"I've had decent luck with cheap painter's coveralls from the hardware store. They're lightweight, breathable enough, and keep most of that itchy insulation off your skin."
Painter's coveralls are a solid suggestion—used them myself when I tackled my attic insulation last summer. They definitely kept most of the itchiness at bay, but I found they tore pretty easily around the knees and elbows if you're crawling around tight spaces or snagging on nails. Duct tape patches helped temporarily, but yeah, it does peel off after a while, especially if you're sweating.
One thing that worked surprisingly well for me was layering: thin long-sleeve athletic shirts under the coveralls. Moisture-wicking fabric made a huge difference in comfort, and it didn't feel bulky or restrictive. Also, goggles instead of safety glasses—fiberglass dust in your eyes is no joke.
Curious though, has anyone tried those disposable Tyvek suits? I've seen contractors use them during remodels, but never tested them myself. Wondering if they're worth the extra cost or just marketing hype...
Tyvek suits are kind of a mixed bag, honestly. I borrowed one from a buddy who does mold remediation, thinking it’d be a game-changer for crawling around my crawlspace. It definitely kept the insulation off my skin, but man, it doesn’t breathe at all. I was sweating buckets after about ten minutes. They’re tougher than the painter’s coveralls, though—no rips or tears, even when I was wedged between joists. If you’re working in cooler weather or don’t mind feeling like you’re in a sauna, they might be worth it. Otherwise, layering with athletic gear like you mentioned is probably just as good for most DIY jobs.
I hear you on the Tyvek suits—used one last summer when I was running new wiring in my attic.
That’s exactly it. I was drenched after half an hour, but at least I didn’t come out looking like I’d rolled in fiberglass. For me, the tradeoff was worth it since I’m super sensitive to that pink stuff. If you’re trying to save a few bucks, though, I’ve had decent luck with cheap painter’s coveralls layered over long sleeves and pants. Not as tough, but if you’re careful, they’ll get you through a weekend project without breaking the bank.“It definitely kept the insulation off my skin, but man, it doesn’t breathe at all.”
Title: Dealing With Itchy Pink Nightmare In My Attic
Yeah, those Tyvek suits are a mixed bag. I’ve been through my share of attic jobs—rewiring, ductwork, you name it—and insulation’s always the worst part. I’ll take sweating buckets over itching for days, though. Last time, I tried one of those “breathable” disposable suits thinking it’d be an upgrade. Still ended up soaked, but at least I didn’t have to scrub fiberglass out of my arms for a week.
I get what you’re saying about painter’s coveralls layered up. Did that once when I was patching some old knob-and-tube wiring in a crawlspace. They held up okay, but I caught a nail and tore the leg open halfway through the job. Had to finish with duct tape holding it together—looked ridiculous but got it done.
One thing I started doing is taping my sleeves and pant legs shut with masking tape before suiting up. Not perfect, but it keeps most of the stuff out. Also, if you can swing it, working early in the morning helps a bit with the heat—attics turn into ovens by midday.
Honestly, there’s no perfect solution unless you’re willing to shell out for those fancy ventilated suits (which seem like overkill for most DIY stuff). At the end of the day, I’d rather be hot and uncomfortable for a few hours than itchy for days. Just gotta pick your poison...
Taping sleeves and pant legs is a must—learned that the hard way after getting fiberglass down my socks. I’ve tried those “cool” suits too, but honestly, I always end up drenched no matter what. Ever tried using baby powder on your arms and neck before suiting up? Someone on a job site swore by it for keeping the itch down, but I can’t say it made a huge difference for me. Curious if anyone’s actually found a trick that works better than just toughing it out...
