Problem:  Laundry detergents and fabric softeners can leave harmful residues that can irritate your sensitive skin, cause a severe case of contact dermatitis, and/or exacerbate an acne or eczema condition.

What to look for:  Acne and/or dermatitis on one side of your face and neck where you sleep, along the seams of your clothes, including under bra straps, necklines, waistlines, panty lines, the seams of your jeans, tops of socks, and virtually anywhere there is either tight or constant contact with the perfumed chemical residue of washing powders, liquid detergents and fabric softeners.

To the rescue:  Unscented Cheer Free, Tide Free, Arm & Hammer Free, All Free and Clear, Woolite Hypo-Allergenic, Costco’s Kirkland Free, and Safeway Select Free. These dermatologist-tested detergents are free of perfumes, dyes, bleach, phosphates and enzymes, and are especially gentle on sensitive, rash prone and acne prone skin types.

What to do:  Do you “crowd” soiled clothing in the washing machine by trying to turn three loads into two? Do you pour detergent directly into the washer without measuring?  Come on, be honest. Solution: Try washing 25% less laundry per load, using 25% less “free” detergent in the process. Always use the measuring cap or cup that comes with it. Clothing and bedding get much cleaner by agitating and circulating better. Less laundry in the washer and less detergent, means less residue, a fresher scent, cleaner, softer fabric and fewer skin problems.

Another safeguard:  When possible, put clothes through an extra full rinse cycle to remove all traces of soap residue. This reduces the potential for continued irritation.

Avoid all fabric softeners:  Especially softener “sheets” like Bounce, Snuggle and Cling Free that you throw into the dryer. Believe this: Folks freely admit to tossing 2 to 4 fabric softener sheets into the dryer for just one overcrowded load of “still soapy” laundry. Rewash everything in the house, including bedding, towels, washcloths, all clothing and lingerie in one of the “free” detergents, followed by an extra rinse cycle.

Other solutions:  For static cling, try Static Guard, but only if it’s a problem. If a fresh scent (or lack of it) is a serious concern, stop crowding your clothes in the washer, do an extra rinse cycle, and hang your whites out to dry in the fresh air and sunshine to help restore that childhood memory of “natural” freshness.

Another alert:  If you have a rash and darkening on your hands that can’t be explained, it might be caused by exposure to scented soaps, harsh detergents and fabric softener residue. Some of you, no matter how busy or financially comfortable, insist on doing your own laundry, which usually involves folding heavily-scented softener-soaked clothes with unprotected hands. Switch to unscented detergent, avoid fabric softener and wear fleece-lined latex gloves for all other household chores.

© 2004, 2006 Kathryn Khadija Leverette

© 2004, 2006 Kathryn Khadija Leverette