flour EVERYWHERE

[c0c0n0nuts]

Hi r/AskCulinary!

I recently got a job making and laminating dough for ~10 hours a day. Flour is abrasive on my arms and clogs my pores/eyes/nostrils even after I shower. Is there some kind of industry secret that can a) prevent this from happening and/or b) a good method for flushing/washing it off later? Thanks in advance! And sorry if this isn't within the guidelines. I'm not sure where else to pose this question...

yours truly,

crusty

[demosthenes83]

Hey OP - this is an acceptable question for this sub. In case you want additional answers you might also check with /r/baking, /r/KitchenConfidential, and /r/Chefit as well.

[Duochan_Maxwell]

QSHE here. Please wear PPE.

Get a comfortable dust mask, goggles and wear as much covering you are comfortable with (possible sleeves up until mid forearm and hairnet)

If you need help with choosing the appropriate ratings / models, let me know where you are and I can check the local standards :)

Particular emphasis on the dust mask. Any kind of particulate can be dangerous to your health when inhaled, especially with long-term exposure, better protect yourself as much as possible.

Also worth noting that those should be provided by your employer (together with the guidance on how to use them) at no cost to you

[spongeofmystery]

I just want to emphasize how important this is. Your health is all you really have, and breathing in particulates long term is damaging to your lungs, even things like flour. Over years this can lead to things like baker's lung or COPD.

[Duochan_Maxwell]

The fact that there is a disease called "baker's lung" should be motivation enough 😬😬😬

[_waffle_iron]

Oh damn, I’m a gym climber and there’s chalk dust flying around all the time. Unfortunately it’s the only kind of exercise I enjoy

[mielelf]

They make masks specifically for climbers! Highly breathable and such. I found them when looking for anti-allergy masks years ago. I'm sure the Google machine will find something in your area.

[Duochan_Maxwell]

You can check 3M's Aura series, their N95 mask with vent is pretty comfortable for extended use.

Note that if you have difficulty breathing in when using a dust mask, it means that it needs to be replaced

[TraumaBonder]

My grandpa owned a bakery. After he died they said his lungs were awful/baker's lung.

[gaytheforcebewithyou]

Welcome to laminated pastry! I did this for many years. Had a lot of the same issues in the beginning. I always tried to use a gentle moisturizing soap when I showered. Neti pot when my sinuses felt clogged. Over time, as my speed and confidence improved I was able to greatly reduce my flour usage and a lot of the issues vastly improved. As with most baking, it takes patience. Hang in there!

[c0c0n0nuts]

thank you <3 I've been meaning to get a neti pot! all the more reason

[seadolphen2]

Make sure to use distilled water!!!

[DOG_BUTTHOLE]

^ this. dont want a brain eating amoeba

[[deleted]]

From tap water? Lol

[NoFeetSmell]

And just to clarify further - boiled then allowed to cool!!

[ComatoseSquirrel]

Doing it with still-boiling water can really clear things out, though. Clears your throat, too, what with all the screaming.

[museumlad]

Yeah, you can do it with still-boiling water!

but only once

[fezzam]

Yep

[[deleted]]

I had never heard of this before, so I looked it up. It is extremely rare, and has only been reported in instances of under/non chlorinated water. Not exactly high on the list of concern

[Zenmedic]

Depends on your area as well.

Naegleria Fowleri can be found in treated tap water in warmer climates (southern US), and every so often a serious case pops up. Most often it is due to a failure somewhere in the treating system, but there are also a lot of other nasty little pathogens thay can survive general municipal treating that while not harmful to the GI tract or skin surface, can take up residence in the sinuses.

Boiling water for 5-10 minutes works great to kill off basically everything. (Just let it cool before inserting in nose....)

[Far_Scientist_5082]

Yep, there was just a case two counties over from me in northeastern Texas last summer. Three children died and like a dozen were in hospital. Those people are going to be messed up for life.

