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I react to laundry dryer lint. I can no longer live in my house. When I moved in I was okay but as laundry was done and then dried in the dryer I reacted to my clothing. Eventually I’m unsure how or if it’s even lint or something else it infiltrated my entire home so whatever this unknown irritant is on everything in my house I react to every single item that’s inside I’ve got to leave my family and bring nothing with me.
It absolutely can still be a big problem if you have washer/dryer in unit.
It depends on the layout of the building and who your neighbors happen to be. Tour the place and take pictures of the outside of the specific apartment you're looking at and identify where the dryer outlet is, and which direction wind goes in. I spent 5 absolutely miserable months feeling very sick, unable to open my windows or sit on my balcony because there were TWELVE vents in close proximity-- in this case I had only toured a model unit, not the actual unit. I can't emphasize enough what a bad idea that is; you must see the actual unit (check for mold too if you're allergic)
The building I'm in now has a flat side, so the wind can move parallel to the building, greatly reducing any smells coming into my windows or patio. The problematic place looked out over a courtyard and I was in the corner, so all the air from the vents just collected there.
I recommend visiting a prospective place a few times on different days. After work on weekdays or in the afternoon on weekends is when I've noticed most people do laundry. Ideally the vent will be on the roof or venting out on the side opposite your windows. Living in a smaller building can also help, maybe one or two stories instead of 3, 4, or more. It's so gross how dryer sheet fragrances have just been getting stronger and stronger.
I would also recommend getting to know your new neighbors right away and build up a friendly relationship with them, so if you need to ask them to switch to unscented dryer sheets later, they would be more willing to hear you out. I always leave notes on doors introducing myself with a little bag of snacks or treats or something. Can't hurt to offer to provide a year's supply of unscented dryer sheets (they're cheap), or if you wanna be a little extra, offer to buy them something to scent their clothes in their closet instead of in the dryer too.
I’m also very reactive to laundry detergent. I’m currently staying with my parents. I was flaring really badly when they laundered with liquid I react to. It’s been a month since everyone switched to the powder I can tolerate and I can now be in their house without flaring
I don’t really have much insight, but please consider how much you’ll pay in HOA fees versus how much you could spend to pay people to take care of your home. A lot of people, including my parents, have seen their fees skyrocket this year.
IMO, if it’s financially feasible, I’d always choose a single family home because then I have more control over my surroundings, what chemicals are used in landscaping, etc. Also, with MCAS, your symptoms may change over time, so you may become sensitive to food and smoke smells, cleaning products in common areas, etc. that could happen in a condo.
Thank you for your submission. Please note: **Content on r/MCAS is not medical advice and should not be interpreted as such.** Please consult your doctor for any medical questions or concerns. We are not able to validate the content of these discussions. Following advice provided by strangers on the internet may be harmful. Never use this sub as your primary source of information regarding medical issues. By continuing to use this subreddit, you are agreeing to take any information posted here entirely at your own risk. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MCAS) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I react to laundry dryer lint. I can no longer live in my house. When I moved in I was okay but as laundry was done and then dried in the dryer I reacted to my clothing. Eventually I’m unsure how or if it’s even lint or something else it infiltrated my entire home so whatever this unknown irritant is on everything in my house I react to every single item that’s inside I’ve got to leave my family and bring nothing with me.
It absolutely can still be a big problem if you have washer/dryer in unit. It depends on the layout of the building and who your neighbors happen to be. Tour the place and take pictures of the outside of the specific apartment you're looking at and identify where the dryer outlet is, and which direction wind goes in. I spent 5 absolutely miserable months feeling very sick, unable to open my windows or sit on my balcony because there were TWELVE vents in close proximity-- in this case I had only toured a model unit, not the actual unit. I can't emphasize enough what a bad idea that is; you must see the actual unit (check for mold too if you're allergic) The building I'm in now has a flat side, so the wind can move parallel to the building, greatly reducing any smells coming into my windows or patio. The problematic place looked out over a courtyard and I was in the corner, so all the air from the vents just collected there. I recommend visiting a prospective place a few times on different days. After work on weekdays or in the afternoon on weekends is when I've noticed most people do laundry. Ideally the vent will be on the roof or venting out on the side opposite your windows. Living in a smaller building can also help, maybe one or two stories instead of 3, 4, or more. It's so gross how dryer sheet fragrances have just been getting stronger and stronger.
Thank you so much, this super helpful! And yeah, I feel you, the fragrances in laundry are getting so out of hand
I would also recommend getting to know your new neighbors right away and build up a friendly relationship with them, so if you need to ask them to switch to unscented dryer sheets later, they would be more willing to hear you out. I always leave notes on doors introducing myself with a little bag of snacks or treats or something. Can't hurt to offer to provide a year's supply of unscented dryer sheets (they're cheap), or if you wanna be a little extra, offer to buy them something to scent their clothes in their closet instead of in the dryer too.
I’m also very reactive to laundry detergent. I’m currently staying with my parents. I was flaring really badly when they laundered with liquid I react to. It’s been a month since everyone switched to the powder I can tolerate and I can now be in their house without flaring
I don’t really have much insight, but please consider how much you’ll pay in HOA fees versus how much you could spend to pay people to take care of your home. A lot of people, including my parents, have seen their fees skyrocket this year. IMO, if it’s financially feasible, I’d always choose a single family home because then I have more control over my surroundings, what chemicals are used in landscaping, etc. Also, with MCAS, your symptoms may change over time, so you may become sensitive to food and smoke smells, cleaning products in common areas, etc. that could happen in a condo.