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Original poster

Help - how do you wash allergic DCs clothes?

36 replies

Chartreuser · 09/07/2019 12:51

DS14 is having the most rotten fine and had just been put in another week of oral steroids for his allergies. There is not a cm of him that is not covered in an itchy/scaly rash that looks awful but is so uncomfortable it's stopping him sleeping.

He will be starting immunotherapy later this year for tree and grass pollen, his nut allergies require epu-pen and although the GP thinks it's just his normal allergies on overdrive is best to change how we wash his clothes in case it's residue.

So, what washing powders/liquids work for you/your allergic family?

Thank you, sorry it's in chat but for traffic as I'm on lunch and desperate Sad

OP posts:
moreismore · 09/07/2019 12:52

Have a look at soap nuts, I haven’t used myself but see them recommended a lot.

Loka123 · 09/07/2019 13:02

www.boots.com/boots-sensitive-skin-concentrated-automatic-washing-powder-1-45kg-10094555

This one seems okay when used but doesn’t have a fragrance (most allergy safe washing powders don’t).

Kanga83 · 09/07/2019 13:03

The only one we could use was Bio D. It's pricey but take a look at the ingredient list first- it is however natural.

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cannycat20 · 09/07/2019 13:04

We've just swapped over to an Eco Egg this week - household member gets rashes if we use anything but one particular kind of capsule on their clothing and bedding, but so far, touch wood, no reactions at all and the fabrics are nice and soft.

Original poster
Chartreuser · 09/07/2019 13:10

Thank you. We used to use ecoballs on his cloth nappies as he he used to have horrendous eczema as a baby. Looks like the eggs are a newer version, I'll look online.

Have a boots here so will look too. Feel so bag for him, there's enough going on in the everywhere 14yo body without this too

OP posts:
princessib · 09/07/2019 13:18

We can only use Fairy washing powder with my son. It has to be the powder, not the liquid or tabs

gospa · 09/07/2019 19:44

Waitrose own brand sensitive wash liquid here - no fragrance. We’ve been using it for years. Also the Surcare brand has no fragrance. And I have bought (but not recently) a sensitive skin wash liquid in M and S that’s fragrance free.

Fairy is too fragranced for my eczema sufferers. And they find wash liquids better than powders - maybe they rinse out better?

Hope your DS responds to treatment soon.

reluctantbrit · 09/07/2019 20:01

When DD had a bout of eczema we were told to use around 1/2 of the recommended amount of washing liquid or powder and do another rinse cycle after the initial wash. It is amazing how much is left in the clothes even with a good washing machine.

It is trial and error but in general the less amount of stuff inside the better.

MoMandaS · 09/07/2019 20:08

Surcare. Avoid Fairy like the plague. I have so much sympathy for your poor son - my eczema was at its miserable peak at that age and I also have nut allergy, pollen allergy, etc. It sounds like you're doing all you can to manage it for him. I hope it improves really soon. Flowers

cloudyinjune · 09/07/2019 20:11

We used the eco egg for a while but now unscented Violets liquid

Always good to do regular cleaning cycles of the machine and makes sure it rinses well

Original poster
Chartreuser · 09/07/2019 21:25

Thank you all.

MoMandaS did you ever get respite? He is currently on fexofenadine, phenergan, prednisolone, montelukast, steroid nasal spray and asthma inhalers. It looks like every hair follicle is inflamed, almost like he's reacting to his own hair/sweat. It seems to happen when the allergens are so great that his body just gets overwhelmed. And school uniform is about the worst clothing to be wearing.

Sorry, I am desperate to try and help him and all our usual tricks and meds are just not working Sad

OP posts:
gospa · 10/07/2019 08:37

I realise your DS might not want to stand out from his peers but the school have to make a reasonable adjustment if school uniform is the worst thing he can be wearing eczema wise.

Sorry your DS is suffering so much. Would it be best for him to have some time off school? Surely not that much is happening at the end of term and it sounds as if it must be pretty difficult for him to concentrate on schoolwork Sad

Troels · 10/07/2019 08:45

I've switched the whole family to surecare as I'm the one having problems, it works great. I've also started using the fragrance free fabric softener, can't remember the name.
I did iit for years as Ds had eczema when a baby. So just got backto it again.

Original poster
Chartreuser · 10/07/2019 09:06

Re keeping him off, I really don't know? When he's been really really had and literally hasn't slept then we do but there is an element of of this is his reality keeping him off is not practicable. He could help Gondor more by showing every day and changing into clean, cooler clothes as soon as home but he hates being told what to do. I'm hoping they by doing it a couple of times and realising how much more comfy he is it will become more pleasant!

OP posts:
Original poster
Chartreuser · 10/07/2019 09:08

PS rewashed all his clothes with boots sensitive liquid and have ordered him some new organic t shirts and pants from h&m that are 100% cotton and baggier to try and help

Thank you all for commenting, we are members of allergy UK and went through the mill with his eczema as a baby but it's much harder doing it with a fully sentient teen!

OP posts:
SirVixofVixHall · 10/07/2019 09:14

You can get eco uniform here www.ecooutfitters.co.uk/
I have bought my dds their white cotton shirts and they are good quality ( generous fit, so size down if in doubt).
Phillip Kingsley do a no scent no colourants shampoo, that was the only thing I could use on my hair when I had an allergy flare up.
For clothes I bought the Violet one mentioned above, and used less than normal.

ArfArfBarf · 10/07/2019 09:15

Use only a tiny amount of washing powder (powder rinses out better). Not possible to know what will irritate his skin because it varies by person -for example, I need to avoid fragrances but bio is fine - so use trial and error.

Always do an extra rinse.

drspouse · 10/07/2019 09:15

The eggs are made by a different company, who use the balls still and they are better we think.
I had a comment deleted on a FB eco page because "it may offend people" but my comment said "soap nuts contain chemicals - saponins" so here's hoping you aren't easily offended, because there's still a chance he might be allergic to those.

Footle · 10/07/2019 09:24

Surcare.

drspouse · 10/07/2019 09:26

*we use the balls

And we also use Surcare for DD's night nappies - you aren't really supposed to use Ecoballs for nappies. But they will be good for clothes.

SirVixofVixHall · 10/07/2019 09:34

M&S also do a skinkind school uniform range, in case you haven’t seen it.

theorchidwhisperer · 10/07/2019 20:24

Your machine might have a medical setting. It rises extra times, uses more water and agitates more to get the soap out of the fibres.

Synecdoche · 10/07/2019 20:26

Eco egg fragrance free is great imo.

Wolfiefan · 10/07/2019 20:28

Also worth avoiding MI. Many many people are very allergic. In washing up liquid and liquid washing detergent and many shampoos and shower gels.

Inniu · 10/07/2019 20:31

We use a small amount of Fairy gel. Nothing else can go in the machine ever or we have issue with residue for weeks.