How DO you get poison ivy oil (urushiol) off your clothes? That’s a question I haven’t had to deal with in a long, long time, since little brushes here and there have never bothered me. I always wear long pants while hiking (ones that cover my socks) and don’t handle my shoes all that much.
But Tuesday was different. Talk about stepping in it. I was scouting the final hike for “50 Hikes in Central Florida,” second edition – a new and different place to explore – when I discovered that the trail on the kiosk map ended and flagging continued. Into the mosquito-filled forest I went, wading through some of the heaviest poison ivy I’ve been in, knowing that it was a danger zone. Curiosity kept me going, since I already had discovered Class II whitewater down another part of the trail … and this in Central Florida! No, I’m not talking about the Hillsborough rapids. This is far more intense, like Little Shoals. But I digress.
As the flagging got harder to follow and the poison ivy thicker, I turned around. And then my shoelace came untied. And then I realized … oops! I have a dangerous mess on my hands.
I finished the hike, another 3 miles or so, walking with an untied shoelace. Found an even better stretch of whitewater, so it was worth it. Fortunately, this was an overnight trip and I had spare clothes and shoes in the car. But how to change and carry my contaminated clothes?
Luckily, I was wearing zip-off pants, so I zipped the bottoms off and used them, inside out, to remove my shoes. Stuck the whole mess in a fabric grocery bag and changed shoes. Headed for home … and a drugstore.
I settled on a few tactics: Dawn liquid for soaking the clothes and shoes, since it’s great at cutting grease and oils. I found something called “Tecnu” on sale at Walgreens ($7.99 – $3 coupon!) that said it would work on clothes, but I wanted to clean my ankles and any other potential affected skin before I might break out. Finally, I got a tube of anti-itch cream, just in case, so I wouldn’t spread anything I missed.
When I got home, I carefully stripped off the socks and pant tops without touching them, washed off with Tecnu and took a shower.
The clothes and shoes are soaking and awaiting their own special trip through the washer.
This is the first time in a good 15 years I’ve gotten into a bad patch of poison ivy, so if this regimen was – or wasn’t – successful, I’ll be sure to share a follow-up!
Follow-up: It worked!
Hiking St Lucie County
You can use Tecnu, It’s okay. Ivy Dry if you can find it is the best, but if you are looking for easy, cheap and instant relief, try Mechanics GOJO Citrus. Gojo like Dawn lifts the oil and as it dries it falls off like sand. It doesn’t require you to do anything after you shower in cold not warm water except to put it on the affected area. Why cold water? it keeps the pores of your skin tight not allowing the oil to go deeper.
Thanks for the suggestions!
Long time ago I was also a victim of this poison ivy plant and I felt the pain. Now, I am very much careful when hiking and reading articles or posts like yours will be a big factor in giving more information about this plant. Thanks a lot. 😉
Hi Sandra,
I too have successfully used TECNU to help remove the poisonous sap/juice from Poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum).
It is important to wash ALL the gear and clothing exposed to the sap as you can reintroduce it to your system. I kept giving it back to myself with my cellphone holster and Leatherman pouch. After I washed them with the TECNU the cycle was broken.
I had good luck using Calagel to help with the itching
This plant is poison ivy on steroids.
I hope you get good results.
I was never very sensitive to poison ivy but after getting a bad dose of Poisonwood irritation I am now much more susceptible to even the poison ivy.
I have a neighbor who is a botanist at Everglades National Park and he says he has gotten so sensitive after Poisonwood exposure that he now gets it through the air.
Oh the joys of the tropics.
Bill D