Yes, You Can Machine Wash Your Bumby Wool
Wool care has a reputation for being complicated.
Your Bumby does not need that kind of drama.
Our wool is prepared, washed, and preshrunk before we ever turn it into your finished piece, and we design it for real life. When your wool diaper cover is ready for a proper wash, the washing machine is absolutely an option.
Cold water, always
Machine wash your Bumby in cold water on a gentle cycle.
We dye our wool in house, and our dyes prefer cold water. It is also a gentler environment for the wool itself, helping protect the colour, fibres, and fit over time.
Your detergent matters
This is one place where wool really is different from your regular laundry.
Wool is a protein fibre. Many mainstream detergents contain enzymes designed to break down protein based stains. Great idea for certain stains. Not such a great idea when the thing being washed is also made from protein.
Choose a wool safe wash without those fibre damaging enzymes.
We love Unicorn Clean and use it right here in the Bumby studio. Our fabric is washed and prepared with Unicorn products before it becomes your Bumby, so it is the same care system we trust behind the scenes.
Whatever wool wash you choose, dilute it first rather than pouring concentrated detergent directly onto the fabric.
What about shrinking?
This is usually the part that makes new wool users nervous.
Bumby fabric is preshrunk before your piece is made. We have already put the fabric through washing and preparation in our studio, so it takes a fair bit to shrink it substantially from normal care.
You still want cold water and a gentle cycle, but you do not need to treat your Bumby like it will disintegrate if you look at the washing machine wrong.
Lay flat to dry
Once the cycle finishes, remove your wool promptly and gently reshape it.
Then lay it flat to dry.
Wet wool has weight to it. Hanging it can pull on the fibres and stretch the fabric while it dries. Wool also responds beautifully to blocking, meaning wet wool can be encouraged into a particular shape as it dries.
Very useful when intentional.
Less useful when your hanger accidentally does the designing.
Lay your Bumby flat, let it dry naturally, and you are done.
If your diaper cover also needs lanolin, freshly washed wool is the perfect starting point. Head to our Lanolin Guide for that next step.
Wool care does not need to be complicated. Cold water, the right wash, and a flat place to dry will get you a long way.