Wool is durable, resilient and elastic.

Wool fibres are made up of polypeptide chains which are folded back on themselves.   This enables the fibres to act like a spring, elongating when stretched and retracting when released.  This allows wool to be stretched up to 50% when wet and 30% when dry.  The spring action creates elasticity and resilience, which means the wool in your mattress will provide both softness and support.

The flexibility of the wool fibres also make them a very durable material for use in a mattress.   A wool fiber can be bended back upon itself 20,000 times without breaking, as compared to 3,000 times for cotton and 2,000 times for silk.

Wool is nature’s perfect temperature regulator.

Wool is a hygroscopic fiber, which means it can absorb water from the surrounding environment.  Pores in the epicuticle allow water vapor to pass into the heart of the fiber.  Because of the movement of the vapor from outside to inside of the fiber, wool can absorb up to 30% of its weight in water without feeling wet.   In addition to keeping you warm if you are wearing wool clothing in cold, wet weather, this property will also allow you to stay cool on your mattress during hot summer nights.  As the body cools itself with the evaporation of perspiration, wool absorbs this moisture and keeps a layer of dry air next to your skin, facilitating the body’s natural cooling process.  When your body’s temperature is properly regulated, this will help maintain your heart rate and allow you to sleep deeper.

In cold weather, air pockets in the wool fibers act as insulation and hold in the heat from your body.   Because of its ability to keep you cool in hot weather and warm in cold weather, wool has long been used as clothing in the desert regions of the world where the days are hot and the nights are cool. Wool is clean and hygienic.

If allowed to properly ventilate, any moisture absorbed by the wool in your mattress during the night can evaporate during the day, keeping your mattress fresh and clean inside.  A drier climate inside your mattress will discourage dust mites from making a home there.  Wool also has hypoallergenic properties and is naturally antibacterial, mold and mildew resistant.

Wool is naturally fire retardant.

Wool contains moisture in each fiber, which makes it naturally fire resistant.  When touched by flames, wool chars and then self-extinguishes when the fire source is removed.  Mattresses that contain sufficient wool do not need to be treated with chemical fire retardants.  See what happens to a Hästens mattress versus a conventional mattress when it is subjected to a flame thrower in this video:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G6Bwa9nFEQ

Thank you sheep, and thank you sheep farmers for providing the wool that makes up a significant component of all the major mattress brands we offer at Scottsdale Bedrooms:  Vispring, Hästens, Spink & Edgar, Aireloom and Open.

Also much thanks to the following sources for the great information:

www.sheepusa.org

http://d1cqrq366w3ike.cloudfront.net/http/DOCUMENT/SheepUSA/CharacteristicsOfWool.pdf