it's official. i'm allergic to cleaning.

[susandennis]

Actually, I think it was inhaling 409 cleaner.  But, it nearly did me in.  I did manage to get the laundry done and put away.  I emptied out the pantry cupboards plus two deep drawers (it was one of those that was the killer - I sprayed the bottom with 409 to help get the residue out and put my face down in there while I was cleaning... my lungs did NOT like that at all).

If I can't see that I have stuff, I buy new stuff.  Turns out I have 3 jars of cayenne pepper - two with plastic still around the lids.  And 2 gallon jugs of white vinegar along with 2 smaller bottles of it.

So now my shelves have half the stuff on them that they did and I can see it all!  Nice.  Plus, they look nicer.

But whew.  I sucked down my rescue inhaler and still had to stop, sit and breathe and drink water to keep from coughing a couple of times.  It's way better now but jesus.  Even after 2 years of this problem, I can't seem to remember I have it until I've already fucked up.

Next project is cleaning out the litter box bench.  The box, the extra litter and tools and supplies are all in a blanket chest that has a hole cut in the side.  It needs everything taken out and all the spilled litter sucked up and everything washed down.  I have a painters mask I think I'll wear for that project and I'm going to not do it today!

Comments

[punkymcmunky.livejournal.com]

I think I am allergic to cleaning, too. :-p

[plantmom.livejournal.com]

Be careful, Susan. A lot of household solvents are as bad as anything industrial, or worse, because we're not conditioned to be cautious with them.

And especially…

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

Don't mix ammonia with the bleach
To get that stubborn stain out.
The fumes are strong enough to leach
Your eyes, nose, lungs, and brain out.
Be sure to read the label well,
Or, briefly put, RTFL…
Don't mix ammonia with the bleach.
As Darwin put it,
It's just the fittest who survive:
Don't act too dumb to stay alive.

To the tune of "Never Set the Cat on Fire" by Frank Hayes. This is a verse of my filk of it, The Darwin Awards (http://filk.cracksandshards.com/Darwin.html). It's not on the webpage, though, because unlike the other stories there, I knew the guy it happened to, and his wife. So remember: Be careful out there.

Curses

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

Forgot that this g.d. Android app, unlike LJ itself, ignores line breaks.

[cienna2000.livejournal.com]

EEK! Lung issues are not fun. Personally, I find vinegar and water to work just as well as the commercial cleaners and not the side effects. It sounds like you have enough vinegar to last a while.

[catmomma.livejournal.com]

I used some bathroom soap scum cleaner a few days ago that totally did me in. I was ok while using it but the smell did not dissipate for a few DAYS and every time I walked past that bathroom I gagged.

One of the only store bought cleaners that does not get me is lemon pine sol.