Getting poison ivy off kilts?

[MacFett]

I was under the impression the detergent removed the teflon coating. I will have to do more research on this.

Tried a new path from work today, I think this one was worse over all. Trying yet another path tomorrow.

[Diles46]

Tec-nu is a great prduct...IF, you put it on before you make contact with the oils form the ivy. Oils have been known to stay on gardening gloves for entire months and still be potent enough to cause a rash when worn again. Just throw them in the wash and prepare to steam and pleat for the weekend.
The only way to get the oils off/out is warm water and soap. Good luck!

[piperdbh]

Go to your local health food store and buy a bar or two of soap with jewelweed extract in them. Jewelweed is a natural repelant to the oils in poison oak/ivy, and will remove them from skin. I'm frightfully allergic to those plants, and the jewelweed soap is the best thing I've found to remove their oils. I've never tried it on fabric, but I'd advise you to wash your woolens in cold water to avoid felting.

[Ozark Ridge Rider]

Don't know about the Jewelweed soap, but the sap of jewelweek (Impatiens capensis) works wonders on the rash. I don't get it, but the fair lass does, and severely. In years past, we'd harvest and freeze a supply of jewelweed so she'd have it in the winter.

It may be the soap is what you need.

Regards,
Dan

[fluter]

I was under the impression the detergent removed the teflon coating. I will have to do more research on this.

Tried a new path from work today, I think this one was worse over all. Trying yet another path tomorrow.

With the Marton Mills PV fabric (the good stuff) we're cautioned that fabric softener will gradually affect the coating. No one's ever mentioned detergent that I recall. I use regular detergent, wool-wash ones, and Ivory Snow.

I believe that the TKN's are a different fabric, maybe PV and acetate blend? I say that because they look like the standard "designed in Scotland" ones seen all over, and the boiler-plate text about "16 ounce PV." Drop them a line and ask about care! They are reputed to be good with customer service.

Their "casual kilt" page says:

Although they can be dry cleaned, these kilts can also be cleaned in the washing machine on the gentle cycle (cold water wash, hang dry, use a cool iron to maintain the pleats).

I think you'd be safe on gentle cycle with your choice of soap.

[MacFett]

All kilts have been through the washer, the last one is hanging to dry as I type. I used a mild detergent as well as a bar of poison soap made by Burt's Bees I picked up from the Common Market. It's main ingredient is jewelweed.

So far so good, I don't seem to have any new patches and I found an alternative path to walk.

Thanks for all the help lads, what is left of my legs thank you.

[Whidbey78]

Glad it worked for you. I've been there. As a "Plan B" to keep in mind, just in case you find yourself in this situation again, soak the kilt in lukewarm water with a bit of dawn or similar dish soap. It will break the oil down enough for it to be washed away. I highly recommend the original dawn over all the "New and Improved" versions. Let it soak for a couple hours and then run it through the wash with about 1/2 the usual amount of detergent--a lot of soap will move with the kilt from soak to wash and it will be sudzy! And run it through at least 2 additional rinses. It's worked for me on several occasions and will also remove the PI oils from you in a pinch...but it won't calm the itch.

[Lallans]

The universal PI preventer here in Canada is Sunlight Laundry Soap, aka 'yellow laundry soap'. It takes away all oils and I have never seen or heard that it damages any known fabric. Not sure if this product is available in the USA, but I mention it for the benefit of fellow Canadians who can't get the other products previously listed. When you think you've been exposed to poison ivy or its cousins, it's the best known product to use on yourself, or your dog or kilt etc. Of course ordinary soap probably works just as well, but the yellow stuff is reassuringly powerful.

[morrison]

woof Roundup in a refillable squirt container for the worst growth areas of Poison Ivy and on the prominences that grow onto the path you walk. It'll stop the growth in the places you walk and will not harm anything else. It will affect ONLY the roots and growth of the specific plant sprayed. No one else needs be concerned with that preventive measure that protects you. (& others) There is no environmental impact or damage. Animals won't eat the dead plants and the active ingredient will be inert by the end of the decay cycle. arf