Eczema and clothes washing

[makingmama]

Just wanting some ideas on clothes washing for ds's clothes (he has severe eczema). For months I've just been using soap pods, but due to ds being 2yo(clothes get VERY grubby!) and the amount of tink, greasy emollients we have to use, they never seem really clean. Was thinking about using a non-bio liquid and doing an extra rinse? Would ecover be ok, or something else?

Have you tried Simply Pure? I find them better than ecoballs which didn't seem to clean clothes properly. I avoid Ecover products only because many of them contain wheat which DS is allergic to.

I use Surcare liquid (non bio, no fragrance) and find it good skinwise for my eczema, likewise M&S's sensitive liquid detergent (also non-bio, fragrance-free). I've had itching after Ecover and a friend's hand eczema is exacerbated by their products, so tend to avoid.

You can wash very grubby stuff in bio and then rewash in fairy/surcare etc. I wouldnt do just an extra rinse, I always did a whole extra wash just to be sure - sorry I know its sounds a lot of work.

I know its a faff but I had to do it for years when DS was little.

Never used softener but did have some of those plastic balls for the dryer.

If you have a whirlpool washer you can get a special seal fitted to stop the creams degrading the rubber. I dont know if its available for other brands.

I use Surcare non-bio liquid/powder and always use the sensitive or extra rinse cycle on our machine to make sure all the detergent is completely rinsed away. It's not easy though and to be honest I really struggle to get 4 yr old DS's clothes clean - would be mush easier if I could use biological detergent and loads of Vanish stain remover!

By the way, bit horrified to read that Ecover products contain wheat! Would never have thought to check washing products for wheat (one of DS's allergies) so very glad I've never bought it (although only because it's more expensive than Surcare!). Also interested in the washing machine seal to stop eczema creams damaging the rubber as this is a big issue for us. The silly creams also affect the elastic in DS's pyjama bottoms - he only wears them a few times and they start falling down!

I've just studied my bottle of 'Ecover Delicate' - No mention of Wheat, i think they'd have to put it on the label?

I use surcare or waitrose sensitive (it's the same)

For really grubby stuff I prewash with bio and then do non bio

Also hot wash the machine empty with bio to clean it

Thank you for the replies...some interesting bits of info re Ecover and the rubber seals I'll try the surcare and extra rinse and see how we get on. Also washing in bio then re-washing with surcare for messy stuff really good idea. Potty training at the moment too.....god all the washing just seems never ending!

If you do the re-washing it means you can go to town with stain removers too

I shouldn't have been using soda crystals without rinsing again afterwards should I ?

The thing is with eczema is that it is a tricker bugger and everyone reacts differently to different things.

Whilst its a good idea to be careful with washing products not all people react to them badly. Its important not to beat yourself up about anything.

Just when you think you have an idea about the damn condition it can change e.g. a cream you have been using can suddenly stop working or make things worse.

Its the nature of the bloody thing.
The most important thing is to keep note of what you do and what works/causes a reaction as it can all get very confusing.

My son is allergic to house dust mites and pollens so my big weapon is the hoover and damp duster plus washing everything on a hotwash and bedding on at least 60.

If its any comfort - my DS's skin was truly awful for a long time but we are finally getting on top of it now he is 8 so all that 'they will grow out of it' is annoying but has some truth to it.

Thank you mrsdevere it really is bloody pain. I keep reading articles on-line that quote it as a nuisance and I'm thinking what?!...it's taking over our lives and exhausting us all! But hey ho I'm learing...still! I cannpt believe that I grew up suffering and there's so much I have to learn.

I'm pretty sure my ds has an allergy to dust mites so doing the damp dusting, hot wash etc.

Just to clarify on the Ecover: it's only some of their products that contain wheat, e.g. their washing-up liquid...

Didn't know about the wheat either. Though I think my problem with ecover products might be more to do with the 'natural plant extracts' such as limonene which they contain.

Oh I didn't know about the rubber seal damage, how interesting.

Our eczema nurse (who I think is amazing!) told us you don't need to use non-bio, as long as you use less powder than normal or add an extra rinse cycle, so we were told you don't need to do a whole extra wash. Also as MrsDeVere has said tackling dust by washing at 60 degrees minimum, vacuuming and dusting, wooden floors, freezing soft toys etc has really helped our DD. And excluding food allergens has made a huge difference. Good luck, it is such a difficult condition to get on top of unfortunately.

I am a grand -parent and am very impressed with all the helpful suggestions given in respect of the dreaded eczema. I was born with eczema and had all manner of allergies but it went away eventually, unless particularly stressed which is another irritant for eczema. I now care for a little grand-daughter so am extra careful with her and her washing. We use items suggested in your comments but I firmly believe that good rinsing is very helpful, so go for it girls and don't worry about the drought!

to remove the grease from the moisterizers in clothes, soak in bucket of cold water and salt, then wash at 40 degrees as usual.

this should also prolong the life of the rubber seal on your washing machine, and in clothes as the greese rots the latex/rubber !

lots of ecover type stuff contain foods, washing up liquid contains milk, and is not suitable for those with milk allergies.

Thanks for the tip eragon. They buy Ecover washing up liquid in work and I was stunned when I read the ingredients one day and discovered in contained milk! Thank goodness I didn't buy it at home, could have been disastrous for DS! I think that a product like that which people will use on their cooking/eating utensils should have an allergy warning.

I use soap nuts. Is that the same as soap pods?
I love soap nuts.

trial and error, I'm afraid.
ecover bio + extra rinse works for us. we only use a little amount (about a third of the recommended amount) and add soda crystals for extra dirty laundry.
tough wood the eczema is not too bad atm, but we are dreading the hayfever season as this seems to be a trigger.