Winter time is Wool time!

 ...as the days are becoming shorter, leaves are falling and temperatures slowly dropping, most of us are starting to feel a deep-seeded need for rugging and snuggling up - especially with our little ones.

Naturally, we stir towards anything warm and cozy rather than light and breathable. We tend to choose clothes that will keep our baby's body temperature stable without overheating, but still insulates and protect our precious little ones against the cold.

Which naturally brings us to Organic Merino Wool

To keep these and many other amazing abilities of organic merino wool, it does need to be looked after.

However, many tend to shy away from the idea of woolen clothes as they feel overwhelmed by the prospect of ‘looking after’ the wool and maintaining its beauty and quality without ruining it.

To take the scare factor out of woolen baby clothes, we have put together some useful tips on the care of woolen clothes, so you can enjoy this incredible fibre for many years to come.

1. How to wash woolen baby & kids clothes

Washing wool isn’t any more complicated than washing your hair as wool is hair too.

Everything our hair doesn’t like during a wash, neither does wool. For example,  using too hot water or too cold water for rinsing, an aggressive shampoo or extensive lathering and grating. If you treat natural wool just like you would treat your own hair, nothing can go wrong.

2. Do I have to wash a recently bought woolen baby outfit before using it for the first time? 

No, you don’t need to wash your woolen article before using it for the first time. Since all of our organic woolen baby and kids online clothing range are almost entirely free of chemicals and don’t contain any harmful or questionable substances to children, there’s no need to wash them first.

You can rug up your baby immediately and enjoy!

3. How often do I need to wash my babies woolen clothes?

The least possible - wool and water aren't the best of friends and therefore a wash should take place infrequently.

Wool is self-cleaning.

Wool fibres have an extraordinary surface that rejects dirt particles, as well as bad odors and sweat.

Airing is enough to remove the dirt particles from the surface and to make the woolen article hygienically clean. You may have witnessed the same effect when wearing a woolen jumper or ski underwear. Those articles only need to be aired overnight and are good as new the next day.

Does this sound like magic to you? Yes, it might be and it certainly works!

4. Can I wash my baby's woolen clothes in the washing machine?

Yes, as almost all modern washing machines have a wool wash program. However,  many are designed differently and can be programmed to automatically spin up to 1200 rotations during the wool setting - that’s way too much for wool.

Also, the temperature often varies between +/- 10c. A 30c wash can quickly turn into a 40c wash. Wool won’t hold out against such temperatures.

Therefore, make sure to change the options to a cold wash and a slow, gentle spin or no spinning at all!

5. How can I hand wash my woolen article in the best way?

Infrequently and with care! Here is a simple guideline:

• It’s best to hand wash the articles in your bathroom’s sink or a little tub as it has the right volume and an ergonomic working height.
• You also need a mild wool shampoo, a terry cloth and a small tub for the wet wool articles.
• Add lukewarm water into the sink - this means about 25c. You can use  a baby thermometer to estimate the right temperature.
• Add wool shampoo according to the dispense instruction on the package. Now you can put the dirty woolen article into the water.
• Heavy stains can be carefully treated with ox-gall soap beforehand, which is known as a natural stain remover. Slightly push the article carefully and repeat the process a few times - don't wring or rub it, simply push it a few times, max. 1-2 minutes, that’s all.
• Remove the woolen article from the washing water and rinse it carefully with fresh water at the same temperature (also 25c, nothing colder). To remove the rinse water from the article, squeeze it with utmost care.
• Woolen articles mustn’t dry in a hanging position as the shape can become distorted, instead dry in a flat position. A drying rack will be perfect.
• Pull the wet article carefully in shape and place it on the terry cloth ready to dry. Don’t dry your woolen article placed on a heating or in strong sunlight. This will harm the fibres. A shady, well ventilated place is perfect.

6. Which wool detergent am I allowed to use for my organic unisex baby clothes?

We highly recommend a wool shampoo. It is perfectly adjusted to the care of natural wool articles, strengthening and protecting fabrics such as lace, merino and silk. It is suitable for hand or machine washing in top or front loaders.

