wool
Dec 29, 2009 10:35 PM
Joined: Dec 11, 2009
Points: 33
wool is supposed to have healing properties, now i have a wool pillow and a wool duvet that i use all the time, but the last two nights i have had my new bed, the first night i slept on the wool topper which i don't use often, and i woke up feeling not bad, even tho i had hurt my back the day before... last night i slept without the wool topper and i woke up very sore, i think that an all organic wool topper can really help with these kinds of things, and a wool duvet gives heavenly heat, even nicer than down... sheep are very lucky :)
Re: wool
Reply #1 Dec 30, 2009 2:00 AM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
wool definitely is wonderful stuff to sleep with. its still used in hospitals (obviously not all of them) to prevent bed sores.  because the fibres are crimped they do a very good job of spreading weight out over a very large surface area.  i got myself a wool duvet, mattress pad (protector), and a mattress with a about 8 lbs of it quilted into the top as well, im definitely a believer in the temperature regulation of it all.  although I will admit as a duvet I find them a little bit on the stiff side and maybe still a little bit warm for me in the summer. I will probably replace my duvet in the near future with dedicated winter/summer duvets but the wool is a really good option for something you can use year round and get for a reasonable price.
Re: wool
Reply #2 Dec 31, 2009 12:35 AM
Joined: Dec 11, 2009
Points: 33
yeah? your duvet is stiff? my topper and one of my wool pillows is stiff, but my duvet is fluffy and good for summer and winter, think there must be alot of ways of 'processing' wool, because the texture of all my wool stuff varies greatly, i've got one very fluffy wool pillow, i think it's mixed with organic latex, and the other one is flat as a board lol my husband loves the fluffy one, but i prefer my head lower, so i use the flat one over a buckwheat pillow, works out great for both of us... thanks for sharing :)
Re: wool
Reply #3 Dec 31, 2009 1:08 AM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
i should really say its only stiff feeling in comparison to say silk which is filament fibres or down filled duvet.  im definitely really happy with it though.  made a dramatic reduction in my allergies, I used to feel stuffed up almost routinely when I woke up in the morning now I feel great.  Thanks for making this thread, I think people should know just how much better something natural really is, particularly compared to "down like" filled duvets/comforters (polyester). 
Re: wool
Reply #4 Dec 31, 2009 3:55 PM
Joined: Dec 31, 2009
Points: 35
Budgy & Elaine, do you mind sharing where you got the wool toppers, duvets, etc., and the actual products/models you got? Looking to purchase these items and also suffer from allergies. Also, did you encase them in allergy-protector type covers or anything like, or leave them as is? Many thanks!
Re: wool
Reply #5 Dec 31, 2009 5:20 PM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
im actually a dealer so I bought them from myself lol.  it honestly doesn't matter too much on the brand as long as you are getting good quality wool and a cotton cover.  I am also going to refraine from posting up publicly what I use as I am afraid it will only come across as self serving, but by all means PM me if you wish to know what brand.  As far as the duvet a standard duvet cover is more than enough protection as most perspiration and dead skin/oils will actually accumulate underneath the sleeper rather than on top.  The topper/pad I am using is actually filled with a descaled wool so it can be machine washed, the wool is arguably not as good of quality as say an 'organic' wool however I find with this particular type of item it is highly desirable to be able to machine wash it.  I would recommend a good quality pillow protector for any type of pillow to avoid staining a pillow over time, although water proof ones usually defeat the purpose of using wool.  There are some good alternatives in that way, for instance we have found a simple cotton cover that is milled in Germany and the mechanical process for their weaving renders it dust mite proof, note though not allergen proof as something has to be completely air tight to be truly allergen proof which really defeats the purpose of having a wool pillow in the first place.  As far as a duvet, you can simply take them outside maybe once a year and air them out, sunlight activates the lanolins in wool and will actually make the wool self deodorize. 
