Complete Lanolising Guide

A Comprehensive Guide to Lanolising Wool Covers

Master the art of waterproofing your wool covers for leak-free nights and happy babies.

What is Lanolin?

Lanolin is a natural wax derived from sheep's wool. It's composed of a blend of fatty acids and alcohols that work together to provide waterproofing and protection. Think of it as nature's way of keeping sheep's wool soft and shielded from the elements!

Sheep's Wool

→

Pure Lanolin

Did You Know?

Lanolin is similar to the oils our skin naturally produces! That's why it's found in many skincare products like baby oil, nappy rash creams, and lip balms.

Why Lanolise Your Wool Covers?

Lanolising your wool covers creates a water-resistant barrier that ensures ultimate protection against leaks. No matter how much absorbency your baby's cloth nappy has underneath, a properly lanolised wool cover provides unmatched security.

Waterproof Barrier

Creates a natural water-resistant layer to prevent leaks

Breathable

Unlike plastic, wool stays breathable while repelling moisture

Long Lasting

A well-lanolised cover can be reused many times before washing

Gentle on Skin

Natural and safe for baby's sensitive skin

What You'll Need

Lanolin (about ½ teaspoon)

Hot water from kettle

Small bowl

Large bowl

Soap (any kind, ½ tsp)

Clean towel

Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these simple steps to lanolise your wool cover. You can begin with your wool cover either wet or dry.

If your wool cover has been previously lanolised and used, give it a gentle hand wash to prepare it for the lanolising process. Use lukewarm water and a wool-safe detergent.

Pro Tip

New wool covers should also be lanolised before first use, even if they come pre-lanolised. Starting with a fresh lanolising ensures maximum protection.

Take a normal-sized eating bowl and fill it with hot water from a kettle (about half a cup)
Add about half a teaspoon of lanolin into the bowl
Stir until the lanolin melts completely

Important

The water needs to be hot enough to melt the lanolin completely. If it cools too much, the lanolin will solidify again.

Add half a teaspoon of soap into the lanolin mixture (any soap will do!)
Stir well until the mixture turns a milky, cloudy colour

You'll Know It's Ready When...

The mixture looks milky and cloudy. This indicates that the lanolin has emulsified with the soap and water, allowing it to distribute evenly.

Fill a larger bowl with warm water (approximately 750ml or three-quarters of a litre)
Pour the lanolin mixture into the warm water
Mix thoroughly to combine

Submerge the wool cover completely into the lanolin mixture
Allow it to soak for at least a couple of hours (or overnight for best results)
Gently squeeze the cover a few times to ensure the lanolin penetrates the fibres

Soak Timer

02:00:00

Pro Tip

For heavy wetters or maximum protection, soak overnight. The longer the soak, the more lanolin will absorb into the wool fibres.

Remove the wool cover from the lanolin mixture
Gently wring out any excess water (don't twist too hard!)

Be Gentle!

Wool is delicate when wet. Avoid wringing too hard or twisting aggressively, as this can damage the fibres and affect the shape of your cover.

Lay a clean towel flat on a surface
Place the wet wool cover onto the towel
Roll up the towel with the cover inside and gently press to absorb moisture

Hang the wool cover outside in the sun for about 20-30 minutes
The sun's rays help to further dry and set the lanolin

No Sun? No Problem!

If it's cloudy or you're drying indoors, that's fine too! The sun just helps speed up the process. Avoid direct heat sources like radiators or tumble dryers.

Bring the cover indoors to complete the drying process
Lay flat on a clean, dry surface or hang to air dry
Once completely dry, your wool cover is ready to use!

You Did It!

Your wool cover is now lanolised and ready to provide leak-free protection for your baby's cloth nappies!

Lanolising Checklist

0% Complete

Washed wool cover (if previously used)

Lanolin melted in hot water

Added soap and stirred until milky

Mixed into larger bowl of warm water

Soaked for at least 2 hours

Gently wrung out excess water

Rolled in towel to remove moisture

Dried completely

Bonus: Lanolin for Mum Too!

As Mimi would say, lanolin is perfect for "Nips and Lips"! Its gentle properties make it ideal for mum's care too.

Sore Nipples

Excellent moisturiser for soothing sore nipples during breastfeeding

Dry Lips

Keeps lips hydrated and nourished, especially in dry weather

Sensitive Skin

Relief for eczema and other sensitive skin conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

Generally, you should lanolise your wool cover every 3-4 weeks, or whenever you notice it's no longer repelling moisture effectively. If you notice leaks starting to happen, it's time to re-lanolise!

