave it to dry flat, away from direct heat.
The Mug Method with Conditioner or Fabric Softener
This is one of the quickest ways to combine the ingredients. Mix a cup of boiled water, a teaspoon sized amount of lanolin per cover, and a small amount of fabric softener or hair conditioner into the mug. Stir the mixture until the lanolin has dissolved, and the whole mixture turns milky white with no lumps. Then pour the contents of the mug into a larger bowl with cool water (about 1L) before adding your wool cover.
The fabric softener or conditioner acts as an emulsifier. Lanolin is waxy and does not mix easily with water on its own, so that little extra ingredient helps the lanolin disperse evenly through the soaking water. Without it, you may end up with patches of lanolin on the wool rather than an even coating.
The Jar Shake Method
Many Australian cloth nappy parents swear by the jar method because it is fast and hands-off. Grab a teaspoon of solid lanolin per wool cover and pop it in a jar along with about a cup of very hot water. Put the lid on and shake like mad until the lanolin has broken up and combined with the water. If it doesn’t properly emulsify, then add some hair conditioner or fabric softener into the mix and try again.
Once the mixture looks milky and well combined, pour it into a bowl large enough for your cover. Add enough lukewarm water so the cover can float freely, then submerge it and let it soak. If doing multiple covers at the same time, just increase the volume of lanolin a pea-sized amount per cover.
The Soapy Water Method
If you do not have fabric softener or conditioner on hand, soapy water does the same job. Make a soapy water solution with about one to two litres of lukewarm water and either two tablespoons of soap flakes, baby shampoo or pure soap. Rub the soap through the water until it is well mixed and slightly foamy.
Add your solid lanolin to the soapy water and stir until the mixture is combined. The soap helps the lanolin dissolve so it can penetrate the wool fibres evenly. Some parents prefer this method because baby shampoo and pure soap are gentle and readily available in most Australian homes, but to be honest the first method is the best.
Handy Tips for Better Results
Use 100% pharmaceutical grade lanolin only. Products with added fragrance or other ingredients can irritate sensitive skin and may not perform as well on wool. Lanolin Cream (like moisturising cream will not work)
- A pea-sized amount is roughly half a teaspoon per cover. If you are using the jar method, a full teaspoon per cover is the recommended starting point.
- Boiling or very hot water helps the lanolin melt, but always mix it with cooler water before soaking your cover so you do not shrink or felt the wool.
- A small squirt of baby wash or body wash is enough to help emulsify the lanolin in a mug of hot water.
- Soak for at least a couple of hours. If you remember late at night, leaving it longer will not hurt.
- Never wring or twist a wool cover. Press the water out gently and lay it flat on a towel to dry.
- Lanolise straight after washing while the cover is still damp, and you will not need to rewet it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to wash a new wool cover before lanolising?
Yes however as it is not soiled you do not need to use any detergent before you lanolise. A new cover may carry dust or manufacturing residue, so a gentle rinse in cool water, before you submerge in the lanolin bath helps prepares the wool fibres to absorb the lanolin evenly.
How much lanolin should I use per cover?
The amount depends on the method and the size of the cover. A pea-sized amount or roughly half a teaspoon of solid lanolin is a common guide for one cover. The jar shake method recommends a full teaspoon of solid lanolin per wool cover in about a cup of very hot water. Start with the smaller amount and add more if the cover is large or has been dried completely.
Why do the instructions include fabric softener or baby wash?
Lanolin is a waxy substance that does not dissolve easily in water on its own. A small amount of fabric softener, hair conditioner, baby wash or body wash helps it emulsify, which means the lanolin breaks into tiny particles and spreads evenly through the water. Some parents also use soap flakes, baby shampoo or pure soap in a lukewarm soapy solution for the same reason.
How long should my wool cover soak in the lanolin mixture?
Allow the wool cover to soak for at least a couple of hours. This gives the lanolin time to penetrate the wool fibres properly. You can leave it longer if that suits your routine, but a couple of hours is the minimum recommended soaking time across the main lanolising methods. Once the soak is complete, lay a towel flat on a surface and place the cover on it to dry.
Can I lanolise a dry wool cover?
Most people lanolise straight after washing while the cover is still damp, and this is the easiest approach because the wool is already clean and ready to absorb the mixture. You can lanolise a dry cover if needed, but you may need to use a little more lanolin. The key is to make sure the cover is fully submerged in the prepared mixture so the lanolin can be absorbed evenly.
