FAQs: Wool Bedding, Mattress and Bed Advice

Everything you ever wanted to know about our wool bedding, beds and mattresses, from choosing the right duvet to understanding our Sleep Guarantee.

Why should I choose wool bedding over other bedding materials?

Wool offers a variety of natural sleep-enhancing properties that other bedding materials can't match. For example, it is proven to be more effective at absorbing moisture than either polyester or feather/down, making it ideal for people who suffer with night sweats. It is also highly effective at regulating body temperature, helping you to stay cool when you're hot and warm when you're not, making it a popular choice for both cold and hot sleepers. And finally, it also provides a hypoallergenic sleeping environment, ideal for allergy sufferers.

And while anyone can benefit from the sleep-enhancing properties of wool, some people tend to find it particularly beneficial. These include people who are experiencing night sweats (whether through the menopause or another medical condition), allergy suffers (particularly asthma or dust mite allergy), and also babies and young children as their bodies are not yet able to manage temperature effectively.

Before choosing the right duvet, it's important to understand the difference between how synthetic duvets and wool duvets are measured in terms of warmth.

Tog is a measure of thermal resistance that was invented during the 1960s to help synthetic bedding manufacturers rate the warmth of their duvets. As such, this measurement is suitable for fibres which are inert - such as polyester - but not as suitable for wool. Because wool fibres "breathe", absorbing and releasing moisture into the surrounding environment, they are never constant, meaning that a tog measurement is never truly accurate.

That's why on all our wool duvets, you'll see an indication of tog rating range e.g. 3-6 tog or 11-14 tog, to help you understand how warm each of our duvets is. As well as this, you'll see our own warmth rating - from "Light" through to "Warm" and also "All Season", giving you a clearer indication of whether a duvet is right for you.

When choosing the right duvet, you need to take into account a few different factors, including the time of year you're buying for and also whether you're a light or warm sleeper. Lighter options tend to be best for the warmer months of the year, and also for warm sleepers year round. For the colder months, medium and warm duvets tend to be best for most people. If you're buying for all year round, our All Season duvet is a popular choice, providing three different warmth levels, so you can adjust to the level that's right for you.

We're big believers in the power of wool to improve sleep quality. Our Sleep Guarantee allows you to try our wool bedding or a wool mattress for yourself - safe in the knowledge that if you don't sleep better after 30 days, you can return your purchase and receive a refund. This is available on specific products - please read the full details and terms and conditions of Our Sleep Guarantee before you buy.

Yes; it's a common myth that wool is not suitable for people with allergies, but this actually isn't the case. Here at woolroom, our bedding is not only hypoallergenic - it has also received the Allergy UK seal of approval for its anti-allergy properties.

How is this possible? Because it absorbs and then releases moisture so effectively, wool does not provide the warm, damp environment that dust mites and fungal spores need to thrive. These are the allergens that trigger night-time allergies - so by eliminating them from your bedding, allergy sufferers can get a better night's sleep.

Learn more about anti-allergy bedding.

True wool allergies are uncommon. In fact, wool is very similar in construction to human hair and unlikely to cause an allergic reaction by itself. While some people can experience an irritation when they wear woollen clothing, this is more commonly caused by the sensation of coarse (and often poor quality) wool fibres rubbing directly against the skin.

That's where wool bedding is different. We use a hand-selected blend of wool for our bedding - these are softer, high quality fibres. Furthermore, they are encased in a high quality cotton outer, meaning that the wool shouldn't come into direct contact with your skin.

Lanolin is a natural grease that is found within wool. It's commonly used within beauty products such as cosmetics and face creams. Lanolin allergy affects less than one per cent of the population, so it is very uncommon, although for some people who believe they are allergic to wool, an allergy to lanolin can be the actual cause.

All the wool we use within our bedding goes through a scouring process to clean it. This removes 95% of the lanolin within the wool.

Yes. Wool's heat-regulating properties make it ideal for babies, as it can help prevent them from overheating at night. Overheating is a particular problem for babies and young children as their bodies are not yet fully able to manage temperature effectively.

