Wool diaper cover care: Wool loves being loved. Here's how.

About Wool Diaper Cover Care

Here's something most people don't know when they first come to wool: it doesn't need to be washed after every single wear.

Because wool is naturally antibacterial, antimicrobial and water repellent—when lanolin treated—a simple air dry between uses is often all it needs.

When your Bumby piece is ready for a proper refresh, the process is gentler than you might expect:

1. Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle, using a wool-friendly detergent—Unicorn Wash is our go-to. Dilute your detergent in water before adding it to the machine or pouring it directly onto the fabric.
2. Remove your wool from the washer as soon as the cycle finishes. Leaving it sitting in moisture over time can cause fibre damage.
3. While your piece is still clean and wet, this is the ideal moment for a lanolin treatment—see below for how to do that.
4. Air dry and store somewhere breathable. Tucking in a small piece of cedar or some dried lavender helps deter moths naturally.

Take care of your wool, and your wool will take care of you and last a very long time.

One thing worth knowing: not all wool is the same. Many other wool brands will shrink or felt in the wash so while these instructions work beautifully for Bumby wool, they may not apply to every wool product you own.

About Lanolin

What it is and why it matters.

Lanolin and wool go hand in hand. While wool comes from shearing sheep, lanolin is the naturally waxy substance secreted through a sheep's pores—a byproduct of the same process. It's what keeps the wool fibre water resistant and well maintained. It softens the fibre against your skin, reducing any itchiness and it moisturizes as it goes.

During the processing of raw wool into useable fabric and yarn, the lanolin is washed out. So we put it back.

A regular lanolin treatment reinstates all of wool's beneficial qualities: antibacterial, antimicrobial, water repellent, water resistant. It's what allows your Bumby pieces to essentially self-clean between full washes, and what keeps the fibre performing the way it's meant to.

Because lanolin is a wax, it can't simply be applied to clothing directly so it needs to be diluted and fully emulsified in water before use. Bumby offers two ways to do that.

Lanolin Emulsion Soap Blocks

1. Dissolve 1 emulsion block in ½ cup boiling water.
2. Once dissolved, add ½ cup room temperature water.
3. Pour into a basin or bowl large enough to hold your garment.
4. Turn your clean, wet Bumby piece inside out and submerge it. Gently agitate the water to distribute the lanolin, giving a little extra attention to areas that need softening or refreshing.
5. Remove the garment and gently rub the sides together to help the lanolin absorb into the fibres.
6. Rinse well and lay flat to dry.

A couple of tips: reheat the mixture with a small splash of hot water to treat additional garments in the same session. Any leftover emulsion can be saved and used again—it keeps well.

Pre-mixed Lanolin Rinse and Refresh

1. Shake well before use.
2. Mix 1–2 tablespoons of Rinse and Refresh with 1 litre of room temperature distilled water in a basin. Distilled water is recommended to prevent dye shifting or lanolin clumping.
3. Swish the solution to blend.
4. Turn your clean, wet Bumby piece inside out and submerge it. Gently agitate the water to distribute the lanolin.
5. Let the lanolin settle into the fibres for 5–10 minutes—no longer.
6. Rinse well and lay flat to dry.

The solution can be reused for additional pieces; just top it up with more product as needed. And always start with a clean garment because lanolin can trap dirt and oils, so washing before treating matters.

What Comes With Your Order

Every Bumby diaper order includes up to two months of care supplies—lanolin treatment and Unicorn Wash—along with full instructions. Because we want your pieces to last. That's the whole point.

If you ever have questions about care, run into something unexpected, or want help troubleshooting—we're a message away.