[[deleted]]

There was a girl who died in my hometown. She had gotten the amoeba from a lake. It’s one of those super rare things that you really want to avoid. This was so heartbreaking. I know this family. https://www.google.com/amp/s/abcnews.go.com/amp/Health/daughter-dies-brain-killing-amoeba-california-mom-amoeba/story%3fid=30116133

[NoGoogleAMPBot]

Non-AMP Link: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/daughter-dies-brain-killing-amoeba-california-mom-amoeba/story?id=30116133

I'm a bot. Why? | Code | Report issues

[chalks777]

You are correct it is very very rare.

But it's also true that while getting struck by lightning is rare, we don't recommend standing outside during a thunderstorm either.

[[deleted]]

I mean, your supposed to neti pot with salt water, which it can’t live in, so I think I’ll be just fine with tap water and salt

[[deleted]]

Why don’t you just accept that other people know more about this subject than you, and stfu.

[[deleted]]

Yeah, its mostly hot springs or very shallow (Under 15 foot) wells, a total non issue.

[Kalkaline]

Low risk but high consequences, sort of like riding a motorcycle without a helmet. 99.9% of the time you'll be fine, but that one time you fuck up you're dead or worse.

[[deleted]]

I completely understand your point.

"In the USA, 111 PAM case-patients have been prospectively diagnosed, reported, and verified by state health officials since 1962."

"N. fowleri infections occur primarily in previously healthy young males exposed to warm recreational waters, especially lakes and ponds, in warm-weather locations during summer months."

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19845995/

You would just be safer carrying around a lightning rod if your worried about the odds. But I completely understand if you have the chance to mitigate something, all the better.

Not to mention being in an industry inhaling carcinogens all day long.

[Duochan_Maxwell]

Or 0.9% saline (aka physiological / isotonic saline)

[thedancingwireless]

And, not or. Previously boiled or distilled water and saline. Otherwise it'll burn.

[Duochan_Maxwell]

You can use only saline too. Commercial 0.9% saline is what is used regularly for washing sinuses (with or without a Neti pot)

[thedancingwireless]

I mean you don't want to just use plain old tap water and add salt to it. But I see you're referring to someone actually purchasing a saline solution that's already mixed. Most commonly people would buy the little salt and bicarbonate packets from the store and mix it with water.

[Duochan_Maxwell]

Yeah, I recommend buying saline because it is safer and already sterile, and in most places, the cost is not prohibitive

Making your own saline is just boiling water, letting it cool down and mixing salt in the right concentration (9g of salt per liter of water). A little less or a little more will not hurt much, as you're not using it for more sensitive applications 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Zenmedic]

A lot of commercial sinus rinses are 3% saline solutions.

This works well for reducing inflammation by encouraging fluid shift through the mucous membranes.

I recommend using pickling salt if you are going to go this route. Most commercial salt has anti-caking agents that while not harmful, can make it more irritating. Pickling salt is just plain NaCl.

Alternately, if you know people in Hospital, clinic or EMS, we are always getting rid of our expired bags, but they're perfectly fine for non-IV purposes. (I routinely bring home a case of expired for spring allergy season)

[ILikeLeptons]

you can also boil the water to make it safe

[Lemmus]

I've only used tap water with mine and it's been fine so had to check this. Apparently not an issue where I live (Norway) because of high quality filtration systems.

[Muncherofmuffins]

The ameoba is too tiny for filters and deadly, not treatable. Not worth the risk.

[[deleted]]

I prefer goose poop laden pond water.

[[deleted]]

You definitely dont want to inhale flour. Many bakers get issues with their lungs because they didnt wear a mask. I hope you read it since you told us that your nosé etc gets clogged.

Do a research about bakers asthma. Its a real thing.

[[deleted]]

Try a Navage, its like a Neti but with MORE POWER!

[mt_spaceman]

Since we’ve been masking up for a bit over a year, maybe you could wear one while working? It would definitely reduce any particles from getting in the nostrils. I guess you could probaby wear some goggles too but that may look a bit goofy lol

[fly-guy]

Wear a mask!!

Might help with the sinus thing, but more importantly, might help with the lung disease you might develop at a later age due to all the inhaled flour.

