Shituations: Washing Baby 100% Merino Wool with Confidence

Let’s not beat around the bush, with any baby you are going to face a few… shituations. Poonamis, number threes. The kind where you consider binning the whole outfit. They require a full change and a steady nerve. But if this happens in 100% merino wool? Don’t panic. It's built for the job.

First things first, we have to say this: always follow the specific washing instructions from the brand of clothing (including ours at yes-merino.com). Care labels matter. But beyond that, there is no need to be afraid of washing merino wool.

Wool is Made for This

Merino wool comes from sheep. Real, outdoors, in the elements, shitting, sheep.

Sheep live in their wool 24/7. It deals with mud, rain and manure as part of daily life. Unlike any other fibre, wool was created naturally to endure being shat on. Granted, baby poo can be next level so it could still result in a Baby: 1; Merino wool: 0 shituation, but your odds are significantly higher than other fabrics.

We’re pickier about staining than sheep are, but wool fibres are naturally resilient, antibacterial and odour resistant. This isn’t a fragile fibre. It’s designed to cope.

Step One: Deal with the Bulk (Yes, Really)

When a shituation strikes, remove the garment calmly and pop it in a tub or bucket. Do what you need to with your baby (they may even need a bath) and when they’re safe, warm and comfortable again, it’s time to get the caregiving badge you never wanted.

Here’s an unconventional but extremely practical option: hold the affected area under the flush of a clean toilet. The force of the water clears away solids and most of the waste quickly and hygienically. Think of it as a sheep under a waterfall if you need to!

It’s often far more effective (and cleaner) than swishing things around in a sink or tub. Once the bulk is gone, pop it straight back in the tub or bucket to move it (the bucket may need a loo water swoosh as well). We want the clothing still dripping as wringing or twisting it can damage the fibres.

Give it another cool rinse if needed. Avoid hot water at all times as heat can set stains and isn’t a friend to wool.

Step Two: Target the Stain

If you’re lucky enough to only have half a shituation or small areas that need treating, you can thank your lucky stars and start here, bypassing the glamorous Step One.

To target the stain you can use soap, soak it or just go straight in the washing machine. You can also try a mix of the above, just always keep water cool and gentle. When wool fibres are exposed to heat and friction at the same time, the tiny scales on the fibre surface interlock. That’s what causes felting and shrinkage, not simply being in water.

Soap

If you have some traditional soap like Pears or Wrights, lightly rub the stained area with it. These are wonderfully effective and oddly satisfying to use. Gently work the soap into the fibres with your fingers. No aggressive scrubbing or twisting, just a calm, focused treatment.

Soak

Another option is to soak it, gently. A short soak (20–30 minutes) with a small amount of wool-friendly detergent can help loosen stubborn stains and odours before washing.

Soaking and pressing out water takes space and time. It's not the olden days, we have very good washing machines now. I honestly can't be bothered to soak, but if it's your jam:

Use cool or lukewarm water, keep that temperature consistent and avoid rubbing, stirring vigorously and wringing out the water. Gently press out the excess water in a sink or rolling the garment in a towel.

An occasional calm soak is absolutely fine for merino. A hot, swishy, scrubby bath with a twisting session at the end is not.

Washing Machine

Use the wool cycle on your washing machine or wash at 30°C or cooler with a low spin level. The wool cycle is designed to be gentle, with reduced temperature and agitation to protect the fibres. The ‘baby clothes’ cycle is a hot one for hygiene reasons but never, ever for merino wool.

Use a wool-friendly detergent if you have one or, if you’re not doing it often, use a smaller amount of your normal detergent. If you’re a pod person, throw one in this time, it’s not great for the fibres but we’re in survival mode here.

Try and take the shituated garment out of the machine as soon as the cycle has finished. Most of the time, one round is enough but if you need to go round two, do it. Or try soap or soak if you didn't the first time. Once it's been through the washing machine, you can see what you're really dealing with.

Step Three: Dry Gently

Avoid high heat. Lay flat to dry or air dry on a rack. Merino is lightweight and dries quickly. If the care label allows tumble drying, only use a wool setting and always keep the heat low.

Heat causes shrinkage and misshaping. Keep things cool and gentle, and your garment will keep its shape and softness.

Sometimes the Stains are Worth It

If you’ve not managed to get it all out, it’s probably OK. The benefits of your baby wearing merino wool, keeping warm and safe, far outweigh some discolouration of a fibre that has been cleaned and is naturally antibacterial. Merino wool is often worn as a layer and isn’t always seen. I know that if my kid’s favourite clothes, including merino, got stains from marker pens or poo, they usually keep wearing them. It isn't a problem.

But if you think your merino wool is just beyond it, the good news is that it will biodegrade completely within weeks actually adding goodness to the soil, not polluting it. I've had some rippers and never resorted to this with merino.

A Reassuring Thought

Wool has been keeping humans warm and being washed for thousands of years. It’s durable, breathable and remarkably practical. 

Shituations are part of caring for small humans. Merino can handle it.

So take a breath. Follow the care label. Try the flushing trick if you’re feeling brave. Keep it cool, keep it gentle. And remember: if wool can survive life on a sheep, it can absolutely survive a shituation.