I was trying to wash a pair of pants that I had worn out hiking in the woods where there is lots of Poison Ivy
Question:When I put Chlorox 2 on them around the bottom where they are really, really dirty, it foamed up like it does when I put the chlorox 2 on something stained with blood. What in the woods that I brushed up against could have caused the hydrogen peroxide in clorox 2 to react that way? Could it be the Poison Ivy? Is it ok to wash my other clothes with the item that was brushed up against the poison Ivy? Can I still get it after I have washed the item? I put it on double rinse? Has anyone ever gotten poison Ivy from clothes that were washed with something that had Poison Ivy on it?
Answers:
Yes, the earlier poster who said washing with hot water and detergent will do the job.
Take the clothes off carefully and try to handle them as little as possible (using only your thumbs and index fingers to get them to the washing machine is NOT overkill.) And make sure you use hot water and don't mix any other clothes in the same wash. I also give clothes that have or probably have come in contact with poison oak or poison ivy a good soak in the hot water and detergent for at least an hour before starting the washer.
And, while your clothes are soaking, take a hot-water shower (but don't burn yourself) and use plenty of soap. Also, be sure to shampoo your hair.
I know, in the overall scheme of terrible things that can happen to a person, poison ivy/oak is not very high on the list. But, oh, the suffering I have endured in my lifetime with that noxious weed!
Good luck - :)
I know for a fact that poison ivy can stay on your clothing for up to 2 years and still be poisonous, even if you wash them. Anything in contact should be thrown out. Allot of outbreaks are actually caused by people taking off there shoes after walking in it.
washing in hot water should be sufficient. i would not wash other clothing with items that had come in contact with poison ivy or poison oak or sumac. i have never heard of the poison remaining in clothes after they have been washed in hot water with detergent.
hope this helps.
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