Product Care
Mattress Care
Choose the right frame or base
The surface your mattress rests on strongly affects how it performs over time. Our preference is a foundation that is flat, sturdy, and breathable. Ideally, it is a slatted surface with slats that are no more than 1.5" apart and are flat, not bowed.
For queen and king sizes, it is important that your frame has a middle beam to support the base or slats, and to prevent bowing.
Our slats, bunkie boards, and bases are all great supportive options for our mattresses.
Don't know which one will work best for you? Check out our Choosing a Foundation page for more information.
Flip or rotate every 2-6 months
Our mattresses should be flipped regularly to ensure optimal performance and longevity.
Flipping the Suffolk:
- The Suffolk should be flipped every 2-3 months
- Natural wool and cotton batting can compress over time, so you want to be diligent in flipping and rotating to limit compaction of the fibres and to give them time to bounce back
- The Suffolk can be flipped and rotated
Flipping the Devon:
- The Devon should be flipped every 3-6 months
- Flipping will ensure even wear and give time for the natural fibres to bounce back
- If your mattress is two different firmnesses, flip head-to-toe.
- If your mattress is one firmness, you can flip it head-to-toe or side-to-side, as well as rotate 180°.
Always use caution when flipping a mattress, and get one or more people to help you.
Flipping the Oxford:
- The Oxford layers should be flipped/rotated every 3-6 months.
- This mattress is flipped by handling the individual layers inside the case. Do not pick up or move the mattress as a whole.
- To flip, follow these steps:
- Unzip the mattress case
- Flip/rotate each individual layer (keeping the order of the layers the same*)
- Zip the case back closed
*Changing the order of the layers will change the way your mattress feels, unless the layers are the same density (number on our scale).
Cleaning
Our materials are naturally resistant to dust mites, mold, and mildew. However, occasional vacuuming of the mattress can help remove surface dust.
We recommend using a mattress protector to prevent spills and stains from damaging your mattress.
If your mattress does need a spot clean, we suggest using a dry towel to soak up any excess moisture and then using a mild detergent (like dish soap) and lukewarm water to gently pat clean. Allow to air-dry completely before fitting your protector and sheets back on the cleaned mattress.
*Caution: do not put the zippered outer cover of the Oxford in the washing machine. This cover is not meant to be removed or washed and doing so will damage it beyond repair.
Topper Care
We recommend flipping and rotating our toppers every month. The Wool Topper should also be hand fluffed every time you change your sheets.
Toppers are spot clean only. We suggest using a dry towel to soak up any excess moisture and then using a mild detergent (like dish soap) and lukewarm water to gently pat clean. Allow to air-dry completely before fitting your protector and sheets back on the cleaned mattress.
Protector Care
Wool Protector
As with merino shirts and sweaters, you do not have to wash your protector as often as you do your sheets. In many cases, customers only wash their natural wool protectors every 2-3 months.
It is important that you wash the protector on a cold delicate setting on your machine. We also recommend using a wool friendly detergent.
Most important of all, is that it must be hung to dry only!
Cotton Protector
Machine washable up to 60C and dryer safe. Do not dry clean or iron. Non-chlorine bleaches only.
Pillow Care
Unless specifically mentioned above, most of our pillows come with a removable, washable case. Some pillows are wrapped just in organic cotton muslin or barrier fabric (cannot be removed).
In the case of the removable cover, it can be washed in the washing machine with similar colour items using warm water and a mild detergent. Tumble dry using low heat. Do not bleach.
Our pillows themselves do not require washing, but can be spot cleaned with warm water and a mild soap. After spot cleaning, rinse with warm water and dry thoroughly at room temperature, away from heat and light. Never place in a machine washer or dryer.
Sheet Set & Blanket Care
AREA Home Bedding Care
Washing
All AREA bedding items can be machine washed.
- Wash bedding before use in warm or cold water on the regular or gentle cycle.
- Wash bedding separately from other laundry (separating light and dark colors).
- Remove damp bedding promptly from the washer and shake out before drying to reduce wrinkling.
- Do not use softeners, it is not needed.
Drying
- Tumble dry on low or medium heat and be careful not to over-dry. Over-drying makes fabrics brittle and causes shrinking and wrinkling.
- Remove from the dryer when slightly damp to avoid excess wrinkling.
- Do not use dryer sheets.
- Empty the lint filter before drying.
Detergents
- Use mild detergent.
- Use less detergent than the manufacturer recommends (too much detergent weakens the fibers over time).
- Fill the washer with water before adding detergent. Do not put detergent directly on fabrics to avoid discoloration.
- Use non-chlorine bleach on whites, but only if necessary. Chlorine bleach wears down fibers and can cause yellowing.
- Avoid fabric softener. It coats the surface and weakens the fabric. AREA bedding softens naturally.
Ironing
- Iron while linens are still damp.
- If dry, dampen linens with water (spray onto cloth).
- Use a steam iron on warm (never a hot, dry iron).
Shrinkage
All AREA bedding that is marked machine-washable allows for shrinkage; however, washing in hot water and over drying can cause excessive shrinkage.
Wool Duvet Care
Sun Bleaching
For wool-fill bedding, sun-bleaching is a good, simple practice to keep your bedding sterile & fresh. Doing so every one to three months reduces the need for washing.
Simply remove the duvet cover and lay out the duvet in a clean, sunny spot outside for a few hours during the middle of the day when the suns intensity is at its highest.
Flip the bedding over during this time so that both sides receive direct sunlight. The sun's powerful energy will sanitize your bedding & the outside air will freshen it up.
Using a Top-Loading Washing Machine
Please note, we do not guarantee the results of home washing.
When washing wool products, the important thing is not to agitate the wool, as this causes the fibers to mat together & shrink. Soaking & spinning, though, are fine.
A "wool cycle" can be used to wash the duvet but there is still a risk that it may shrink. If washing is needed, we recommend using a top-loading machine.
- Fill your machine with warm water and soap. Agitate the water to dissolve the soap.
- Stop the machine and add your wool.
- Plunge gently up and down by hand to clean.
- Let soak for a 15 minutes.
- Set machine to spin and turn it on, allowing the machine to spin out the soapy water.
- Fill your machine again with warm water to rinse.
- Stop the machine (do not allow it to agitate the wool).
- If desired, add fabric softener.
- Plunge gently up and down by hand to rinse.
- Let soak for 15 minutes.
- Set machine to spin and turn it on, allowing the machine to spin out the rinse water.
- Hang to dry
Dry Cleaning
Our wool duvets are dry cleaner friendly at standard dry cleaners. However, please be aware that many dry cleaners will put duvets into regular washing machines and this will shrink them. For this reason, we recommend clarifying the process with your dry cleaner.
Mask Care
- Untie elastics before washing.
- Hand wash (our preference) or machine wash cold on delicate cycle.
- Hang to dry is recommended. You can also tumble dry on low, but this may result in wrinkling and require ironing to restore shape.
- Avoid ironing the elastics!