Go to any grocery store or pharmacy and you’ll discover at least half a dozen detergent brands. Understandably, whenever you go to the laundromat, everyone brings a different detergent. For most people, this doesn’t matter—why should someone else’s preferences bother them? However, if you have skin or respiratory sensitivities, then the chemicals and fragrances brought to the laundromat will affect you.

Symptoms of Detergent-Caused Allergies

If you’re allergic to a detergent, then expect the following symptoms to arise:

• A rash;
• Uncontrollable sneezing,itching and watery eyes;
• Hot skin or blisters.

If you experience any of the above, start buying gentler detergents. Refrain from harsh scents and look for natural ingredients to reduce the chance of irritation. It’s also good to use less detergent overall. That said, such precautions do not protect you from the products other people use.

What Can You Do about Residual Detergent?

To protect yourself from other people’s detergents, select an extra rinse cycle on the machine. The cycle types are in the same place where you might find the soil settings.

In addition to an extra rinse, toss in a small amount of vinegar to your wash. Vinegar will neutralize lingering scents and rinse out those residual chemicals. It’s completely natural so you needn’t worry about irritating your skin further should the vinegar not rinse thoroughly.