Laundry & your skin
Detergent residue, dryer sheets, cold-water washing and what really matters when someone at home has sensitive skin.
Textile dermatitis: when your clothes, not your detergent, cause the rash
Disperse dyes, formaldehyde resins in wrinkle-free fabrics, elastic and wool: what textile dermatitis is, its tell-tale rash pattern, diagnosis and what laundry can do.
“Laundry stripping”: what the murky water really shows
What laundry stripping removes (detergent, softener, minerals and dye), what the science says about hard water and skin, the safety concerns with borax, and a gentler way to deal with build-up.
Pods, liquid or powder: does the form change how your skin reacts?
How detergent pods, liquids and powders differ in concentration, dosing and dissolving, what that means for residue on skin, and the child-safety warnings on pods.
Towels and skin: how often to wash them, and why they get stiff
What lives in a damp towel, why drying matters more than you’d think, when sharing towels is a real risk, and why softener and residue make towels stiff and less absorbent.
HE detergent: why high-efficiency washers need it
What the “HE” symbol means, why low-water washers need low-sudsing detergent, how excess suds leave residue on clothes, and how to dose it, with the skin angle.
Washing wool and delicates without irritating your skin
Why wool itches (hint: it’s rarely allergy), how to wash wool, silk and delicates gently, why enzyme detergents damage protein fibres, and how to keep wash residue off sensitive skin.
Does cold-water washing get clothes clean (and is it better for skin)?
How cold-water detergents work, what cold washing saves in energy and fabric wear, when heat still matters, and whether any of it makes a difference to your skin.
Optical brighteners: the invisible dye behind “whiter whites”
How optical brighteners make fabric look whiter, why they’re designed to stay on your clothes, what Health Canada concluded, and how thin the skin evidence really is.
Washing baby clothes: what actually matters for delicate skin
Do you need a “baby” detergent? What newborn skin is like, why fragrance-free and dye-free matter more than the label, dosing, rinsing, softener and new clothes.
Enzymes in laundry detergent: stain removers or skin irritants?
What protease, amylase and lipase do in detergent, why enzymes caused lung problems in factory workers in the 1960s, how encapsulation changed that, and what the skin evidence shows.
Dryer sheets, fabric softeners and skin: what’s actually in them
How softeners and dryer sheets coat fabric, why fragrance is the ingredient that matters for skin, what the research on irritation shows, and the alternatives.
Soft laundry without fabric softener: what actually works
Why towels and clothes get stiff, and how to keep them soft without softener: correct dosing, tumble and line drying, dryer balls, and what’s known (and not) about vinegar.
Laundry tips when someone in the house has eczema
Evidence-based laundry habits for a household with eczema: detergent choice, dosing, rinsing, softeners, new clothes and fabrics, with honest notes on what is proven.
Dust mites and eczema: what helps and what doesn’t
How dust mite allergy can aggravate eczema, how it’s tested, and what the Cochrane evidence says about mattress covers, hot washing, sprays and allergy shots.
Detergent residue on clothes: does it really bother your skin?
What stays in fabric after the rinse cycle, how it reaches your skin, who actually reacts, and what the research says about detergents and dermatitis.
Washing bedding and pillows: how often, and why your skin cares
What builds up in sheets, pillowcases and pillows, how often to wash them, when hot water is worth it, and what the evidence says about bedding, dust mites, acne and eczema.