Quick Answer: The Natura Washable Wool Mattress Protector is a premium natural protector with 1.25" wool pile and unbleached cotton backing, from $179 (Twin) to $319 (King). It provides natural temperature regulation, machine washable care, and a soft comfort layer over the mattress. This is not a waterproof protector — it is a wool comfort layer that breathes naturally.
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The Natura Wool Mattress Protector occupies a different position than the waterproof protectors we carry. It is a comfort layer first and a protector second. The 1.25-inch wool pile adds a soft, breathable surface over your mattress while the wool's natural properties regulate temperature and wick moisture. What it does not do is provide the complete liquid barrier of a synthetic waterproof protector.
If you are considering the Natura for primary waterproof protection, the Essential Waterproof Protector or bamboo options are more appropriate. If you want a natural wool layer that improves comfort and adds moderate moisture management while sleeping more naturally, the Natura is worth understanding in detail.
How Wool Regulates Temperature Year-Round
Wool is one of the few natural fibres that provides meaningful insulation in both cold and warm conditions. The mechanism is the keratin protein structure of wool fibres, which can absorb up to 30% of their own weight in moisture vapour without feeling wet, releasing that moisture slowly as conditions change.
Wool's Hygroscopic Properties and Sleep Comfort
A 2002 study published in the Journal of the Textile Institute found that wool bedding produced significantly lower mean skin temperatures during sleep compared to synthetic bedding at the same ambient room temperature, attributing this to wool's hygroscopic buffering of moisture and heat at the microclimate level. A follow-up study in Nature and Science of Sleep found that wool bedding improved sleep onset latency and increased slow-wave sleep duration compared to synthetic alternatives. The mechanism appears to be wool's ability to buffer humidity fluctuations during the night, maintaining a more stable microclimate than synthetic materials that either trap or release moisture less evenly. The Canadian Sleep Society has noted that humidity management is an underappreciated factor in sleep quality alongside temperature.
In practical terms, wool's moisture buffering capacity means the Natura protector absorbs nighttime perspiration into the wool pile, prevents it from reaching the mattress surface, and releases it slowly during the day when the bed is unmade and the wool airs out. This is different from the waterproof barrier in synthetic protectors, which blocks all liquid at the surface.
An Important Clarification: Wool vs Waterproof
Wool can absorb significant moisture before it transmits to the material below. The 2.65 lbs of premium cotton fill and 1.25-inch wool pile have substantial moisture absorption capacity. However, wool protectors are not designed as the primary defense against significant liquid spills, incontinence, or similar situations requiring waterproof barrier protection.
For mattresses that require complete liquid protection, particularly for young children, older adults, or anyone managing incontinence, one of our waterproof protectors is the correct primary protection. Some households use a wool protector over a waterproof protector to get both the comfort layer and the complete liquid barrier. This approach combines the benefits of both materials.
Natura Wool Protector Pricing and Specifications
- Twin: $179
- Twin XL: $199
- Double: $229
- Queen: $249
- King: $319
- Wool pile: 1.25 inches
- Cotton fill: 2.65 lbs premium
- Backing: 100% unbleached cotton
- Total weight: 4.2 lbs
- Size: 78" x 78" (Queen)
- Care: Machine washable, cold water
Machine washability is a notable feature for a wool product of this quality. Many wool mattress toppers require dry cleaning or professional cleaning. The Natura's washable design reduces ongoing maintenance cost and allows regular home laundering in cold water.
Who We Recommend the Natura Wool Protector To
In our showroom at Mattress Miracle in Brantford, the Natura Wool Protector appeals to customers who are already invested in a natural sleep system. They may have purchased a latex or organic mattress and want bedding that continues that material philosophy. Customers with temperature regulation issues, particularly those who wake up either sweating or cold at different points in the night, respond well to wool's buffering properties. It is also popular with people who experience chemical sensitivity to synthetic materials and want a completely natural surface layer. At $249 for a Queen, it is the most expensive protector we carry, and we are honest that its benefits are comfort and natural regulation rather than the complete waterproof barrier that the other options provide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Natura Wool Protector waterproof?
No. The Natura is a wool comfort layer with significant moisture absorption capacity, but it is not a waterproof barrier. It manages nighttime perspiration effectively and adds comfort. For complete liquid protection, use one of our waterproof protectors. Some customers use both: a waterproof protector on the mattress with the Natura wool layer on top.
Can I machine wash the Natura Wool Protector?
Yes. Cold water, gentle cycle. Air dry is preferred, as high heat can cause wool to shrink or felt. Unlike many wool mattress products that require dry cleaning, the Natura is designed for home washing, which reduces the ongoing care cost significantly.
Is the Natura Wool Protector good for both summer and winter?
Yes. Wool's hygroscopic properties provide temperature buffering in both directions. In cold conditions, the wool pile traps warm air near the body. In warm conditions, the moisture absorption prevents heat accumulation at the surface. It is not as dramatically different from synthetic options in either extreme as marketing sometimes suggests, but it is genuinely more consistent across temperature ranges than a standard polyester or cotton protector.
Is wool safe for people with wool allergies?
True wool allergies are rare. What most people describe as wool sensitivity is actually a reaction to the coarse fibre diameter of low-grade wool, which irritates skin mechanically. Fine wool fibres, as used in quality bedding, are unlikely to cause this reaction for most people with reported wool sensitivity. However, some people have genuine lanolin (wool grease) sensitivity. If you have a documented wool or lanolin allergy, test a small skin contact area before using a wool protector. We can discuss this further at our Brantford showroom at 441 1/2 West Street.
Shop: Mattress Protectors at Mattress Miracle
Experience Wool Comfort at Our Brantford Showroom
We are a family-owned mattress store in Brantford, helping our community sleep better since 1997. We carry the Natura Wool Protector and our full protector range at 441 1/2 West Street.
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thu-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4
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