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Controlling Allergic Reactions to Laundry Detergent
Summary: You don't want to be itching in your clothes and sneezing all day just because of a detergent allergy. Find the right kind of detergent for you and eliminate any uncomfortable allergy problems with your clothes!Sometimes it happens—you sneeze and you itch and it's all because you wear your clothes. Well, it's not really because you wear your clothes, but rather how you wash those clothes. Some skin types are more sensitive and have negative reactions to the type of detergent you may use. Here are a few tips to avoid that negative reaction and make it so you can have clean clothes and wear clothes without being totally miserable!
Most detergents are pretty general in nature and their manufacturers don't give a second thought to the condition of the clothes' wearer's skin. If you are irritated by laundry detergent, you'll have to do some homework of your own when finding one that's right. Look for specialized laundry detergents that are gentler and that use more natural items than traditional detergents. Another thing to remember with detergents is that you probably won't be allergic to all of them. For instance, if you find your skin reacts negatively with Tide, try Cheer instead. Many times it all has to do with the brand and that can easily be changed.
If your skin really doesn't react well with any mainstream laundry detergent, you have one last option: baking soda. It's a natural cleaner and because it's purely a natural substance without any other cleaning agents in it, it should have minimal effect on your skin.
If your skin is having serious problems though to any real detergent, you should probably consult a dermatologist and see what their opinion is. They may suggest a prescribed detergent or give you other prescriptions for your skin. Also remember that once you find a detergent that's conducive to your skin type, wash all your clothes and towels and linens with the detergent to avoid any further reactions.
Just because you may be allergic to mainstream detergents doesn't mean that you're doomed. You can still have clean clothes and not suffer from allergic reactions. If you do some homework and seek out specialized detergents and go through some trial and error you should have no problem finding a detergent that works for you!
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Comments for this tip:
No problem. Thanks for the input. Unfortunately, there are things in the world that just about everyone out there is allergic to. For example, I myself cannot use Tide or I will end up braking out in a head to toe rash that looks like heat rash. This is part of the reason why there are so many different products out there, as well as so many different ways to clean things.
Thanks again for the input and please keep sharing the great information.
Regarding baking soda as "one last option" as a cleaning agent, there are those of us who cannot use baking soda. For example, I had a pair of sneakers that caused terrible foot odor when I wore them. I tried using baking soda to control the odor. Even though I wiped out the shoes after dusting them with the baking soda, the next time I wore them, the baking soda residue caused horrible problems. After an hour or so of wearing the shoes, my feet began to burn like fire. When I removed my shoes and socks, I discovered bloody places all over my feet where the baking soda, apparently reacting with my perspiration, was literally eating into my feet. I bathed my feet and dried them well, then put the socks that I had been wearing through the wash, rinsing them twice to get rid of any detergent or baking soda residue. I had to throw out the sneakers. They were ruined. I tried wearing them one other time after that incident, but it recurred. So, baking soda doesn't work for everyone.
In search of a laundry detergent that I could use that didn't produce itching, breaking out, and other nasty effects, I found that Arm & Hammer laundry detergent, that touts its use of baking soda, is among the detergents that I must avoid. It is also among the detergents that cause the worst skin reactions.
SECOND RINSE CYCLE
Also, I have found that there are two laundry detergents that I can use, but even then, I have to use a second rinse cycle in order to get rid of as much detergent residue as possible. Even using a second rinse cycle, I stop the machine before the second rinse cycle begins and pull the clothes away from the side of the drum. Spinning causes the clothes to be plastered to the side of the washer's drum, and minimizes the efficiency of the second rinse cycle.
I don't know about other people with similar reactions, but a second rinse cycle is a must for me, regardless of the laundry detergent I use. With detergents like Tide, though, even the second rinse is not enough to prevent a reaction.