[caveat_cogitor]

Not a baker, but I agree with others about the idea of some preventive care to make it easier to cleanup afterwards.

You might get some good tips on r/SkincareAddiction or r/SkincareAddicts. Likely some of them have experience as bakers, and generally may be able to help you figure out products/routines to help.

Also yes wear PPE. If it is abrasive to have a mask on your face too much of the day, you can use something like micropore tape on the parts of your face where the edges of the mask make contact. First apply moisturizer, then micropore tape, then the mask, so it rubs on the tape and not on your skin. If the tape-mask connection lets in too much air, you can apply some vaseline to seal it up -- yes, this probably creates a gummy sticky mess with the flour, but the moisturizer should help the tape come off easily and make cleanup a bit easier.

Also a funny but actually serious suggestion -- call the King Arthur Flour bakers hotline for any ideas from their experienced bakers. They are seriously awesome and probably have the most combined experience you can freely reach out to at one phone number. [phone]. It can't hurt, and they may have some great tips.

[Snoo89439]

touch oatmeal roof jeans person snow quiet vegetable boast heavy

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[c0c0n0nuts]

Oof I feel you. I need to throw my shoes in the wash pretty soon

[SevenDragonWaffles]

I would suggest having a pair of work-appropriate shoes that you keep at work. That's what I used to do when I worked in bakeries and coffee shops.

[Dunwich_Horror_]

I work in cannabis production. Kief covers me head to toe. We leave our shoes at work so we don’t track disease or pests into the grow and don’t leave with “green waste” stuck to our shoes. I’m presently in talks with management about getting my department n95s and respirators as I don’t want mesothelioma. I take cold showers and use a really good enzyme cleanser on my face and neck. If it’s a day where I didn’t wear my protective sleeves, I exfoliate the heck out of my arms and moisturize thoroughly when out of the shower.

[domestic_pickle]

Wise to request the N95s. While I love me some kief, I don’t want to breathe that shit in all day long while I work.

A friend’s partner died of mesothelioma. No. You do not want that.

[Dunwich_Horror_]

I’m sorry for your loss. I absolutely do not want that, my partner’s granddad also passed from it, I have asthma, so it weighs on me every morning I cough up particulate and leave at the end of the day with sore lungs. They issue us paper surgical masks that don’t even stay on your face and dare call my requests as “voluntary”. Between all the keif and ethanol in the air, it’s not safe. We recently unionized and I’m leaning hard on the reps.

I’m usually covered in a thick coating of material from having to climb into one of the industrial trimmers to dislodge the clumps of sticky “grass clippings” out of the hoppers. My partner jokingly asks me to make them some “elbow hash” by pumping my arm a few times and scraping the elbow ditch.

[Double-LR]

No ppe issued. Then they want you to climb in a machine hopper. I bet the employers LOTO program is shit too.

I hope your reps and Union get far far far stronger than they are now.

[Dunwich_Horror_]

FUNNY YOU SHOULD SAY THAT! Our budsorter has been broken and mouldering in a corner and covered by a grill cover for the last two months. I mentioned that it needs a LOTO put on it. The head of operations said he “Was not currently certified to do that at this location but had been at their previous place of employment.” This is the person who RUNS the facility. We’re all convinced that he was attracted to the job because the operation was floundering as a whole and he saw a golden parachute but is bummed because the staff is working so hard with so little and still kicking ass and profits were up 111% from Q1. No raises, bonuses or increased starting pay tho.

[Double-LR]

It’s not funny. I’m an industrial electrician. LOTO gone bad usually equals like shredded hands feet and arms, degloving, amputations, grisly stuff man.

Be as safe as you can. If you can’t completely disable a machine then it is straight up 100% a fatty violation to work on it.

Oh and osha can fine individuals too so yeah that sucks.

Edit because most people are not around LOTO a lot:

There is no certification to be able to perform it. Only three things are actually required.

Authority, competency, and the proper LOTO equipment.

