All About Wool Bedding

We love wool! We use wool extensively in many of the products we offer, mainly in sleep products like mattresses, pillows, duvets, and exceptional-quality blankets. Wool is a naturally safe, hypoallergenic choice which offers an array of benefits. Wool is by far the most comfortable fibre to sleep next to as the top layer of mattresses, and it has proven sleep benefits that should translate into a higher quality of life.

Wool is a natural flame retardant, and when used correctly, it avoids petrochemical fire-retardant treatments in mattresses, sofas, and more. Wool absorbs much more moisture than other fibres; it regulates temperature and humidity efficiently and remains one of the best pressure-relieving materials, even compared with specialty pressure-relieving foams.

Best of all, we don't clean the wool used in our products with harsh chemicals. Our wool processing avoids the risk of wool allergies in almost every situation, even for those with wool allergy concerns.

Update: January 17, 2023. We wrote a blog post on the physiological benefits of sheep's wool as a quick companion post to this blog post.

What is Wool?

Wool is a fibre derived from various animals. The varieties we commonly work with are various grades of sheep's wool, camel down, alpaca, and cashmere. Wool is naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites, mould/mildew, and bacterial growth. When cleaned and prepared correctly, wool is the most hygienic fibre for any textile where machine washing isn't practical. Great examples of wool use include the surface beneath a mattress, an area rug, or upholstery fabric for sofas. Wool simply stays cleaner than other fibres for years of use. For those who are lucky enough to own a pair of modern woollen sport socks, you will have no doubt noticed that wool socks do not suffer from the same level of odour compared to standard cotton socks.

Due to selective breeding, there are hundreds of different varieties of domesticated sheep in the world. Wool fibres come in a wide variety of micron (fineness), length, curliness, et cetera. Different wools suit specific uses. For instance, for mattress fill or a woollen rug, thicker/curlier, more robust wools are typically preferred. If, however, the wool comes into direct contact with human skin, as with a fine blanket, much softer and finer fleeces are desirable. The price range between different types of wool can vary by orders of magnitude.

Benefits of Sheep's Wool

• Wool is anti-microbial, dust mite resistant, and hypoallergenic. Excellent for allergy sufferers!
• Wool is a natural insulator, allowing for excellent body temperature regulation.
• Wool fibres absorb and store moisture as needed, keeping the body dry and then releasing it back into the environment.
• Pressure relief; less tossing and turning, resulting in a rested night's sleep.
• Wool fibres are difficult to ignite and are self-extinguishing in many cases, eliminating the need for additional fire-resistant treatments in mattress fabrics or upholstery foams.
• Wool is proven to steady the heart rate and allows us to sleep more deeply.

Brun de Vian-Tiran are our exclusive blanket maker. They have been crafting the finest blankets in Provence, France, since 1808.

Brun de Vian-Tiran Camargue Wool Duvet

Climate Control

While sleeping, the average person can lose up to one pint (approximately 500 ml) of moisture. This moisture can become trapped around the body, creating a damp, uncomfortable sleeping environment. This can increase heart rate and blood pressure, as well as disrupt sleep.

The unique physical structure of wool fibres allows them to absorb and store moisture as needed. When using a wool mattress cover, along with wool pillows and a wool duvet, you’re being surrounded by your own personal climate control system. This will prevent tossing and turning, as well as the “one leg out of the covers” that many people put up with every night.

Wool can absorb approximately 35% of its weight in moisture and still feel dry to the touch. Cotton, by contrast, absorbs only 8%. Performance polyesters absorb only 1% before feeling damp to the touch.

Contrary to popular belief, wool does not sleep hot!

Wool Allergies

Lanolin (found in most wools but not alpaca) has long had the reputation of causing allergic reactions, although lanolin allergies are very rare. Most of the time, people react poorly to wool because of exposure to very rough (high micron) fibres that are prickly in direct contact with the skin; the resulting redness is caused by simple mechanical friction and irritation. Most of our bedding products are wrapped in cotton, which ensures no direct contact with skin; blankets from Brun de Vian-Tiran are made from very fine, soft wool that does not itch. Pure, virgin wool is an exceptionally safe choice for almost anyone. Even those who cannot wear wool clothing are almost always entirely fine with high-quality wool bedding.

The allergy potential is never caused by the fibre itself. Wool is made of a protein called Keratin. Keratins are also what human hair, fingernails and all animal hair, wool, claws, hooves, horns, bird feathers, lizard and fish scales are made of. An allergy to keratin itself has never been demonstrated. If someone were allergic to keratin, they would be allergic to their fingernails and hair. Common allergy scratch tests will always indicate an allergy, since they don't use sterilized bird feathers to scratch people; similarly, a scratch from a house cat's claws isn't sterile, and the resulting inflammation is caused by bacteria or dander on the claw's surface. When wool and down are properly sterilized, and dander is removed, there is no reason for concern.

Mattress & Sleep Company Recommends Wool!

We consider wool to be an "unsurpassed" material. When you look at how well various wools regulate temperature and humidity, this unique material has yet to be surpassed by man-made fibres for personal comfort products. Mattress & Sleep Company has assembled an incredible range of sofas, blankets, pillows, mattresses, duvets and protectors, all featuring pure, natural wool fills free of harsh chemicals and cleaning ingredients. All our suppliers ensure the wool is collected under the most humane conditions and meet strict standards for animal treatment.

• Berkeley Ergonomics - All of our products from Berkeley utilize 100% sheep's wool from France. This wool carries the Plein Air certificate from the French Wool Association.
• Brink & Campman - Incredible area rugs from Holland.
• Brun de Vian-Tiran – Making some of the finest woollen blankets in the world since 1808. The inventor of the Mohair blanket uses many different varieties of sheep's wool from around the world in different blends. As well as wide exquisite varieties of other wools: alpaca, Camel, Llama, Cashmere, Yangir, cashgora, and even Yak.
  
• Harrison Spinks - Handmade British mattresses. Much of their wool is produced on their very own farm, just 18 miles from the factory in Leeds.
• St Genève
  • Alpaca & sheep's wool bedding products including throws, blankets, pillows, duvets and more!
  • Piatra wool duvets and wool pillows. Made in Romania to St Genève's specifications.
• t•masc alpaca duvets, pillows and mattress pads. Made in Peru to our specifications, these pure alpaca-filled bedding products are sumptuous and luxurious.
• t•masc sheep's wool duvets, pillows and bedding. Made in Canada by Obasan, these wool products are fully certified organic.