All About Life Without Maids

[1amber]

jnj0910:

beanstalk:

Have you tried Scotch Brite's Alore Vera gloves? My ex-helper, who has sensitive hands, say they are good. More expensive though.


Also switch your cleaners to gentler ones (organic or environmentally friendly formulas); avoid the anti-bacterial ones. You don't actually need strong cleaners on a regular basis, unless your family members have filthy habits or clothes.

Thanks for your suggestion! will go look for scotch brite gloves
am already diluting the dishwashing liquid but still doesn't help.

part of the problem is also the constant contact with water... in fact, my feet just
developed the rashes too as my toilets where i do laundry, are wet toilets
going to get slippers to wear in the toilets

appreciate more input from anyone else?
tks!

I also have sensitive skin. Since not having a maid, besides the latex gloves that were recommended, I have also tried those (pink and bright green ones - I think the brand is pandex or something) from Giant and Cold Storage. Bear in mind that your hands must be dry before wearing them and the gloves must also remain dry inside. As you have found out, feet must remain dry so proper footwear must be worn. Whatever it is, I must dry myself if any part of my body is wet. If splashed with soap or dirty water I must wash it off and dry myself immediately and change to dry clothes. Immediately after washing things use Cetaphil wash to soften hands and apply a moisturizer. So these items are be placed at my sink. I know it is very lecheh but what to do.

I also rely heavily on magiclean and am now moving towards iRobot and a dishwasher.

[Vevey]

jnj0910:

Does anyone do housework like washing dishes and hand-washing clothes , wearing long plastic gloves?


I need to buy them as I have skin allergy, but can't find suitable ones anywhere.
the short plastic disposable ones are too short and trap water, making my
allergy and rash worse...

cannot have latex gloves, or wool inside...

help please?
thanks in advance!

My 3rd anniversary w/o maid is coming! :rahrah: :boogie:

I'm v problematic, so hv to wear gloves (rashes), rubber slippers (heel pains) & disposable masks (allergic to dust) when doing housework.

Gloves - Giant brand is cheap & good but I think it is latex.
Tried long gloves up to elbow but find them too thick, hot & cumbersome.

In general, check for leaks often (as these r the main culprits for my rashes when wearing gloves) by filling gloves w water (also wash their inners at same time) & then turn them inside out to air dry.

Turn them right side out by trapping some air to \"pop\" the fingers out (I used to spend so much time trying to get each finger right side out until i figure this out!). Then squirt some powder into inners b4 wearing them again.

Dishwashing Liquid - I find diluted Mama Lemon is still too strong 4 me when i don't feel like donning gloves just to wash a cup. Try diluted Ligent. Cheap & good but think they come only in refill packs.

Handwashing collars, cuffs etc b4 machine wash - Fab bar soap for v dirty bits, else normal/hotel bar soap.

[micollh]

hey, buy happy call pan & pots and the astonish wash then no need maid to cook muahaha

[happymom]

Hi, I have been maidless for the past 9 months, still counting, at times I do miss having a maid to help me when I am rushing for time or when my rashes is back, but when I think of the freedom and the emotional freedom (no need to see black face) that I am enjoying now, i resist the idea. I feel happier without a maid although more busy now. To prevent rashes, I wear double gloves ie one plastic disposable glove and then follow by latex gloves, after handwashing the clothing, I continue to wear the plastic glove only to wash floor mat (more hygienic), thereafter can dispose off the plastic glove. Daily moisturising is a must, to prevent having rashes, dry skin, sometime my finger nail may also split. As for cooking and washing dishes, when I was using the normal dish detergent, my skin still get very dry and the skin on my fingers will crack, now I don’t have this crack skin problem since I started using amway dish detergent. Moisturiser is most important, must moisturise every day, if possible more than 1x per day.

[chrilam]

Hi, any advice to use spin or spray mop? which is more effective on laminated flooring? Thanks in advance.

[jnj0910]

Whatever it is, I must dry myself if any part of my body is wet. If splashed with soap or dirty water I must wash it off and dry myself immediately and change to dry clothes. Immediately after washing things use Cetaphil wash to soften hands and apply a moisturizer. So these items are be placed at my sink. I know it is very lecheh but what to do.

.[/quote]

you’re very disciplined to moisturise after everywash!
Thanks for sharing your experience!
will go Giant to check gloves out!

[jnj0910]

Vevey:

jnj0910:

Does anyone do housework like washing dishes and hand-washing clothes , wearing long plastic gloves?


I need to buy them as I have skin allergy, but can't find suitable ones anywhere.
the short plastic disposable ones are too short and trap water, making my
allergy and rash worse...

cannot have latex gloves, or wool inside...

help please?
thanks in advance!

My 3rd anniversary w/o maid is coming! :rahrah: :boogie:

I'm v problematic, so hv to wear gloves (rashes), rubber slippers (heel pains) & disposable masks (allergic to dust) when doing housework.

Gloves - Giant brand is cheap & good but I think it is latex.
Tried long gloves up to elbow but find them too thick, hot & cumbersome.

