I need to kill everything in a area of my yard without sterlizing the soil?

Question:What household item can i use to kill out everything that is growing on the southside of my yard. I do not want to sterilize the soil, just kill all the weeds, poison ivy/oak, english ivy that is growing. I want to start all over and put in a shade garden, but this area has been growing wild for about 3 years now. After everything is gone i will be putting a new layer of soil and mushroom compost in a layer of about 5 inches thick.

Answers:
Your problem presents two questions in one. The first is to answer your "household item". Does not exist. The second that should come to your mind is the very nature of the plants you are trying to kill. All are in deep shaded areas and hard to eliminate due to slow but steady growing patterns.
You worry about soil problems, however, you also state that you plan to incorporate 5 plus inches of new soil after the death of the plantings. It is foolish to worry about soil sterilization if you apply a foliage killing agent. You will need a total brush killer from a local Landscape Supplier (not a box store) to kill both the vegetation and the root system of the plants. This is not a weed killer, rather, a total kill chemical. You will need to apply the compound at least twice to ensure root death. Apply, per manuf dirc, but allow for three weeks between applications.
Use the time before and after to develop a clear plan as to what you want to plant. Two weeks after the second application you can begin to incorporate the new soils. Go light on the Mushroom Compost (max 25%). Use a true prescreened topsoil, the compost, and add some granular Gypsum to the mix. Rototill the area with the elements for best results.
I do not know the zone you are in for growing plants. There are a wide variety of cheap, yet effective, plants that make a great and colorful year-round garden in the shade.
Plantings such as Hosta, Purple Palace, Heather, etc. might be right in the right zone.
Give a call back, if you wish, at gjgjobs@yahoo.com. I know I can help you.