What Is Felted Soap & Why Use It?
Felted soap is a centuries‑old technique that acts as a soap and washcloth in one. Suds emerge through the wool and as the soap is used, the wool will felt more tightly around it. The felt is a soft, durable outer layer that gently exfoliates your skin and increases the lifespan of the soap inside.
Wool is naturally antimicrobial, biodegradable, and safe for hands, face, and body. With care, a felted soap can last for years — and when you are through, it can be composted in your garden.
What Makes a Wooly Washer
Wooly Washers are our version of felted soap, made in small batches in our studio. Each artisanal bar of soap is wrapped in 100% wool roving and wet‑felted by hand to form a sturdy felt cover. Artist, Ella Hauwiller then meticulously needle‑felts each piece with an original design.
No two are exactly alike. Each Wooly Washer is meant to be used daily, carried while traveling, or given as a gift that feels personal without being precious.
They’re especially loved for:
- Gifting (one of a kind, functional, art)
- Travel and camping
- Easier grip for wet or tired hands
- Making everyday washing feel more considered
Use is Simple
- Wet the Wooly Washer and gently squeeze until suds come through the wool, then wash as usual.
- Allow it to dry as well between uses — a complimentary wooden soap dish is included for this purpose.
- As the soap shrinks, the wool will continue to felt and the design will slowly shift.
- To avoid pilling, ensure that suds are coming through the wool before scrubbing.
Made to Be Reused
When the soap inside is gone, simply cut a slit in the side of the wool and insert a new bar of soap or saved soap slivers. With regular use, the cut wool edge will "heal" as it continues to felt around the new soap.
If you’d like to refresh the feel of the wool, you can add a drop of lanolin when inserting a new bar.
The felted pouch may alternatively be repurposed as a washcloth, dryer ball, sachet, ornament, or pet toy.
Natural Variation
- Colors may soften, fade, or lightly bleed over time.
- Designs will naturally evolve with use.
These changes are expected and are part of what makes each piece uniquely yours. A lesson in impermanence.
Ingredients
Saponified oils of organic extra‑virgin olive oil, organic RSPO‑certified palm oil, organic high‑oleic sunflower oil, organic coconut oil, organic shea butter, cocoa butter, organic castor oil; rosemary oleoresin; sodium lactate; essential oils (unless unscented); 100% wool roving.
When Will My Order Ship?
Each Wooly Washer is handmade to order. Please allow a few weeks for creation and delivery, though most orders ship within 1 week.
Custom Requests
Unless you email us with a specific request, background colors are artist‑selected and may differ from the photo. If you have a specific request or custom image in mind, please email. We can accommodate most requests and enjoy an artistic challenge.
dirtydandelionsoap@gmail.com
