Dealing with itchy pink nightmare in my attic

Swim goggles can definitely fog up - I get your skepticism there. I've tried them a few times, and honestly, I end up squinting through a cloudy mess half the time. Proper safety glasses with side shields usually do the trick for me, but you're spot on about long sleeves and gloves. Learned that the hard way when I spent hours installing insulation in a client's attic... spent the next two days feeling like I'd rolled around in poison ivy. Fiberglass itch is no joke, lesson learned.

I've had the same fogging issue with swim goggles - super frustrating when you're already sweating buckets in a stuffy attic. One trick that helped me was rubbing a tiny bit of dish soap inside the lenses, then rinsing lightly. Sounds weird, but it actually reduces fogging quite a bit. Also, totally agree on the fiberglass itch... learned my lesson after spending half a weekend scratching like crazy. Ever tried baby powder on your skin before suiting up? It seems to help keep those tiny fibers from sticking so much.

Dish soap trick works okay, but honestly, I've found it leaves a slight residue that bugs me after a while. Instead, I switched to anti-fog spray meant for ski goggles - bit pricier but way clearer vision overall. As for baby powder... tried it once and ended up with a weird paste-like mess from sweating. Long sleeves and duct-taping cuffs have been my go-to since then. Not glamorous, but keeps the fiberglass itch manageable at least.

"Long sleeves and duct-taping cuffs have been my go-to since then. Not glamorous, but keeps the fiberglass itch manageable at least."

Agree 100% on the duct tape trick - it's saved me more than a few itchy evenings after attic work. Couple extra points I've learned from experience:

- If you're going the long-sleeves route, pick something disposable or at least something you don't care about. Fiberglass fibers stick around even after washing sometimes, and you'll feel that itch popping up weeks later if you reuse clothes without realizing it.
- Definitely skip cotton gloves - fibers go straight through them. Nitrile-coated gloves work best for me; they're breathable enough to avoid sweaty hands but thick enough to keep most fibers out.
- Anti-fog spray is a solid suggestion; hadn't thought about ski goggles spray specifically, but I've used scuba mask anti-fog before (probably similar?). It does help clarity a ton, though you might wanna test it on your lenses first to make sure it doesn't mess with coatings.
- Baby powder...yeah, hard pass from me too. Tried cornstarch once (similar concept), and it was an absolute disaster after sweating set in - felt like I was breading myself for frying or something.

Also worth mentioning: if you're regularly spending time up there and the itch factor is high, consider investing in disposable Tyvek suits. They look silly as hell, but they're cheap enough if you buy a pack online, and they completely remove the hassle of cleaning fibers off your clothes afterward. Just toss 'em when you're done.

Something else that helps: cold showers. Hot water opens pores and seems to drive those fibers deeper in...cold water rinse-off right after working seems to minimize irritation significantly.

Anyway, nothing beats just getting the job done quickly and efficiently so you spend less time rolling around in itchy insulation dust...easier said than done sometimes though.

The duct tape trick is definitely a lifesaver - learned that one the hard way after my first attic insulation adventure. I remember thinking, "How bad could it be?" Famous last words. Spent the next two days feeling like I'd rolled around in poison ivy.

Interesting point about the nitrile gloves. I've always just grabbed whatever cheap gardening gloves were lying around, and yeah, fibers go right through those suckers. Might have to give nitrile a shot next time.

Funny you mention the baby powder/cornstarch thing - I had a buddy swear by it once. He convinced me to try it when we were insulating his garage. Let's just say it ended with both of us looking like powdered donuts and feeling twice as itchy. Never again.

Tyvek suits are a good call too, but man, those things get hot fast. I wore one once while crawling around an attic in July, and I swear I lost five pounds in sweat alone. Still, beats itching for days afterward, I suppose.

One thing I've found helpful is using a shop vac with a HEPA filter attachment afterward to clean up any stray fibers around the attic hatch or ladder area. It doesn't solve everything, but it cuts down on the lingering itch factor when you're going up and down repeatedly.

Cold showers though...I dunno. I've always gone straight for hot water thinking it'd wash everything off better, but now you've got me second-guessing myself. Maybe I'll brave the cold next time and see if it makes a difference.

Honestly, every time I deal with fiberglass insulation, I find myself wondering if spray foam would be worth the extra cost just to avoid this itchy nightmare altogether. Anyone here ever made the switch? Curious if it's really worth it or just trading one headache for another...

I feel your pain on the Tyvek suits - wore one last summer while insulating my attic, and I swear it felt like a sauna up there. Still, I'd take sweating buckets over that fiberglass itch any day.

About the spray foam, I actually bit the bullet and switched to it when we renovated our upstairs bedrooms. Honestly, it's been a game changer. No more itchy fibers floating around, and the rooms feel way more comfortable temperature-wise. The downside is definitely cost - it's not cheap - and you really need someone who knows what they're doing to apply it properly. I've heard some horror stories about DIY spray foam jobs gone wrong (think uneven application and lingering chemical smells).

But if you're planning to stay in your place long-term, I'd say it's worth considering. For me, the peace of mind alone was worth the extra expense. Either way, good luck - sounds like you've already learned most of the insulation lessons the hard way...just like the rest of us!

I've been debating spray foam for a while now, but the cost always makes me hesitate. Did you notice a big difference in your energy bills after switching? I'm all for comfort, but my wallet has its limits, haha.

