Caring for Your Wool Nursing Pads
When your pads feel wet (or at least daily) let them dry while wearing a second pair. Dry them over a mild, dry heat source. A running dryer works great!
Wash your wool pads as seldom as possible. The natural lanolin content of the wool keeps them hygienic - as the wool absorbs moisture, the lanolin is converted to lanolin-soap, which has an antibacterial effect. The moisture evaporates away and only the milk solids are left. Eventually, depending on how much leakage you have, the pads will begin to feel "stiff" or you'll notice white powdery milk spots. When this happens, wash as follows:
- Let pads dry before washing. Gently rub the
stiffened area to break up the milk particles
- Wash by hand in lukewarm water with a mild baby shampoo. Use just enough soap to keep the water slightly sudsy and swish the pads together.
Wash about every fifth time with organic lanolin soap to replenish the lanolin
- Rinse in lukewarm water. Hot or cold water will
shrink the wool
- Roll your pads inside of a towel, pressing out the
excess water. Shake the pads briskly so they regain their original form and elasticity. Dry by placing them on top of a running dryer (or other mild, dry heat source)
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Boiling Your Wool Nursing Pads
If you are diagnosed with a breast yeast infection, it is important to boil your nursing pads. If you live in a humid climate, it is recommended that you occasionally boil your pads, where thorough drying of the pads can be more difficult.
Care must be taken when boiling wool nursing pads! The idea is to not expose the wool to sudden temperature changes or agitation, which will cause shrinkage.
- Place the pads in a pot of lukewarm water.
- Gradually bring the water, with pads, to a
gentle boil
- Boil for 10 minutes, while periodically pushing
the pads under the surface of the water. Do not stir or agitate the pads
- Remove the pot from the heat
- Do not remove pads from the water. Let the
water, with the pads, cool to lukewarm. (We recommend letting the pot of water, with pads, sit overnight.)
- After boiling, the lanolin content of the wool
must be replenished. Use 1 tablespoon of organic liquid lanolin soap to wash the pads
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