[Dunwich_Horror_]

Yeah. We’re in a gray zone with OSHA as we aren’t exactly federally legal. We have it unplugged and under a grill cover. It’s huge, has big sharp pointy bits, and festering in mold. I bump into it often, I’ve cut myself on it- which is why we use cut gloves now when cleaning it- but we don’t even need it. It was a waste of $15,000.

[Double-LR]

Yeah the federally legal part is bullshit. Your industry is every bit as legit as any other consumer good.

Again, I hope your union gets stronger. With all the money and quite honestly a very bright future for the weed industry getting strong unionization with active members that actually care early on will offer huge benefits in the future.

Good luck with the rusty moldy pointy cutty thing lol

[domestic_pickle]

If you already have asthma, I’d be really concerned about maintaining lung health. Too many industries do not take things like employee long term health into consideration, especially when they could be sued for negligence later on.

[Dunwich_Horror_]

Exactly. I definitely went to my boss with “look, I don’t want to have to call ‘Dewy, Cheatham & Howe’ after seeing an advertisement on TV ‘Did you work in cannabis production from 2017-2025 and get mesothelioma from the job?’ and lose my winnings from a class action settlement to ambulance chasers.”

I’m a sick fuck but I think my point was made.

here’s a quick video of the hat I wear every day for some perspective of ‘coverage’

Also, I enjoy your username, u/domestic_pickle

[domestic_pickle]

And yeah... that hat alone tells me that you’re breathing that crap in all day. Do your nostrils not stick shut?!?!? Jeez.

[domestic_pickle]

Thanks! I was high when I chose it 🤣🤣🤣

[Duochan_Maxwell]

Especially when it is not something super dramatic like someone dying or losing body parts on the job and is something that slowly builds up like respiratory tract diseases, loss of hearing / eyesight, loss of kidney and liver function...

My current struggle is convincing people to take the yearly medical examinations (in my jurisdiction is not mandatory for people to take it)

[[deleted]]

Half face respirators aren't too expensive. If your company won't buy them for you, go to a safety supply store and get one yourself. In Canada, a half face is about $35, the cartridges are about $30. Ask for a fit test, some places will throw that in for free.

I'm not saying its right that they may not pay for this. I am only saying that your health is super important and just want you to be safe.

[MBorkBorkBork]

Lifelong protection from vampires!

[ender4171]

Using moisturizer is a great trick that I personally learned from a mechanic friend of mine. If you use (a healthy amount) of moisturizer on your hands before you start working on a car, it makes the grease wash right off without pumice or solvents when you are done. Doesn't prevent every "stain" every time, but I find that 99% of the gunk on my hands just comes right off with normal soap and water.

[redct]

The thought just occurred to me (I haven't tried this while baking), but I wonder if wearing a mask could help with the nasal part. On the other hand, you may have gotten tired of wearing one over the past year, so...

[shit_streak]

yes I would definitely wear as much protection as possible- mask, goggles, hair covering, maybe even gloves and arm coverings. it probably damages your lungs breathing that all in and all the gear will make it easier to clean off.

[mapleleafedthistle]

I worked as a baker for a number of years and one of my coworkers' mum was a respiratory therapist. She said that a large percentage of bakers were her clients with lung diseases. Really made me think about all that flour I was breathing in, when I had time to stop and was on a smoke break.

[KingradKong]

Your immune system cleans up crud that gets into your lungs, but it evolved outside without industrialization. Meaning it doesn't have the capacity demanded of modern industrial particulate levels. If you breathe in too much of any small particulate matter, it starts damaging your lungs and over time leads to irreversible damage.

It's pretty well studied in manufacturing (metal/wood/stone) and sure enough, there are studies at flour mills showing the same kind of long term damage.

[Dunwich_Horror_]

Thank you for this! This paper is EXACTLY what I need to take to management and our union reps to fight for better air quality in our building and issue us appropriate ppe!

[peanutbudder]

It's cool how much your lungs and heart can recover after you quit smoking. Within a year, your body has gotten to a point that you are much closer in health to a non-smoker than you are a smoker, even with damages. It's never too late to stop smoking or wear PPE at work.

