What do you do to cut expenses down?

[Hinotori]

Oh I have a nasty reaction to baking soda on my skin. It literally burns me. Only the toughest parts like my hands and feet are unaffected.

So I can't use it in the laundry even.

Before I actually knew of this issue I'd bought some Calgon bath powder and used it. About 10 or so minutes into the bath I started not feeling well. I don't actually remember much after that other than my roommate coming to check on me and making me rinse it all off while she called the duty van to take me to medical. She got sweats on me and gave them my ID. I was released the next day looking like an overcooked lobster with meds to take and apply plus light duty until healed. There are just some places you really don't want chemical burns.



Weirdly I have no issues ingesting it. I can even use it as an antacid.

 

[baymule]

Wow, that had to be scary!

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Amazing how some folks react to certain things... that we all consider to be pretty mild.

 

[Marianne]

Oh I have a nasty reaction to baking soda on my skin. It literally burns me. Only the toughest parts like my hands and feet are unaffected.

omg

 

[Mini Horses]

Weirdly I have no issues ingesting it. I can even use it as an antacid.

THAT is weird!! Often it is ingesting that sets things like that off. Is your skin super sensitive to little thought issues -- soaps, dyes, etc? How about materials, in clothing?

No wonder you find relief in many home made sources. Like Bay...woooweee...not fun to get such reactions. Limiting, also.

 

[Hinotori]

Yes my skin is super sensitive. Hubby jokes about it and asks what new thing I tried if I get a rash.

Lets just say that a certain time of the month sucks when you react to some plastics. Beware pads at own peril.

I have to be careful with under garments and the elastic types they use. Certain brands are fine and I stick with them.

I do not react to Tide laundry detergent so that is what we stay with. Spray and Wash gets me but I'm perfectly fine with Zout, but I think Zout is enzyme based. I do not make my own detergent. Tried several times with bad experiences.


I have to be careful with soaps. Many cause nasty rashes. I react worst to the glycerin soaps and whatever else is added to that commercially.

This means all it takes is one use for me to find out if that soap someone is selling as homemade actually is or if they just added junk to a melt-and-pour base.

I have no real issues with actual soap and a few of the commercial bars are fine like Dove.

Deodorants cause rashes and blisters. There is one brand and only one scent of commercial stuff I can use. We found that out when I first started using them as a kid.

I use a commercial deodorant stone or a salt bar now. I bought a bunch of Himalayan salt cut into body bars years ago and have been using them.

It gets depressing when I go looking for alternative body care things and all of it is baking soda based.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Oh man...what a challenge!

 

[Mini Horses]

WOW, just wow. That has got to be a challenge. At least you know up front and work from there.

So long as they don't change the commercial recipe on those that work "now". Disheartening thought. Sorry. But sure it's on your mind all the time.

Baymule and Devonviolet (BYH) both have reactions to a lot. Makes you really "think" when you shop.

 

[Marianne]

I use a commercial deodorant stone or a salt bar now. I bought a bunch of Himalayan salt cut into body bars years ago and have been using them.

I thought about the salt blocks when I was using one this morning. I bet I've been using the same one for two years. The neighbor that told me about them said the only time she's had to replace hers was when she dropped it and it broke into pieces. They are awesome for stink, still let you sweat. If you need a quick re-fresher between showers, some rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad or tissue will wipe away smell-causing bacteria. You can also use vodka, but hey, I'd rather save that for making vanilla. Or having a mixed drink.

Some days are like that.

 

[Hinotori]

I get kind of stinky working outside so wetting the salt and applying it heavily tends to wear them down. 2 years is about the max I can get out of one of the twist up commercial salt.