The Journey Of Your Wool Mattress Topper From Sheep To Bed

A wool mattress topper makes your bed a warm snuggly place to sleep

, even in the most frigid months. The wool that's keeping you so warm and cozy has a story.

All wool starts out on the body of some fluffy creature. Most wool comes from sheep, but some also comes from rabbits, alpacas and even camels. For the purposes of our story, let's say that our cozy mattress topper is filled with sheep wool. How did it get from the sheep to your bed?

The sheep bred for wool is a pampered animal. If the animal is stressed in any way, the fibers of their wool become brittle and completely unsuitable for use. In order to keep the sheep happy with thick, healthy wool, farmers keep them in clover. In this case grass. They are kept for most of the year in wide, green fields to graze to their heart's desire.

As soon as the sheep has a nice wooly coat, the shearing season is in session. Sheep are yanked out of their lush fields and put in a barn two to three days before shearing begins. Putting them in sheep jail guarantees their wool will be good and dry by the time their wool is harvested.

Shearing day (or week, depending on the flock size) is a carefully organized event where sheep are relieved of their wool. There is a very specific method of wool removal that is practiced by sheep shearers all around the world. In fact, there are entire festivals centering around contests to determine who can shear the fastest. After the sheep is naked it gets sent back to the field to grow a new batch of wool.

Freshly sheared wool is oily to the touch. This is because sheep secrete an oil called lanolin. This is actually very good for your skin and is used in many cosmetic products. After lanolin is removed, the wool is given a bath and set out to dry. The dried wool is then sorted by length and grade. Sorted wool is packed up and sent to market to be purchased by the highest bidder.

Once the wool is purchased, it's ready to be turned into the perfect bedding for you. The mattress toppers are made by filling two large pieces of fabric with wool, and then stitching them closed. Wool is highly valued as bedding for its superior characteristics.

Wool has several qualities that make it the perfect material for bedding. When wool is on a sheep, it needs to keep it warm in the cold months and cool when the temperature rises. The sheep also needs to remain dry in the rain and repel field insects. Luckily for you, wool retains all of these properties.

Unlike hair or fur, wool has tiny, microscopic hooks. These catch on the hooks of the other wool fibers causing them to lock together. That is why your wool mattress topper is so warm. The natural, breathable fibers also allow you to stay cool in the summer and automatically wick away moisture. The insect repelling qualities of wool make it intolerable to dust mites. It's naturally hypoallergenic which makes it perfect for people with allergies.

by: Laura Wheelock

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