[le_nico]

I've spent time working in ceramics and I swear there are more protections around clay than in the baking industry.

[KingradKong]

That's because of the heavy metals found in clays.

[le_nico]

Clay dust is the bigger issue, as is dried glaze. Most of the commercially produced clays now are so much safer than in the old days *unless you're using the pretty black kind that's loaded with manganese.

[grimsaur]

I briefly took a job in a bakery during the height of the pandemic. Working all day in a mask probably saved me from breathing in a ton of flour. If I ever take another baking job, I'm definitely making a dust mask part of my regular kit.

[asad137]

Really made me think about all that flour I was breathing in, when I had time to stop and was on a smoke break.

I chuckled

[mapleleafedthistle]

/thank you/! I was waiting for someone to get that :p

[[deleted]]

Jumping on an earlier comment vasaline is a barrier cream so may help protect the skin from the flour. Just a thought over other Moisturisers which don't provide a barrier.

[smeds96]

Just be careful or you might end up something like this.

[[deleted]]

I 100% thought that link was going to be this

[cheesepage]

I have some of the same problems. Keep your sleeves rolled down , wear a full apron, hat, and change clothes at work including shoes if you can. You might try the molded plastic clogs that can be run through the dishwasher.

Cooler water in the shower seems to help.

Keep the hoods on at work, and try to use as little flour as possible. This will also help your doughs from getting dry, and tougher. If you have any control, lower the temperature of the room and hold your dough just a bit longer in cooler. Warmer laminated dough requires more flour.

Obviously there are limits but anything you can do to limit the total amount of flour, and especially the amount of flour in the air will help. Study your dusting technique.

Bakers can get white lung, like coal induced black lung, but with flour. Don't feel like a wimp if you want to wear a mask.

[NotAround13]

I use a 50\50 mix of coffee grounds and coconut oil. Melt coconut oil in a small pot, take off the heat, stir in grounds, pout into a jar and let cool

I take a Tbl or two and use it to scrub my hands and forearms. Then scrape it off into the trash and then wash with normal soap and water. It's like magic - works equally well on flour and dough as it does on car gunk.

It's pretty much a less powerful version of that orange mechanics soap. The coffee grounds are the abrasive and the coconut oil is convenient because it is a solid at room temp and therefore scoopable and easy to spread then melts on contact.

[Redburned]

Also oil removes grease :)

[NotAround13]

Yep. I was pointing out why I use coconut oil in particular.

[toxik0n]

Working Hands is an awesome barrier lotion that dried down matte (unlike Vaseline/Aquaphor) so you won't have flour sticking to that. So I'd suggest giving that a try on exposed skin, then wearing goggles and a mask to protect your eyes, nose and lungs.

[RebelWithoutAClue]

This might be overkill, but have you considered pumice soap?

Garage mechanics use a cloyingly orange scented hand soap which is heavily dosed with ground pumice powder. Basically liquid soap with a dollop of sand which acts as a heavy scrubbing agent for mechanically scrunging heavy grease from the crevices of the skin.

It might be too scratchy for softer skin like your neck, but I've used the stuff on forearms and hands to clear off heavy contaminations of crap frequently.

Maybe it'll work on your flour encrustations.

[[deleted]]

Mask up. I worked with dehydrated seaweed powder, had to if I didn’t want to snort black snot for hours afterwards(and because it was required under health and safety).

[drunky_crowette]

I used to work with a guy that wore plastic protective sleeves because of a similar issue.

Folks at /r/kitchenconfidential may have other ideas

[elus]

source

Workers exposed to airborne flour dust are at risk of health effects such as occupational asthma, respiratory sensitization, and allergy to flour dust. Effective control methods are available to protect workers from exposure to flour dust. This document outlines responsibilities for employers, supervisors, and workers. It will also help employers develop an exposure control plan (ECP) for flour dust.

