Used this product for the first time about 6 weeks ago and my skin started getting irritated (small red itchy spots), I hadn't changed detergents so it didn't cross my mind that it could be my clothes or bedding that I washed after cleaning my washing machine. A few days pass, the bumps start turning into hives, I thought that was weird since I hadn't eaten anything different either, chalked it up to stress. A few more days pass and the hives look like a rash and have spread pretty much all over except for my face and neck (I sleep on my back). Around Christmas we had an insane snowstorm and I was so cold that I curled up on my side, the next day I had some of the rash on the side of my face and my lips swelled up like Daffy Duck. Then not only is my skin itching but on the inside of my arms it's burning, I thought wow that feels like a chemical burn.. this has to be a skin irritant not a random new food allergy, but what would I have been wearing that would have done that, my laundry detergent has never bothered me in the slightest and now suddenly I have hives and a burning rash from it? Then I had that lightbulb moment where I remembered the Affresh tablets. I started going crazy doing load after load of laundry and scrubbing the white residue ring that was left around the top of my washing machine from this product (yes I did do a cleaning cycle after as instructed, 3 in fact, but not all of the residue that was left came out) I was so frantic about wanting to get that stuff off my appliance so that I could wash my clothes in non toxic water a million times and hopefully not feel like my skin was going to peel off, that I began scrubbing without gloves on. (Stupid, I know) a few hours later my hands were red and raw and felt like they had been dipped in acid and my lips doubled in size later that night AGAIN. I could have maybe spared myself a lot of grief had I been smart enough to identify the problem sooner, who knows how long this stuff will take to wash out of my clothes, or if I even got every last but of it out of the washer. So please, do yourself a favor and run like 10 cleaning cycles after this stuff if you don't want to take the risk and find out you're allergic to it the hard way. EDIT: It's been 7 weeks now and I have to move into my moms house and live separately from my husband for I don't know how long because I keep having symptoms of anaphylaxis in addition to the hives getting worse every time I accidentally touch, wear, or sit on something that was washed after we used the Affresh tablets. I've soaked clothes in vinegar overnight multiple times and done like 20 hot washes. Some of it I'll have to get rid of completely, maybe all of it to not risk contamination. Same with our mattress topper, blankets, pillows, sofa, and chairs.. basically anything that had any item washed in the machine after we cleaned it with this product will probably have to go because I'm apparently that allergic. This stuff has affected me so badly that I can truly say it's one of the worst things that's ever happened to me. I just want my life back, but I don't know how long it will be until we can afford to replace most of our belongings, or if the carpet will even be safe for me now. An allergy (when you've never been exposed before) takes 10-14 days to build it's defense system before you see symptoms, mine began on about day 12. Everything pre-Affresh is safe and doesn't make me break out, so I know it was from this. Please please please be careful when using this stuff... or DIY a washing machine cleaner, it's very easy. I have never had an allergy problem so it could happen to anyone. Almost 5 months later- still dealing with this. Fun fact, did you know a widespread chemical exposure such as this can cause something called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome? It's been super fun trying to replace all my stuff and calm my system back down. If only I could go back and not buy this stuff. When I say it ruined my life I'm not even exaggerating. Oh, and when I reached out to this wonderful company via a fb message, they weirdly had me send them a whole bunch of personal information like my phone number and my address and the serial number and info on the back of my washing machine. All I asked was if they knew what I could do to make sure that all the residue is out of the machine. They could have just said sorry they don't know. But nope.. they ask me for all this private info and have me move my washer so I could get the sticker info, then they call me and are super rude, I believe the phrase "what is it exactly you're trying to get out of this?" Cause you know.. this is America where you'll get slapped with a lawsuit over hot coffee so I guess that's what they were worried about? Honestly I was so dumbstruck by the question (which was asked several times) that it took me days to realize that's what they were getting at. As if I have the time or energy to deal with all that even if it were at all plausible. Literally all I wanted was advice about how to make sure I get the chemicals out of the washer. I never expected a call, a response to my message would have been enough. And a "we don't know" would have also been fine. Invading my privacy for no reason and then calling me with rude comments was super helpful. So thanks Affresh, you rock✌✌ I love telling all my friends and family about what a super stand up company you are.
