Overview
A few simple mistakes can make lanolizing frustrating or ineffective. Here’s how to avoid common issues like greasy finishes, clumping, or felting—and get it right every time.
Key Points
Why less lanolin is usually better
The importance of emulsifiers and proper water temp
Why soaking time matters
What kind of lanolin to avoid
Best practices for drying and storage
Common Lanolizing Mistakes to Avoid
Lanolizing doesn’t have to be complicated, but there are a few common pitfalls that can leave your wool greasy, underperforming, or just plain frustrating to work with. If your diaper covers aren't waterproofing well, feel weird, or smell off—chances are, one of these is to blame.
Let’s clear up the confusion and help you get that clean, soft, and perfectly prepped wool finish every time.
Using Too Much Lanolin
Lanolin is powerful stuff—you don’t need a lot. Overloading your soak or emulsion with too much lanolin can leave garments sticky, heavy, or stiff. A teaspoon per cover is a good rule of thumb, but like we always say: measure with your heart, not a ladle. If your wool feels greasy, you’ve gone too far. Some like a heavy lanolin treatment, so this is pretty personal. If you add too much, it will generally get used up with use though.
Skipping the Emulsifier (or Using the Wrong One)
Lanolin and water don’t mix without help. If you skip an emulsifier, you’ll end up with clumps and floating goo. Worse, it won’t evenly coat your wool. Not all soaps work either—skin soaps are designed for pH balance, not lanolin binding.
We recommend our Lanolin Emulsion Block, which is specifically made to blend lanolin efficiently and cleanly.
Using Warm or Hot Water
This is a big one: warm water can cause dye bleeding, especially in vibrant or hand-dyed wools. Hot water? Forget it—that’s felting territory. Stick to cool water to protect both the color and structure of your garments.
Using Acidic or Hard Tap Water
Acidic or mineral-rich tap water can totally wreck your emulsion. It prevents proper blending, causes clumping, and wastes both time and lanolin. It’s one of the most frustrating problems for beginners.
Always use distilled water for emulsifying. It keeps your mixture stable, effective, and smooth.
Soaking Too Long
Lanolin binds quickly to wool. Long soaks aren't just unnecessary—they can actually cause problems. Wool can become bloated or overly saturated, and leftover soap may cling to the fibers, reducing performance and irritating sensitive skin.
We recommend pressing the item into the lanolin bath for just a few minutes, ensuring it’s fully coated, then removing and drying without soaking. Quick and effective.
Agitating or Twisting the Wool
Most wool garments need super gentle handling to avoid felting—but Bumby wool is prefelted, which means it can handle a little more action. You don’t need to baby it.
We actually recommend giving your lanolized item a quick rinse in the washing machine (rinse and spin only) to remove excess water and soap. It speeds up drying, prevents bloating, and keeps things clean.
That said, if you’re lanolizing hand-knit wool or yarn, stick to the gentle route: cool water, no agitation, and absolutely no twisting. These fibers haven’t been pre-shrunk and will felt easily if overworked.
Using the Wrong Type of Lanolin
Not all lanolin is wool-friendly. Products meant for skincare or nipple creams often contain additives or softeners that leave residue or mess with absorption. Use pure, solid lanolin that’s been deodorized and filtered—like our Super Deodorized Lanolin Jar.
How to Know It Went Well
Well-lanolized wool should:
Feel soft, flexible, and conditioned—not greasy
Repel moisture without absorbing leaks
Smell clean or neutral
Keep its shape and stretch
If you're not getting those results, try adjusting your water, lanolin quantity, or soak method.
Bonus Tips: Fixing a Clumpy Emulsion
If your lanolin mixture is separating or clumping, don’t toss it—it’s totally fixable.
Reheat It
Pop your jar back in the microwave or heat it gently until the lanolin softens again.Add More Soap
If your mix isn’t emulsifying well, it likely needs more emulsifier. Add another chunk of soap (or more emulsion block), stir thoroughly, and watch it smooth out.Check the Water pH
Tap water can be acidic, which prevents lanolin from blending properly. Try adding a pinch of baking soda or washing soda to raise the pH and help it emulsify. Then switch to distilled water for the next batch to avoid the issue entirely.
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