How to Care for Wool Soakers

Diaper baby with cloth and save money and the environment.

Soakers are diaper covers used with cloth diapering. The baby is diapered with a cotton or bamboo diaper, then the diaper is covered with a soaker made from wool or fleece. Wool soakers absorb odors and wick moisture away from baby's skin. They can be knitted, crocheted or sewn from old wool sweaters. No matter how wool soakers are made, they are all cared for the same way.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Wool soak or baby shampoo
• Hot water
• Lanolin
• Washing machine

Instructions

1. Place soiled soakers in a bucket. Add hot water and 1/4 cup wool wash or baby shampoo. Soak overnight.

2. Pour the contents of the bucket into the washing machine. Set the machine on spin to remove water.

3. Fill bucket with hot water. Add a teaspoon of wool wash or baby shampoo and a dollop of lanolin the size of a quarter. Stir to blend.

4. Immerse the soakers and leave for 24 hours. Pour the bucket into the washer and run the spin cycle to remove the water. Air dry then store or use.

Tips & Warnings

• Soakers only need to be washed about once a week. Hang wet soakers to dry and then reuse; odors will dissipate as the soaker dries.

• Have several soakers so you always have one handy.

• Pure lanolin comes in a tube and can be found in the infant feeding and nursing section of a drugstore or grocery store.

• Don't use detergent on wool soakers; it will strip the lanolin.

• Don't put wool soakers in the dryer; they will felt.

References

• "The Knitter's Book of Wool"; Clara Parkes; 2009
• "Big Green Book of Recycled Crafts"; Leisure Arts; 2009
• The Nappy Site: How to Use and Care for Wool Soakers