Washing
Wool doesn't need to be washed very often. If you air out the soaker after a change, it won't smell for up to a week or two. If you're using it overnight it might start to smell a bit sooner because it doesn't get to air for a while, but it will still last longer than other fabrics. Wash only whenever it gets too whiffy or if it gets dirty.

All Knittabots soakers can be gently machine washed (unless organic). This means you can use a gentle or wool cycle in your washing machine with cold or lukewarm water. You can also handwash if you prefer. Some people say that it's not heat that shrinks wool, it's agitation and sudden temperature changes, so whichever way you wash, be gentle with your soaker.

Instead of regular detergent, use wool wash or baby shampoo. I wash mine with baby shampoo and they come out feeling really nice and soft and smelling lovely. You can also get lanolising washing liquids - see below for notes on lanolising.

Dry your soaker flat if possible to avoid stretching, or hang to dry. Don't ever put it in the dryer! A good place is in a hot water cupboard or near a heater because wool can take a while to dry.

Lanolising
A lot of soaker users like to lanolise their covers. Lanolising increases the waterproofing effect of the soaker while still letting it breathe. However, I personally have not needed to lanolise mine (and I have a heavy wetter!). I would advise trying a soaker without lanolising, and if you get any leaks then go for it. The lanolin will come off with washing so you will need to re-lanolise it every few washings.

Leaks
There are a few reasons you may be getting leaks using wool soakers. Here are some common ones and their solutions: