Wool is self-cleaning: washing is unnecessary
Wool contains lanolin, making it dirt-repellent and antibacterial. With every wash, wool loses some of this lanolin, and thus its self-cleaning properties. It also becomes drier and stiffer. Regularly shaking and airing your duvet is enough to keep it fresh and springy.
Ideally, open your duvet every morning to air it out. If it's foggy or there's morning dew, freezing, or snow, simply hang your wool duvet outside. Wool fibers open and self-clean in these conditions. Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight to prevent the wool from drying out!
Freshen up your duvet with natural products
Want to give your duvet an extra freshening? Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) over it, let it sit for a few hours, and then shake or vacuum it out. Baking soda helps neutralize odors without damaging the wool. Airing it outside for a few hours in foggy or cold weather is also an excellent way to naturally clean and freshen your duvet.
How does the self-cleaning ability of the wool fiber work?
This is due to condensation. The lanolin is a layer on top of the wool fiber. Dirt adheres to the wool fiber. Thanks to the lanolin, the dirt stays on the surface and doesn't penetrate deeper into the fiber. Moisture does the same and also adheres to the wool fiber. This moisture absorbs the dirt and then evaporates. The dirt evaporates along with the moisture and disappears from the wool. This is all a natural process!