With this in mind, we've created a range of kids bedding suitable for babies and toddlers. For babies under 12 months old, we recommend that they use a baby sleeping bag for a safe and comfortable night's sleep. For babies and toddlers aged 12 months and over, it is possible for them to continue using a sleeping bag or to sleep under a wool duvet designed for cots instead.

Mattress protectors are designed to create a protective layer between your mattress and sheet, keeping your mattress clean and fresh. By using a mattress protector, you can keep your mattress in tip-top condition for longer. They are ideal if you've invested in a high quality mattress.

Mattress toppers also create a layer between your mattress and your sheet. The difference is that they are padded to increase the comfort of your mattress. That's why they're also sometimes known as mattress enhancers. Mattress toppers are ideal if you like to have a cushioned layer on top of your mattress, and also if you want to make your mattress feel softer without buying a new one.

But you don't need to choose between a mattress topper or protector. For maximum comfort, combine both to enhance your bed.

We've worked hard to make our wool duvets machine washable. It's achieved firstly through the quilting design and secondly, through a cleaning process that our wool goes through. Together, these keep the wool fibres secure and in good condition, even after machine washing.

Learn more about how to wash your wool bedding.

Johnsons provides a GreenEarth chemical-free dry cleaning service that will leave your bedding feeling fresh, clean and chemical-free. You can find your nearest Johnsons branch here.

Is wool fire retardant?

Yes. It's a little known fact that wool as a fibre is naturally fire retardant, making it ideal to use in beds and bedding.

We believe that a natural sleep environment is the key to a healthy night's sleep. That's why we keep all our wool bedding free from nasty chemicals.

During the manufacturing process, our wool is washed with a chlorine solution to smooth out the fibres. This prevents felting and helps to enhance its heat regulating properties. The solution is then double washed out of our wool - at the end of this process the amount of chlorine in the product is less than you would find in regular tap water.

Here at woolroom we've created three different mattress ranges, each of which comes in a number of spring counts and tensions. Take a look at our mattress guideto understand the key differences between the ranges and to find the right option for you. Of course, if you need more advice, speak with our customer services team or visit one of our stores to talk through your specific requirements.

You can try our range of mattresses at one of our stores across the UK. Find your nearest store. We also attend a number of events throughout the year, giving you even more opportunities to try our mattresses. Take a look at our Events calendar. Looking to buy online? Our Sleep Guarantee means you can order your mattress online and try it for 100 days to see if it's right for you. Learn more about our Sleep Guarantee and the full terms and conditions.

While our mattresses are designed to fit most beds and bedsteads, for maximum comfort we recommend that they are partnered with a sprung divan base. In particular, our divan bases are designed to provide support right to the edge of the mattress, helping to ensure that it stays in top condition for as long as possible.

Yes; provided that your purchase meets the requirements of our Sleep Guarantee it is possible to try it and return it if you aren't sleeping better within 100 days. This does not affect your statutory rights.

Bedding orders placed before lunchtime usually arrive the next working day. Smaller items usually take 2-3 working days from dispatch. We use a DPD Local service for UK deliveries so that your orders will arrive as quickly as possible. When placing your order or creating an account your mobile phone number and email should be supplied so we can keep you updated with your latest delivery information. When receiving delivery notifications, you may be given additional options such as leaving your parcel in a safe place, drop off to a pick up shop or rearranging a suitable delivery time. Please note that these options are offered by the courier (usually free of charge) for your convenience.

The majority of our bed and mattresses are in stock and can be delivered within a week. For beds and mattresses not currently in stock, the standard delivery time is 5-6 weeks. The current delivery time for each item can be seen on the product page, by selecting the size you require. You can read full details about times and costs on our Delivery Information page.

If you're looking for bedding suitable to fit an EU or US size bed, we already stock a selection of duvets, protectors and toppers on this website ready to order. Simply select EU or US size from the menu on the left-hand side to view the products available in the size you need.

Additionally, most of our products can be made to bespoke sizes. Call us on 01780 461 217 to talk through your requirements. Not found the answer to your question above? Contact our customer services team - we'll be happy to help.