And yeah, DIY spray foam horror stories are exactly what's kept me from attempting it myself. A buddy of mine tried it once - ended up with uneven blobs everywhere and said his house smelled weird for weeks. Definitely don't want to repeat his mistake.

Honestly, I'm just looking for that sweet spot between not itching myself crazy and not emptying my savings account. Did you get multiple quotes before deciding? Curious how much variation there was between contractors...

We switched to spray foam about two years ago, and yeah, energy bills dropped noticeably - especially in winter. But honestly, the biggest win was finally ditching the itchy fiberglass nightmare. Definitely shop around though, our quotes varied by almost 30%...crazy how much difference there can be.

Spray foam's great for comfort, no doubt, but it's not always the silver bullet people make it out to be. Had a client last year who went all-in on spray foam, and yeah, their bills dropped, but they ended up with moisture issues because the attic wasn't vented properly. Had to redo some drywall and add ventilation afterward - not cheap. Fiberglass is itchy as heck, but at least it's forgiving if your attic isn't perfectly set up. Just something to keep in mind before you jump ship completely...

Went through this exact debate when building our place last year. Ended up sticking with fiberglass because, honestly, spray foam seemed like a headache waiting to happen if the install wasn't perfect. Yeah, fiberglass is itchy and annoying, but it's pretty forgiving if your attic setup isn't spot-on. Plus, moisture issues scare me way more than a little itchiness - drywall repairs aren't cheap. Just my two cents, but I'd rather deal with some temporary discomfort than risk expensive fixes down the road...

Totally get where you're coming from on the fiberglass vs. spray foam thing. I went fiberglass too, and honestly, once you gear up with long sleeves, gloves, and a decent mask, it's not that terrible. Sure, it's itchy as heck for a couple days if you're not careful, but I'd rather deal with that than gamble on spray foam installation issues. Had a buddy who went spray foam and ended up with moisture trapped behind it - total nightmare. Fiberglass might be annoying, but at least it's predictable...

I hear ya on fiberglass being predictable, but honestly, spray foam isn't always the gamble people make it out to be. Had mine done professionally last year and haven't had a single moisture issue yet (knock on wood...). The attic's noticeably cooler in summer too, which is a huge plus. I get the hesitation though - guess it really boils down to finding an installer who knows their stuff.

Good points about spray foam - I've seen it work wonders in some homes, but I've also come across a few horror stories when it's not done right. Curious, did your installer recommend open-cell or closed-cell foam for your attic?

When we had ours done, the installer actually leaned toward open-cell foam for budget reasons - closed-cell was pricier and seemed a bit overkill for our needs. Honestly, I was just thrilled to say goodbye to that itchy nightmare, haha. It's held up pretty well so far, no complaints yet...but yeah, I've heard those horror stories too. Definitely worth double-checking your installer's experience before diving in.

"Honestly, I was just thrilled to say goodbye to that itchy nightmare, haha."

Haha, totally get that relief - fiberglass insulation is the worst. Open-cell foam can definitely be a solid choice, especially if budget's a factor. But I'd also suggest considering your local climate and humidity levels before fully committing. I've seen open-cell foam work wonders in drier climates, but in areas with higher humidity or moisture issues, closed-cell can sometimes be worth the extra cost. It provides a stronger moisture barrier and can help prevent mold or mildew down the line.

Also, you're spot-on about installer experience. I've had clients who went with cheaper installers and ended up with uneven coverage or missed spots - definitely not something you want to deal with later. A good installer makes all the difference, regardless of the foam type you choose. Curious, did your installer mention anything about vapor barriers or ventilation adjustments when switching to foam? Sometimes those details get overlooked...

Good points about humidity - I learned that lesson the hard way. My folks switched to open-cell foam a few years back, and while it definitely stopped the itchiness, we ended up dealing with moisture issues later... ventilation tweaks were needed after the fact. Did your installer bring that up?

"we ended up dealing with moisture issues later... ventilation tweaks were needed after the fact."

Yeah, similar experience here. Had a project where we switched to open-cell foam to get rid of the itchy fiberglass mess, but didn't anticipate the humidity build-up. Ended up needing to retrofit some ridge vents and soffit openings - wasn't cheap either. Curious if anyone else found a better workaround, because ventilation seems to be the hidden catch with spray foam insulation.

Had a similar issue on a recent build - thought we were being smart by ditching fiberglass for spray foam, but ended up chasing humidity problems for months. We eventually added some passive vents and even a small attic fan to help move air around. It worked, but yeah, wasn't exactly budget-friendly.

One thing I've wondered about since then is whether closed-cell foam might've been a better choice in humid climates. I've heard it acts as more of a vapor barrier compared to open-cell, but haven't personally tried it yet. Has anyone here gone that route and noticed less moisture trouble? Seems like ventilation always ends up being the tricky part no matter what insulation you pick...

Went through something similar myself. Closed-cell foam definitely helped us manage humidity better - acts as a solid vapor barrier and doesn't trap moisture nearly as much as open-cell. But you're right, ventilation always ends up being the tricky part no matter what insulation you pick. We still had to add passive vents eventually, but overall it felt like less of an uphill battle compared to previous setups. Sounds like you're headed in the right direction though... hang in there!

"We still had to add passive vents eventually, but overall it felt like less of an uphill battle compared to previous setups."

Interesting... did adding passive vents noticeably bump up your overall costs? I've been debating foam vs. fiberglass myself - curious how the budget shakes out long-term with extra ventilation included.