Wool properties
Wool properties
Human body breathes with its whole surface and woollen products thanks to their properties allow for full oxygenation of organism and guarantee full comfort. Hair dynamics, that is wool hair's ability to shrink and straighten under the temperature impact, allows for temperature induced self-regulation, thanks to which overheating of the organism may be avoided, and by this we can prevent serious ailments like: arthralgia, backbone pains, kidney pain as well as rheumatic diseases. Top quality wool strongly eliminates positive ionization, which has a negative impact on our health, changing it into negative one, which is natural for human body. Thanks to these properties the bedclothes are recommended for people who suffer from allergy. Micro-massage which is provided by wool when in contact with human body, stimulates and regenerates. Supporting blood circulation, it reduces the risk of myocardial infarction, improves blood flow in cells, and cerebral blood flow, which has a positive impact on memory and concentration.
Sheep wool contains lanolin i.e. animal fat, which protects the hair against getting dirty. Thanks to this wool is easily cleaned.
Advantages of wool
Among fibres of animal origin wool is the most vital for us and besides the most commonly used.
Its valuable physical qualities are:
* high abrasion resistance
* retention of external moisture
* hygroscopy
* absorption of UV radiation
* sweat absorption thanks to porosity
Sheep wool thanks to its cell structure is very hygroscopic, i.e. it has the capacity to absorb and retain large amount of moisture taken from the environment, and thanks to this wool products perfectly absorb human sweat. Moisture content, even up to 33% does not make the impression (by touch) of wet material. Its significant hygroscopy also impacts its thermal properties (it does not return the absorbed moisture and consumes less heat from the environment, protecting against cold).
Thanks to its porous structure, scaly surface and crimp, wool retains air layers in itself and around it, which helps to keep constant temperature. The quantity of air contained in fibres does not change with time of product use, because, thanks to their resilience, they are not subject to permanent deformations. It determines good thermal insulation and warm character of products based on wool. Thanks to its resilience products of wool fibres do not adhere tightly to human skin by their whole surface, which allows for creating additional air insulation layer. In direct contact with human body wool gives a sense of warmth and cosiness, and, besides, it improves blood circulation in skin.
Therapeutic properties of wool
Wool is a natural fibre, for thousand years having been used by human for instance for production of clothes and bedclothes. Numerous studies and observations irrefutably point to the fact that it has properties which positively influence human health. For years it has been successfully used in medical rehabilitation process as well as for prophylactic purposes.
Wool possess a series of healthy qualities:
* soothes neuralgia
* alleviates posttraumatic injuries
* and arthralgia in limbs
* cover made of wool ensures healthy and calm sleep
* it does not accumulate dust and sweat
* eliminates the conditions for dust mite development
* possess anti-allergic properties
Woollen products have positive effect in curing many ailments, especially rheumatic ones such as:
* backbone pains with painful strain of paravertebral muscles
* muscles and ligament inflammation
* posttraumatic impairments of peripheral nerves
* circulatory system disorder, arthritis
* it also prevents formation of bedsores
Lanolin
Keeping the traditional bedclothes clean, which are filled with such materials as down is practically impossible. Sweat and dust accumulated in it for years form a perfect living and breeding environment for parasites and bacteria. Their microscopic faeces cause numerous allergies and inflammations, both internal and cutaneous. Natural sheep wool processed in an adequate way contains lanolin, i.e. natural animal fat, which by coating each hair kills bacteria and dust mite. Lanolin also protects hair against soil and, additionally, already mentioned hair dynamics makes all impurities transferred onto the hair surface. Like on living sheep, dirt is accumulated only on the surface, whereas inside the fabric is clean. Only living wool of the highest quality ensures efficiency of self-cleaning for a very long time the bedclothes are used for. Lanolin also has a perfect impact on human organism. It has anti-rheumatic effect, ensures good breathing through the whole surface of the body, tones, improves subcutaneous blood circulation, and by this it delays ageing processes. Average content of lanolin in sheep wool ranges between 15% and 20%, whereas in Australian Merino wool between 40% and 45%, which significantly increases the capacity to eliminate dust mite.
Cleaning
In the case of slight dirt on wool products dry cleaning is recommended. Dilute lanolin-containing washing agent designed for wool in small amount of water with a temp. of 30°C, let foam form, and then rub dirty surface with a soft sponge.
In the case of more severe dirt wet washing is recommended. Wet manual wash is recommended with the use of washing agents containing lanolin designed for wool. Wash in the temperature of 30°C by squeezing, do not wring.
Hang wet.
Wait till it fully dries up.
Do not iron.
Do not spin-dry products mechanically.
Protect against sun rays impact.