For the person confined to the seat of a wheelchair, a Merino wool wheelchair cushion cover offers soft comfort beyond compare. It helps keep the body warmer in cool temperatures, and cooler in warmer temperatures. Armrest covers can also offer cushioned comfort for wheelchair users and the plush Merino wool provides an extremely soft surface.
The perfect cushion is a preventive of "bed sores" which do not necessarily come from a bed but rather the chaffing of skin against a surface, and with inactivity of the body, the blood flow to these skin surfaces are slowed and result in skin lesions.
Wool is the "choice" in the construction of Wheelchair Cushions, Covers and Armrest Covers because of its softness and insulating qualities. The outer cells of the fiber repel water while the inner cells absorb moisture. Wool is highly absorbent, and can retain up to 25 percent of its weight in moisture. As wool slowly absorbs moisture from the air the cover becomes warmer to the person. Wool will take on a lot of moisture before it feels damp and dries slowly so as not to chill the user by drying too quickly. Because of Wool's tendency to retain moisture, it is naturally flame-retardant.
Crutch Covers and Crutch Hand Grips
Mediwool crutch covers and crutch handgrip covers offer cushioned comfort when an extended use of crutches is required. The newer metal adjustable crutches come with a foam type padding that is far easier on the user than the older wooden crutches but still do not offer enough padding for bearing one's body weight with the arm pit and palm.
Are there different wools?
There are different types of wool sources. Alpaca and llamas wool is stronger, softer and lighter than most sheep's wool, but sheep's wool is more readily available. Llama and alpaca wools are usually grown in very controlled environments without herbicides or a stressed environment and the animals are not dipped in pesticide baths. No chemicals, dyes or bleaches are used during the processing and this type of wool does not contain lanolin or grease.
Cleaning Wool
Kookaburra Woolwash, a brand name wool wash, contains Lanolin to enhance the luster of the wool. It's made in America and is EPA approved. The oil extracted from the leaves of the Australian Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia) is well known to be effective against dust mites, a cause of allergies for asthma sufferers, particularly infants. Tea Tree Oil is also noted for its general beneficial qualities, such as a natural fungicide and bacterial. It also helps in the healing of wounds and reduces skin irritation. Kookaburra Woolwash also works well for laundering bed linens and clothing for asthma sufferers, where dust mite feces are a critical matter.
Moth Myth and the Moth Hole Concern
The only draw back from choosing wools is its propensity to be eaten by a number of insects, including moth larvae and carpet beetles. Myth has it that full grown moths dine away on wool leaving huge holes. The fact is full-grown moths are not responsible for the unpleasant holes, but rather the larvae obtaining the highly desirable protein food source of which the wool fibers are essentially comprised.
A few preventatives to keep insects from attacking your wool garments, covers and blankets would be to thoroughly clean them and use deterrents when storing for an extended period of time. Cedar wood is a good natural deterrent and wicker baskets are excellent containers. But ideally your wools should be placed into cotton bags and sealed, which allows the textile to breathe. Plastic bags and tight sealing bins are not a good idea because they encapsulate moisture and can lead to mildew and even mold. |
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