Tumble Dryer/Washing Machine + Eczema

[marz]

My dd uses diprobase ointment, considerable amounts of it and her steroid is prepared in white parrafin, so I rinse all her clothes many many times before putting in the machine. The machine still gets grease lined, and I hot wash on empty regularly. These washes always feel sort of greasy still when done, no matter how many rinses and how many washes they go through. I am now convinced that they take longer to dry than other clothes, (something to do with the grease not being rinsed out?) Anyway, the question is, what would happen if I were to get a tumble dryer? Would the grease get heated up in the dryer and slowly clog it up (and coat everything in melted grease!) Does anyone have any experience of drying clothes when using ointments please?

[komatsu]

Hey Marz, have you tried or do you know about "wet wraps"? They save all this hassle you are going thru. Come back if you need more info. Luck from me whos been there, done that (2) greasey clogged washing machines ago.

[marz]

Hi Komatsu...no, have not tried wet wraps as consultant thought it was advisable to keep on mild diluted steroid and plenty of moisturising....I was led to believe that wet wrapping was quite a lot of hassle though, and that they might resist, so to avoid unless really necessary.....?

[komatsu]

yes what you have been told is right in that it is alot of hassle but it does save on your childs clothing and your washing machine but most of all it will keep dd comfortable and cool for a good period of time. It kinda goes like this, depending on where the excema is and the severity on any given day of course. Apply thin layer of steroid, paste on moisturising ointment / cream eg. parrafin ... then cover the area with double thickness of wet wraps. The wrap closest to the skin is wet, the outside is left dry. (I dont do this tho, i wet both layers). The wet wraps act as a protective barrier between the skin & the clothing, thus saving your washing machine/dryer. Then you only have to wash the wet wraps. I washed mine in hot boiling h2o in a pot. No soap powder. When the h20 has cooled i give them a good rubbing together. Change the h2o and boil again. when cooled again give them another rub but this time let the h2o cool to nearly cold.(depending on how much cream you use will determine how many times you repeat this.) The oily gunk will float to the top and you just scrap it away. Then you can machine wash on hot in bleach/janola to kill any remaining germs. On the final rinse add a non scented fabric softener so the wraps are gentle on the skin. Re drying- line drying is the best or hang over the back of a chair in the sun. they dont take long. You are right about the dryer, dont go there. Our hospital runs a pediatric nurse from the childrens ward that visit us with follow up home care and she (well the health system) provides these wraps for free. Initially she used to come around and tend to my son and showed me what to do. There are 2 purposes to all of this. 1- is to keep the skin cool by wetting the bandages/wraps which is being heated up by the oil based ointment cream.But to be effective they need to be kept wet/damp. 2- to stop the clothing rubbing the cream off defeating the purpose of putting the cream on in the first place. I no longer use the creams. I just use the double layer of wet wraps sprayed with Aloe Vera mist to keep the skin cool. But i'm doing this along with Bowen Therapy so its different to your situation. It is alot of work for you but it does keep dd comfortable & tends to scratch less when cool. Luck & happiness.

[misdee]

what i do, if iremember. is every now and then, put the machine on an empty hot wash with bio logical powder. its also advisable to wash the seal on teh machione regularly as the ezcema creams can rot the door seal.

have always used a tumble dryer and havent noticed it gettign clogged with grease, but dont use as much heavey treatments as when dd1 was a baby.

can u got some clothes that can be boiled washed? dd1 has pj's that can be boiled and when we do use the heavier treamtnets these pj's are the best as everything can be washed at high temp.

[marz]

Thankyou misdee,yes....the cotton stuff I put on max hot washes, but I find it does not really make too much difference as the main problem is that it seems to stay in the machine and the trick is to keep rinsing....
washing the empty machine though....is it better to use bio as opposed to non bio? I mean, I do it with non bio , but wshould I go and buy bio??

[misdee]

the enzyme in bio breaks down the grease better. its just something that is recommended by other sites. worth a try tho. even just a cheap value brand bio should do the trick. then run the machine on a empty hot wash with no powder to make sure all the bio powder has gone.

[marz]

thanks , I will definitely try it!

[greycat]

hello what is bowen therapy? have 2 yr old with severe eczema! help!!!