Yes! Any soap will work for emulsifying the lanolin. Dish soap, hand soap, baby wash, or even shampoo will do the trick. The soap just helps the lanolin mix evenly with the water.

Not necessarily! If your wool cover has only been used lightly and doesn't smell, you can lanolise directly. However, if it's been heavily used or has any odours, a gentle wash first is recommended.

A few things could be happening: the lanolin may not have fully melted, you may need more lanolin, or the soak time wasn't long enough. Try using slightly more lanolin and soaking overnight. Also ensure your cover is big enough to fully contain all the fitted nappy fabric inside.

Top Tips for Success

1 Use HOT water to melt the lanolin completely before adding soap

2 Stir until the mixture is milky and cloudy for even distribution

3 Soak overnight for heavy wetters or maximum protection

4 Never use heat to dry wool - always air dry flat or on a line

5 A properly lanolised cover feels slightly waxy to the touch

6 Re-lanolise every 3-4 weeks or when leaks start occurring

Ready to Lanolise?

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Night Nappies → Heavy Wetter Fitted → More Guides →

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5010

Heavy night nappies are useless

I bought 3 heavy night nappies and 3 modern nappies with the special cover shell from Mimi & Co, and unfortunately my experience with the heavy night nappies was very disappointing.
They are advertised to last 12 hours, but for my baby they lasted no that long, even after completing the 8 washes they recommended. After 6 or 8 hours of use, the nappy and even my baby’s pyjamas were wet, and I had to change to a day nappy and change the pyjamas as well, which is far from ideal in the middle of the night, especially during cold nights.
I contacted customer support and provided photos with my complaint, but they replied asking more questions and requesting photos that were already included in my original email, which was frustrating.
On the positive side, the modern nappies were really good. They fit well, are less bulky than other brands, and I was very happy with them.
I would have given a much better rating if it weren’t for the heavy night nappies.

Hi Maria,

Thank you for your feedback, and we're so sorry to hear the heavy wetter nappies haven't been working for your bub overnight. We genuinely want to get to the bottom of this for you.

We did receive your original email on 18 April and replied the following day asking a few follow up questions, including how many washes the nappies had been through and a photo of the heavy wetter + cover setup on bub.

Leaks in our heavy wetters almost always come down to fit (gaps around the legs or waist) or absorbency build up not yet being complete, so a fit photo on baby is the missing piece that helps us give you tailored advice rather than guessing.

Unfortunately we didn't hear back from you after that reply, so we weren't able to troubleshoot further. Your review states that you provided fit photos in your original email, but unfortunately you only sent a photo of your bubba eating, and a photo of a wet jumpsuit - neither of which will allow us to troubleshoot properly with you.

We'd really love another opportunity to help. If you're open to it, please reply to our email thread with a couple of photos of the nappy and cover on your bub (front and side) and we'll go from there. Our heavy wetters are designed to hold 12+ hours and we stand behind them, so we want to make this right.

So glad to hear the Originals 2.0 have been working beautifully in the meantime!

Mimi & Co

The first nappy I reach for after wash day

Half of my nappy stash is now Mimi and Co and I'm hoping to replace the other 15 over too! I love the absorbency, ease of closure, the cutest designs in any MCN brand and MOST importantly, no leaks! Everyone recommends these nappies for a reason, trust me you won't regret it! My golden haired girl in her golden nappy for reference ☺️

Easy wipes

Easier than you think to convert to cloth wipes from disposable! These do such a much better job of cleaning up number 2’s than the disposables and they really are just so easy to incorporate into your routine.

Best nappies by far!

Mimi’s 2.0’s are the best! By far the best fitting nappy from a skinny newborn to chunky baby and then toddler years. The more slender wing design means they fit so much better than other brands. My only regret was not purchasing them sooner!

Perfect all rounder

High quality wet bag perfect for nappies or swim trips. Thick material that contains all moisture and smells. Great that it can hand off the pram!

No Leaks!

High quality design, I haven’t had any leaks!

These are really great for heavy wetters

These are really great for heavy wetters. Getting the fit can take a bit of practice but I never have any leaks!

Stunning print

I adore the Penny cloth nappy print!! It's become my favourite in our collection. After trying the bamboo terry inserts with this nappy, I don't think I can go back to the 'old' style inserts as nothing compares to the softness, flexibility, and moldability of bamboo terry. I feel like bub gets a much more comfortable fit with the bamboo terry inserts!

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