POISON IVY - Ask Extension
How do you remove poison ivy oil from clothing?
Knowledgebase
POISON IVY #930127
Asked April 30, 2026, 9:40 AM EDT
How do you remove poison ivy oil from clothing?
Putnam County Ohio
Expert Response
I hope you have not obtained an itchy rash, and if so this info helps avoid a problem in the future.
Urushiol is the oil that causes an allergic rash on most people's skin. Do not touch clothing that has urushiol on it with your bare hands or skin, but remove your gloves with a clean cloth. Then, using a pair of disposable plastic gloves remove there rest of your clothing and put it all in a large disposable plastic bag so you can dump it all into the washer and then discard the bag and your rubber gloves. Wash in the hottest water temperature that is safe for the fabric, using enough water so the clothing can agitate freely. You can wash other items with the affected clothing as the urushiol becomes suspended in the water and won't transfer to other clothing.
http://www.cleaninginstitute.org>clean-home>
Urushiol is the oil that causes an allergic rash on most people's skin. Do not touch clothing that has urushiol on it with your bare hands or skin, but remove your gloves with a clean cloth. Then, using a pair of disposable plastic gloves remove there rest of your clothing and put it all in a large disposable plastic bag so you can dump it all into the washer and then discard the bag and your rubber gloves. Wash in the hottest water temperature that is safe for the fabric, using enough water so the clothing can agitate freely. You can wash other items with the affected clothing as the urushiol becomes suspended in the water and won't transfer to other clothing.
http://www.cleaninginstitute.org>clean-home>