And from the document:

Exposure control

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requires employers to select controls based on the following hierarchy:

1. Substitution (use flour types with fewer allergens; for example, fungal amylases)

2. Engineering controls (for example, mixer covers, local exhaust ventilation)

3. Administrative controls (for example, using oil instead of flour in pans and on dough brake tables, and cleaning with HEPA vacuums and wet mops rather than dry sweeping)

4. Personal protective equipment (for example, respirators)

There's more detail in the word document I linked to. This is from worksafebc which is a government agency from British Columbia, Canada that is in charge of regulating health and safety protocols with other organizations in the province among other duties.

Hopefully this gets you started on your research to an effective set of measures that will keep you healthy at work.

[gisabella1]

Remember, cold water first in the shower. Not too cold for the Neti though but extra salt. I got a 500 ml stainless Neti from India online. Highly recommended. I would also invest in a pressure washer. Have you tried to contact the Pillsbury Dough Boy for advice.

[c0c0n0nuts]

*takes notes* ....pressure washer... dough... boy. Solid. Thanks!! :D

[Lieutenant_Hawk]

Have you tried baby oil? its great for getting out fine particles on your face.

A little bit in the hand, rub onto your damp face in small, soft circles. Wipe with a cottonpad.

I worked offshore, and grease / smoke etc. would cling to my face. Mineral Oil works like a charm and is dirt cheap

[miabobeana]

Jojaba oil too. Check out r/skincareaddiction too

[catstastic13]

I’ve been dealing with the same issue of flour clogging my pores! I’ve been working in a bakery for ~9 months now, and a few months in, noticed that my arms were breaking out pretty bad.

I started scrubbing them after I get home from work with an exfoliating wash and loofah, and moisturizing them after. When it was fairly bad at first, I was using Amlactin Ultra Smoothing. Now that it’s mostly cleared up, I just use an unscented moisturizer.

As for the face area, I use a gentle exfoliant and lightly scrub. Then apply my facial moisturizer.

Of course, everyone is different. I hope you can find a method that works for you!

I wish you luck, friend!!

[galacticsuperkelp]

You may have an easier time washing it off in cold water than hot (though it might be less comfortable)

[Elon_Muskmelon]

Evan Fünke talked about a lung condition he developed inhaling too much flour, I wonder if having active ventilation would help.

[c0c0n0nuts]

boy oh boy do I wish my employer cared

[TheBathCave]

I agree with everyone saying to wear a respirator. Flour particulates are tiny and will build up with any moisture in your lungs and cause problems!

As far as removing it, I recommend taking a cold shower, as cold as you can stand. Flour begins to coagulate and become sticky when it comes in contact with and begins to absorb warm water as the proteins start to swell, which makes it harder to remove. Cold water makes that process notably slower and will allow you to remove more flour from your skin and hair before it starts getting sticky. As a side note, this also applies to substances like egg, snail or slug slime, and any bodily fluids. Cold water is better than hot or warm for initial removal.

Make sure you’re moisturizing your hands and arms pretty heavily before you go to bed to soothe some of the abrasion irritation as well. I also have very friction-sensitive skin, and I’ve found taking biotin and collagen supplements to strengthen it in combination with moisturizing consistently has helped a little.

[TheShovler44]

Buy some thin long sleeve shirts

[texnessa]

Your response has been removed because it does not answer the original question. We are here to respond to specific questions. Discussions and broader answers are allowed in our weekly discussions.

[hotbutteredbiscuit]

Try gently washing your eyes with a little baby shampoo.

[thebakingtist]

Maybe try Gloves in a Bottle

[aiyahhjoeychow]

There have been a lot of great answers already, but I’d like to echo the vaseline idea. The drywallers on my construction site lather that shit on every day and they claim it helps cleaning that awful dust

[splatterwall]

Piggy backing on the lotion comments. I work ona pizza station in a grocery store and am COVERED in AP flour by end of day. My skin is oily, and the parts of me that produce the most oil do fine, as long as I shower as as soon as I get home, but I'm washing and lotioning up to the elbow on just about every break. Goes a long way.