Wheelchair seat covers play a very important role in providing comfort to an injured or handicapped person. And for the user, a Merino wool cushion for the wheelchair gives comfort among other materials that can be used. It aids in keeping the patient warm during cold temperatures. armrest covers also provide soft comfort to the patient and the luxurious Merino wool cover gives a very soft surface.
Wheelchair seat covers serve as a preventive measure for "bed sores" that does not really come from the bed but from chaffing of the patient's skin against the bed or the chair's surface. Since the patient is not moving, the blood flow to the skin is very slow causing skin lesions.
Wool is the top choice for most wheelchair seat covers because of its soft feel and insulating capabilities. The outer part of the fabric drives back water and the inner part absorbs the moisture. Wool has high absorption properties that can retain great amount of moisture keeping the seat cover warm for the patient.
There are a few types of wool sources that make good wheelchair seat covers. Alpacas and Llamas provide good, strong wools. They are actually softer and lighter than sheep's wool. These wools are actually cultured in environments free from pesticides. They are not dyed or bleached and they do not contain grease or lanolin.
In cleaning the wool, you can use a wool wash solution that has Lanolin to improve the gleam of the wool. Most wool wash solutions are made from Tea Tree Oil that is known to be very effective against dust mites, cause of allergies, fungi and bacteria. It is also good for preventing skin irritations because of its gentle properties.
The only disadvantage of using wool as wheelchair seat covers is that insects like a moth larva and carpet beetle tend to eat them. Because wool contains protein, a moth larva, not adult moths, may eat wheelchair seat covers made of the material creating huge holes.
For taking care of woolen wheelchair seat covers, it is advisable to clean the fabric extensively using insect deterrents and then store it in hand-woven baskets. Ideally, wheelchair seat covers should be kept inside cotton bags and then sealed to allow the wool fabric to breathe. Plastic bags are not recommended because they can contain moisture that will eventually lead to molds and mildew.
Wool is the perfect fabric to use as wheelchair seat covers. However, proper knowledge on how to care of them is needed to retain their quality.
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