Re: wool
Reply #6 Dec 31, 2009 7:29 PM
Joined: Dec 31, 2009
Points: 35
Budgy, thanks for your quick reply. When you say a fully allergy-protective cover defeats the purpose of wool, what purpose exactly are you referring to? Sorry, just want to make sure! Also, how do I PM you? Many thanks again, and happy new year..
Re: wool
Reply #7 Jan 1, 2010 7:35 PM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
wool is also supposed to be a very good temperature regulator because of its hygroscopic abilities (easily absorbs and releases moisture), so an air/water tight cover really robs you of this benefit.  I actually rarely recommend water proof protectors for mattresses or pillows unless it is of course absolutely necessary, in general these types of things really seem to hurt the overall comfort of any mattress or pillow and thermal imbalance in particular is actually the number one reason people toss and turn after they have fallen asleep.  this is also why if  you have a layer of pure wool just underneath you it actually reduces tossing and turning because of thermal imbalance, this is actually one of the very few scientifically proven ways you can actually improve the qualty of your sleep. if you wanna PM you just have to click on my name and in the new page just to the right of my name there is another link you can click to send a PM. 
Re: wool
Reply #8 Jan 3, 2010 12:19 AM
Joined: Dec 11, 2009
Points: 33
very interesting budgy!! my wool products are natura... i was going to buy from this other canadian company that hand makes everything they ship, but ended up not doing it, since i was impatient and found the natura products at a local sleep store, i love wool, but wish my topper was softer! i may get a different kind
Re: wool
Reply #9 Jan 3, 2010 2:38 AM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
natura makes some really wonderful products.  what kind of wool topper are you using Elaine?
Re: wool
Reply #10 Jan 3, 2010 3:35 PM
Joined: Dec 11, 2009
Points: 33
i don't know what kind it is, it's encased in a heavy cotton, and quite flat and hard.... i think i would like one of those ones where the wool is exposed and standing up as if it's still on the sheep lol
Re: wool
Reply #11 Jan 3, 2010 3:55 PM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
its too bad they dont make an organic version of that one.  they do make in your variety of topper what is called the Comfort and Comfort Plus, the following of which makes a pretty nice softer feeling surface. 
Re: wool
Reply #12 Jan 4, 2010 9:52 AM
Joined: Mar 30, 2009
Points: 29
I have an 2" wool topper from sleepandbeyond.com that is too firm for me, when they shipped it, they made a mistake and shipped a comforter, so i kept that and that and it turned out to be nice.

the wool topper is very uncomfortable to sleep on, it was organic and expensive, just too firm.

They don't reply to my emails now.
This message was modified Jan 4, 2010 by mingus
Re: wool
Reply #13 Jan 4, 2010 1:40 PM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
man....you seem to be having some pretty bad luck with service all across the board.  in this case though did you just pay for the wool topper and end up getting to keep the duvet they sent?  im just a little confused....I am reading your post as you have both a wool topper and duvet from these guys but only paid for a topper.  its too bad they are not responding to e-mails, but I am curious what you would want them to do to help you out?
Re: wool
Reply #14 Jan 4, 2010 10:02 PM
Joined: Dec 11, 2009
Points: 33
last night i slept with a wool scarf folded up to go across the bed at waist height, so it filled my waist dent and i woke up with no back pain!!!!
Re: wool
Reply #15 Jan 7, 2010 10:15 PM
Joined: Aug 31, 2007
Points: 793
Elaine70, I am glad you are finding things to help you with your back pain.  Thanks for sharing.
Re: wool
Reply #16 Jan 9, 2010 11:36 AM
Joined: Jan 9, 2010
Points: 128
Costco has wool toppers as does Overstock. I saw them in our local Get-A-Bed for over $400! They looked nice.
Re: wool
Reply #17 Jan 9, 2010 9:05 PM
Joined: Dec 11, 2009
Points: 33
anytime Lynne, i'm having trouble keeping the scarf in place tho