7. What is ox-gall soap?

Ox-gall soap is a natural stain remover that  should only be applied to the stained area as it can also remove the article’s colour. Therefore, we recommend to test the soap on a barely visible spot before removing the desired stain.

The article must be dry before applying the ox-gall soap to the stain with your finger. Softly rub the soap into the fibres and allow to briefly absorb before washing it following the guidelines above.

Note that Ox-gall soap can burn your eyes and mucous membranes, therefore, must be kept out of children’s reach.

8. Help! My husband/ my grandma tried to help and washed the woolen baby clothes that I just recently bought online in the washing machine at 60c by mistake….

Now, the woolen article has shrunk by two sizes and is totally matted.

What can I do?

Matting and shrinking is a chemical and physical process that cannot be reversed. Unfortunately, the article is destroyed. Your only option will be to buy a new one.

Woolen articles with a minor shrinking can be pulled carefully into shape again, in a water bath at 25c. Take care not to damage the stitches and allow the article to dry on a hanger. 

This method often helps rescue a woolen baby outfit that has shrunk slightly.

We hope that you enjoy the upcoming cold season and stay perfectly rugged up.

If you are still looking for some inspiration on how to get your baby boy or girl snug as a bug for the cooler months, here are some ideas.

Verena

Elves in the Wardrobe

Summer Holidays have well & truly arrived and everyone is spreading their wings to get ready for the annual family vacation.

It is a time that we all look forward to, but planning this special time of the year can be a real challenge & stressful at times.

Especially if you have a bigger family and have to be organised for everyone.

If you are planning a trip with your kids in Australia during the summer holidays, it will most likely be most hot or humid or both.

When it comes down to packing your children’s clothes you may be wondering what is best holiday clothing to pack for this type of climate, right?

Hot and humid Summers, means that it can be difficult to know the sort of holiday clothing you and your children might need. The Summer heat and humidity means you all might be getting hot, bothered and sweaty! That takes the fun out of any family adventure, especially when traveling with babies & toddlers.

If the humidity is high, then the sweat on our bodies will evaporate slower, meaning that we stay hotter and can feel more uncomfortable!

There are couple of things to think about when packing your kids holiday clothing for a hot and humid climate in Australia:

1. What are appropriate clothing for kids in Australia during summer time?

2. Will you be doing some sightseeing, a relaxed beach holiday or some outdoor camping & bush adventures?

3. What activities are you going to be doing and work out what sort of clothing you might need.

4. Think lightweight – not only in what you are carrying on you but also the lightweight clothing too.

Follow our Elves in the Wardrobe Do’s and Don'ts for keeping your kids and their clothes cool in a humid climate in Australia

Do pack organic cotton, muslin cotton, linen fabrics, or a blend of both, in your holiday clothing as these natural fabrics are excellent at allowing your body to breathe as much as possible.

They are great materials for allowing the air to flow around the skin which creates a cooling effect, plus these fabrics absorb the sweat from your body which in turn keeps you feeling more dry and comfortable.

Don’t pack silk or wool fabrics, these retain heat and are therefore not a good idea.

Do pack loose fitting clothing that doesn’t cling to your body, this allows the airflow to move around your body which makes the moisture and sweat evaporate keeping you cooler overall. 

Maxi dresses, loose shorts, loose fitted overalls, oversized jumpsuits & onesies, light weight organic muslin cotton shirts & blouses to protect the delicate skin from the hot sun & loose fitted linen pants are a must for your children's Summer holiday wardrobe.

Don’t pack jumpers and cardigans, other than on the flight you really won’t need them, so a good choice is a nice cotton or muslin oversized scarf or wrap, that can be used to wrap up your kids to keep them warm on a chilly over air-conditioned plane, and is a good option if you do get the odd chilly evening or as cover up from those dreaded mozzies in the evening.

Do pack some leather sandals, again another natural fabric which will keep tiny feet cool and looking good. Thongs are a great option too if you must, but your feet will get hot and sweaty if they are made from synthetic materials, so you might find your feet slipping around!

So remember the golden rule for your family's holiday clothing - Think organic, natural and loose, both in fabric and fit and you will stay cool in those hot and humid places.

Enjoy your Holidays.