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Wool is a natural, sustainable fiber that is obtained by shearing sheep. 

It’s durable, warm, naturally antimicrobial, and antibacterial.

One thing that turns people away from wool is that it’s itchy. The reason for this is because of how the wool was processed.

Large manufacturers use formaldehyde to strip the wool of impurities. 
Formaldehyde strips wool of its natural oils which dries the wool out.
That’s why it feels so itchy when you wear it.
This can easily be fixed by adding lanolin back into the wool.

Lanolin is natural oil produced by wool-bearing animals. It’s naturally waterproof and protects the wool and the animal’s skin against harsh climates. 

Washing Wool

Using lanolin on your wool clothing will re-hydrate it making it softer and will keep it looking new longer.

Always hand wash wool with a specialized wool soap and air dry it as it will shrink in conventional dryers and washers are hard on clothing. Hand washing also applies to Cashmere, Angora, and Alpaca.

Lay your wool clothing and blankets flat on a drying rack to prevent shrinkage.

Use wool dryer balls instead of conventional dryer sheets which are full of toxic chemicals for regular loads of laundry and towels. They are reusable and better for the environment which is a win, win for me.

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Also Read: Beginners guide to Sustainable Living

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Merino Wool

We are always on the lookout for wool, but what we like in particular is Merino.

Merino is the finest and softest wool. Merino is commonly used for base layers and sweaters for the winter months and tee shirts for summer months.

The Merino base layers cost more than the traditional synthetic ones, but they are so much more comfortable and will keep you warm without causing you to overheat. 

For the summer months, Merino tee shirts are great because they are lightweight and they allow airflow which keeps you cool.

Because of its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties wool is popular with travelers as you can wear the garments for a few weeks without washing them

Something to keep in mind about wool is that it breathes and it will keep you warm even if it gets wet. 

This is something I love about wool. 

My husband and I hunt with our dogs in the winter months and we used to wear synthetic base layers, but synthetics don’t breathe, so we would become overheated and oddly enough there were times we couldn’t get warm. This is not ideal when you’re walking several miles in the dead of winter. 

A few years ago we switched to wool base layers and what a difference that made! We stay comfortable and warm without overheating. 

Wearing wool has changed our view of the cold winter months. They are no longer unbearable, but enjoyable.  It has also changed our view of synthetic materials and has made us more aware of the materials we buy. 

What natural fibers do you wear? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!