Poison Ivy, or Something, on Last Summer's Gear...

M

MatthewSB

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While going through gear from last Summer's camping trip, specifically 2 duffel bags and the Goretex outside of my GI sleep system (4 part sleeping bag) I ended up with a rash on my forearm, which looked like the start of Poison Ivy, which I'm super allergic to. I hit it with Tecnu right away, and it looks pretty good this morning. I'm not even sure that it's Poison Ivy, but I'm definately reacting to something on those items.

What should I do to get whatever it is off of my gear?

I'm thinking about filling a 5 gallon bucket with hot water and Tecnu and soaking the duffel bags and sleeping bag cover tonight. What would you do?
 
Rubbing alcohol dissolves the urushiol oil, but it may be too late as this is usually a remedy used immediately after exposure.
 
Yep, sounds like residue.
I get the same rash from the Tecnu stuff! I can't use it.
 
MatthewSB said:
What should I do to get whatever it is off of my gear?
Click to expand...

That sucks. I know how you feel though; I'm a forester and my cruising vest used to constantly give me poison ivy.
Just wash your stuff in hot water and use a little more detergent than you normally would. An extra rinse cycle should help too. Regular detergent works fine. Technu in the washer would be nice but really expensive because you'd have to use a lot.
 
I use Fels-Naptha laundry bar soap on my outdoor gear that might have poison ivy. Put it in the washer, regular laundry detergent, and shave off some of the bar. Works great for me and MUCH cheaper. Save the technu for your body.
 
Sorry..... I wanted to post that Dawn dish detergent in the laundry works wonders for my gear. It only take a little to get rid of the oil residue.
 
The rash never turned into full blown poison ivy, so either it was PI and the Tecnu worked, or it wasn't anything that serious in the first place and was due to dust or something else I'm allergic to.

I washed every bag I ever threw down in a field or forest in the bathtub with dish detergent. From now on I'm doing the same before anything comes back into the house. :grumpy:
 
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