WOOL CARE
Wool diapering products should be lanolized every three to four weeks to help them keep their moisture repelling properties in top shape. Unless soiled with poop, they only need to be washed every few weeks. For me, I can just tell when it's time. So I wash and lanolized all at once.
Instructions for washing and lanolizing wool vary quite a bit. Eventually I'll add some more links here about that, but for now, here is what I do:
For best results clean with a wool wash. I use one made by Eucalan which leaves everything nice and soft. It actually has lanolin in it, but I like to also add my own lanolin solution. To make this, boil a cup of water, then add a pea-size amount of pure lanolin creme (Lansinoh makes a popular one, and if you breastfeed, you probably have some lying around) and a few drops of liquid soap and stir until dissolved. The soap helps to emulsify the lanolin. I suppose the wool wash would do the same thing, if added to your cup of hot water. You can also add a few drops of essential oil, such as lavender or cedar, which will help to keep moths away. Fill a bowl or sink basin with hot water and add the wool wash, hot lanolin solution and your woolies. Stir everything gently and let it soak for half an hour. Remove from the water and roll in a towel to draw out excess moisture. Don't rinse. Dry flat.
You can do a similar wash in a machine if you have lots of woolies to launder. Just increase the quantities proportionally, and SKIP the wash cycle. In other words, fill the machine with hot water, add your wool wash and lanolin solutions, add your stuff and let it soak. Then spin out the water and dry flat.
Don't be afraid to use hot water! The heat combined with heavy agitation is what will shrink and felt your wool, so just handle gently and all will be well.
Also, you might like to occasionally take a wool trimmer or manual razor to your woolies to get rid of the pills which will invariably accumulate over time.