In general, check for leaks often (as these r the main culprits for my rashes when wearing gloves) by filling gloves w water (also wash their inners at same time) & then turn them inside out to air dry.

Turn them right side out by trapping some air to \"pop\" the fingers out (I used to spend so much time trying to get each finger right side out until i figure this out!). Then squirt some powder into inners b4 wearing them again.

Dishwashing Liquid - I find diluted Mama Lemon is still too strong 4 me when i don't feel like donning gloves just to wash a cup. Try diluted Ligent. Cheap & good but think they come only in refill packs.

Handwashing collars, cuffs etc b4 machine wash - Fab bar soap for v dirty bits, else normal/hotel bar soap.

THanks for sharing your experience!
Going 3 years, and counting, without a maid is no mean feat, especially since you have these problems with rashes, heel pain, dust allergy etc...
:udawoman:

[jnj0910]

happymom:

Hi, I have been maidless for the past 9 months, still counting, at times I do miss having a maid to help me when I am rushing for time or when my rashes is back, but when I think of the freedom and the emotional freedom (no need to see black face) that I am enjoying now, i resist the idea. I feel happier without a maid although more busy now. To prevent rashes, I wear double gloves ie one plastic disposable glove and then follow by latex gloves, after handwashing the clothing, I continue to wear the plastic glove only to wash floor mat (more hygienic), thereafter can dispose off the plastic glove. Daily moisturising is a must, to prevent having rashes, dry skin, sometime my finger nail may also split. As for cooking and washing dishes, when I was using the normal dish detergent, my skin still get very dry and the skin on my fingers will crack, now I don't have this crack skin problem since I started using amway dish detergent. Moisturiser is most important, must moisturise every day, if possible more than 1x per day.

Thanks Happymom!
I usually moisturise at night before bedtime, as I find it rather \"oily\" and I dont' like to touch things and make them oily... but need to balance that with need to prevent rashes... sigh...

[huanghou]

I have been hiring maids (until recently) because of skin allergy to chemicals, dust and frequent contact with water and I am delighted to find a group of brave people here who went without maids even though you have to adjust to the inconvenience. So here are some recommendation for skincare:


If you don’t like oily (who does?) and don’t mind paying more (just under $20 per tube) try Avent’s Magic Cream. It contains allantoin which is good for rashes. I found this wonder baby cream when I was living in UK and my whole body cracked up. I even used for my face and it was very soothing and effective. My baby (now little girl) also used it.

If your skin is very itchy and hot use Sarna lotion (about $8+ from NUH and Changi hospital pharmacies). Good for ladies with hot flush and cannot sleep at night due to skin contact with bed. For those with very hot bodies (literally) like me you must try to avoid moisturizer with paraffin content. It acts like a plastic layer over your skin and when you get hot your skin cannot breathe. Paraffin and similar content are widely used because it is probably a cheaper raw material. Unfortunately there are many skin specialists who don’t understand that oil/paraffin based ingredients and heat don’t go together.

If you like lotion type and not oily, try GV lotion available in most pharmacies. I have been recommended the expensive Physiogel by doctors but I found they too contain some lipid and paraffin. So do read the fine prints. Aqueous cream and Urecare is a much cheaper option but I am not happy that the manufacturer does not reveal exact ingredient. And Urecare also contains enough oil based content to make me hot and uncomfortable.

[Vevey]

jnj0910:

Vevey:

[quote=\"jnj0910\"]Does anyone do housework like washing dishes and hand-washing clothes , wearing long plastic gloves?


I need to buy them as I have skin allergy, but can't find suitable ones anywhere.
the short plastic disposable ones are too short and trap water, making my
allergy and rash worse...

cannot have latex gloves, or wool inside...

help please?
thanks in advance!

My 3rd anniversary w/o maid is coming! :rahrah: :boogie:

I'm v problematic, so hv to wear gloves (rashes), rubber slippers (heel pains) & disposable masks (allergic to dust) when doing housework.

Gloves - Giant brand is cheap & good but I think it is latex.
Tried long gloves up to elbow but find them too thick, hot & cumbersome.

In general, check for leaks often (as these r the main culprits for my rashes when wearing gloves) by filling gloves w water (also wash their inners at same time) & then turn them inside out to air dry.

Turn them right side out by trapping some air to \"pop\" the fingers out (I used to spend so much time trying to get each finger right side out until i figure this out!). Then squirt some powder into inners b4 wearing them again.

Dishwashing Liquid - I find diluted Mama Lemon is still too strong 4 me when i don't feel like donning gloves just to wash a cup. Try diluted Ligent. Cheap & good but think they come only in refill packs.

Handwashing collars, cuffs etc b4 machine wash - Fab bar soap for v dirty bits, else normal/hotel bar soap.

THanks for sharing your experience!
Going 3 years, and counting, without a maid is no mean feat, especially since you have these problems with rashes, heel pain, dust allergy etc...
:udawoman:[/quote]Oh, I just do within my means. Doesn't want to set myself up to fail.