Oh FGS. More washing powder and allergy problems again

[tectonicplates]

Please, no replies like "have you tried [name of washing powder]". We've already been through this too many times.

I used to use Ecover Zero until they changed their ingredients earlier this year so I had to stop. After numerous posts on here I tried endless products - Surcare liquid, Bio D, Ecos, Waitrose Sensitive, Violets, bicarbonate of soda, DP liquid soap, and probably a few others that I can't think of right now. All of them either made me itch or burn, and/or smelled so bad they made me feel sick.

I finally thought I'd found success with Surcare powder (different to Surcare liquid). We had two or three successful washes and I thought we'd finally sorted the problem out, but now it's gone back the other way. It's as if now that the product has built up on my clothes, it's making me itch again. I know it's possible to become allergic or sensitive to products after a while if you've used them for a long time - it's happened to me a few times with shampoo over the years. But this has happened after only two or three washes.

I've already done the thing of doing extra washes with just water, and extra rinse cycles etc, but after doing this twice with a pile of clothing I'm still itching. I just don't know what to do any more. I thought I'd found a solution but it lasted about five minutes.

And now I actually have a UTI. I'm convinced it's caused by my clothes and underwear having been washed in this stuff. I'm seriously at my wits end right now.

Have you tried those eco egg things?. Dont know what they're like or if they're effective

Eco eggs are really good.

What temperature are you washing at?

And it's definitely the washing stuff, no anything you are washing yourself in or putting on your body?

Only say that because bi thought I was allergic to washing powder but turns out it was a virus I rashed up to. And a lot of cosmetic stuff narks my skin.

We use eco eggs. They are great.

They probably don't cut the mustard with actively mucky clothes, but everyday wear they are fine.

So much easier than trying to work out what triggers, which brand etc.

What about soap nuts? I bought a big bag off amazon they last ages and are really good and all natural. I have sensitive skin and normal washing stuff makes me itch but I have no problems with these.

Soap nuts I've already tried (I knew I'd left something out of that list) and they made me feel like I was burning all over. And I did ask for no more "have you tried [name of washing powder]" as it never works.

@Ginfordinner a mixture of 30 and 40 washes.

@BelindasGleeTeam I always feel fine in the morning, but as soon as I put the clothes on they make me itch. Sometimes they make me itch even if I just pick them up from the drying rack.

What do you use to clean your washing machine? How often do you clean it?

I can't see eco eggs working for me as I get very smelly armpits. And I've tried so many products that claim to be allergy-friendly but none of them ever are.

Ouch. Sometimes I think your skin gets so sensitive and allergic it doesn't matter what you put on it, you almost need to get back to 'normal' where there's no reaction to start trying out different products again. There's no point trying a new brand if your skin is sore and weeping.

DD developed horrendous eczema when I used eco eggs, Surcare, Ecover etc at low temperature washes. Then the washing machine started to smell.

In a desperate attempt to deal with it I bought some Ariel washing powder at started washing towels and bedding at 60 degrees.

The washer stopped smelling and a happy side effect was that the eczema disappeared.

Using laundry products containing no bleach combined with low temperature washes had allowed mould and bacteria to develop in the machine - causing the smell and irritating the skin.

So can I suggest that you try running a couple of service washes using a washing machine cleaner, then wash towels and bedding at 60 degrees.

We always wash towels and bedding at 60 though.

Itchy hands just picking them up or itchy everywhere, because that sounds more psychosomatic than contact?

Agree think you need to run some service washes.

I could've sworn I was allergic to washing powders, my rash was florid and all over and worse on seams etc. Tried surcare, washing nuts etc....to no avail. Three weeks in and I was beside myself.

Was viral!! Stressed at the time and my body went overkill on the vurus. The rash was worsened by pressure, hence seam marks etc.

We are a little sensitive to perfumed products here with eczema still but bog standard non bio seems to work fine for us. So after all the sorry and expense it wasn't the washing stuff I was using.

60 plus cleaning stuff for machine. Makes a huge difference.

Not ideal, but a couple of ideas.

Are you taking antihistamines? I know in a way it's only masking the problem, but if you're itching, they will give you relief at least. I have to have prescription only ones and they've transformed my life. No exaggeration.

Secondly there are recipes on line to make your own washing powders. You could have a go and like an exclusion diet, try to figure out which ingredients you do and don't react to.

Re smelly armpits, are you allergic to bicarb? Because I'd soak your clothes in that to eliminate the odour and then you could try the egg things?

sounds bloody miserable.

@BelindasGleeTeam But this has been going on for months, and I've seen my GP about it and all she did was give me more antihistamine.

I've already done service washes/boil washes to clean out the previous stuff. It didn't make any difference.

And as I've mentioned, I was actually fine with the Surcare for a couple of washes and it's only gone wrong again now that the product has built up, even though I've done extra rinses. So there was obviously something different about the Surcare for a short while.

It's actually given me a UTI! I'm sitting here waiting at a clinic.

If your washing machine has a baby/toddler programme use that as it gives clothes an extra rinse.
I'd try some normal washing powders you might hit on something that's better than the eco/ sensitive ones.

Do you have a soap you can use that doesn't cause a reaction? Or what do you use to clean your body?

I ask because there are recipes online to make your own laundry wash using soap. So if you used one you have no reaction to that should work?

Failing that what about washing without any detergent at all and on the highest temperature the clothes will stand. Dry them in the sun if you can for the extra cleaning effect of the sun.

Sounds awful. I think you should check in with your GP.

Yes I'm allergic to bicarb! I never used to be. And I've already been given antihistamines a million times over. I've even seen an allergy specialist who said that nothing else could be done. Antihistamine is a sticking plaster approach. I don't see why I should have to dose myself up with medication when it's clearly not what the real problem is.

@keepingbees Already tried that. And most normal powders are full of perfume which I'm definitely allergic to and can't stand the smell. Surcare is actually the most normal powder I've found that didn't smell.

I agree with you about the antihistamines, but I couldn't take another minute of the itching, the wheezing, the running nose and all the other symptoms and when I was finally prescribed a decent antihistamine I could have cried with the relief.

You could ask for fexofenadine whilst getting to the bottom of the problem. The two aren't mutually exclusive.

Do you react to your bedding and towels? Or just clothes? If you have hard water low temperatures just might not be getting all the residue out your clothes.

Have you tried setting the washing machine on an extra rinse? I read somewhere that it cured the problem for someone who has eczema.

What do you wash your hair and body with? If you have a product that works on those use that for your clothes. Even if you have to hand wash a few bits to try it.