In order to protect your wool bedding investment, here are seven dos and don’t of wool bedding care to help you get started:
DO let your bed breathe.
Instead of insisting you make your bed every morning, we insist you unmake it. Wool wicks moisture away from your body while you sleep, so when you wake up, wool bedding needs a couple of hours to release that moisture back into the air. You can simply fold your top sheet and duvet cover in half, straighten it up a bit, and you have that easy, breezy California style in your bedroom!
DO sun your mattress.
Hanging or laying your wool bedding out in the sun once a month allows it to naturally bleach, disinfect and deodorize. Sun is the perfect way to keep your wool mattress and bedding fresh.
DO use a mattress topper.
Our EcoWool mattress toppers not only provide added support and cushion, but they also help to extend the life of your wool mattress. Don’t have a wool mattress? No problem. Our wool toppers are one of our most popular products because they will fit on top of any mattress and instantly update the comfort and an affordable price. You spend a third of your life in bed, make it the best place to be.
DO rotate and flip your mattress and mattress topper.
Periodically rotating and flipping your wool mattress will help it wear more evenly and extend its life as well (same with the mattress topper). We recommend rotating it about once a month and flipping it every six months.
DON’T use the wrong bed frame.
Always use a solid wood slatted frame, but make sure the slats are spaced correctly to support your wool mattress. We recommend 1.5” gaps. If you use the wrong type of frame (i.e. a box spring or platform bed), it can affect the longevity and comfort of your wool bedding. We sell beautiful handmade wood frames that are made to last for generations. Just another way we’re doing our part to help the environment and keep cheap, toxic products out of landfills.
DON’T use synthetic fibers.
Wool wicks away moisture from skin, but it doesn’t play well with synthetic fibers. Polyurethane-based fibers, aka PLASTICS, are a big no-no at Shepherd’s Dream. The biggest problem is that the chemical used in most mattresses, polyurethane, is made using 2 toxic ingredients: propylene oxide and TDI (Toluene Diisocyanate). Both of these have been found by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to be cancer-causing. While they tend to be much cheaper than natural fibers such as cotton and linen (our top two choices for natural fibers other than wool), they do not wick away moisture, thus causing your wool mattress to hold it in. What happens when moisture sticks around? Mold and bacteria growth – ick! If you’re going to invest in a good, healthy wool bedding, consider what you will use to help protect it too! We love all the Coyuchi products because they are Earth, Human, and Animal conscientious as we are. So not only are you getting beautiful linens to dress up your bedroom, you’re helping the planet!
DON’T dry clean your mattress or mattress topper.
Dry cleaners use toxic chemicals to get things clean, so dry cleaning your wool bedding would take away from the chemical-free, hypoallergenic quality of the wool. If a bigger accident does happen, soak that area in a bathtub full of cool water with a little bit of mild detergent. We like Eucalan as it contains lanolin, the oil naturally found in wool. However, any low alkaline soap, such as baby shampoo, will work.
Then let it dry in the sun. If the sun’s not out, make sure to place it in a dry area where it will get plenty of air circulation.
If you have questions about wool bedding care, we would love to answer them. At Shepherd’s Dream, our goal is for you to love our organic wool bedding and sleep your natural best.
