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I had a sleeping bag that got contaminated with poison ivy in the summer when I got it. Used in winter (didn't get washed) and got it again. Just washed it in regular laundry soap, in washing machine and worked fine. Probably best in warm or even hot may be better to get the oils to dissolve from the poison oak, maybe a little extra soap to get it extra sudsy. It shouldn't contaminate your washing machine if that's what you're asking, I didn't have an issue.
I believe your experiences, which is why vast majority if not all advice I read online says it's OK to do so. I'm just trying to reason this: sometimes I see soap residue after a wash. Why couldn't that happen to poison oak oil?
I believe your experiences, which is why vast majority if not all advice I read online says it's OK to do so. I'm just trying to reason this: sometimes I see soap residue after a wash. Why couldn't that happen to poison oak oil?
Wash them all alone with nothing else in the washer. AFTER they are done and removed, run the washer empty through a COLD cycle to rinse it.
I believe your experiences, which is why vast majority if not all advice I read online says it's OK to do so. I'm just trying to reason this: sometimes I see soap residue after a wash. Why couldn't that happen to poison oak oil?
If you are really concerned, wash them in the nearest laundromat or take them to a dry cleaners.
If you are really concerned, wash them in the nearest laundromat or take them to a dry cleaners.
According to the one YouTube video, that encourages us all to scrub with a washcloth after being exposed to poison ivy because of how hard it is to remove the oil, I would think that maybe a little Dawn or dishwashing soap in the washing machine would not hurt. Just as long as you don't put in too much. Washing on hot water would also help.
The danger of telling anybody online that this is OK is that there are people that are hypersensitive and for those this could be a problem.
If the clothing/fabric comes out looking like someone marked it with a black sharpie the irritant is still there and nothing can be done except remove the parts that are black or simply toss all of it..
Native Americans used the oil for a jet black ink.
The oil is very tenacious and I have had an outbreak from seasonal clothes the next season when stained black.
For general exposure a double wash with detergent has worked just fine...
I'm very susceptible and have had every inch of exposed skin affected simply by doing tractor work and never getting off the tractor...
I have been doing it for 30+ years with no problem. I think the poison control center would get a good chuckle out of that phone call.
They do not ridicule people. They treat their work seriously and have saved many people and animals from illness and death.
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