Poison Ivy! How to clean a helmet?

[crazybikinchic]

CVS has individually wrapped bars that my husband used this summer with recurring poison ivy. As far as the clothes he wore and the sheets we had on the bed, after washing it all and him rewearing them, the poison ivy came back. We got rid of it all.

[withm]

The pharmacy had several concoctions to treat PI but none of the packages suggested how to wash the offending objects that gave you the rash in the first place. Once I even got it from my cat (I don't have pets anymore for that reason .. well and also that I'm pretty allergic to them). They did not have Zanfel, but did have Tecnu, and a couple of $30 items.... This stuff ain't cheap.

What I think I need to wash/sanitize
-bike
-helmet, pads & straps
-glasses case (I store this inside my helmet with the sunglass "clip ons" and the mirror that attaches to glasses)
-stiff canvas tote bag LL Bean style that I carry it all in

Do you think washing with Top Job, and maybe a little clorox mixed in will kill the poison ivy oils? Scrub the hard goods with a brush and rubber gloves. I'll have to read the label to see if Top Job can mix with clorox.

The clothes should be easy - gloves, buff, & clothes (shorts, jersey, arm & leg warmers) just toss it all in washer with HOT water. No clorox there though... Maybe clorox for colors I have that. The buff probably prevented me from getting it all over my head and neck. Thank you AV people.

I proclaim Wed to be cleaning night.

Martha

[Steph_in_TX]

DH uses these wipes for cleaning, though he hasn't tried them on clothing. They fit nicely in his saddle bag, too.

http://www.ivyblock.com/ivycleanse.php

We get them at REI.

[susiej]

When I got poison ivy while gardening, I had to clean the trimmers I was using, and found an article on the US Food and Drug Administration's site that recommended wiping down with alcohol:

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/796_ivy.html

You may want do do an alcohol soak and then wash with soap and water.

Good luck!

[withm]

Wow - some great info here. Thanks

[Duck on Wheels]

Is poison oak pretty much the same as poison ivy in terms of washing the resins/oils off? We used to use plain 'ol Ivory Soap. "It floats". It also scrubs off poison oak oils pretty well. And it doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

[TrekJeni]

I usually get poison ivy a couple of times a year. Hiking, hunting, riding ANYTHING out in the woods. i started to carry a small bottle of bleach in the car and a washcloth to wipe down with after my activities. Haven't had it since IF I remeber to bring the bleach!
Bleach (onced opened) looses its potency real quick. Buy the smallest bottle to suit your needs. (I do R&D for a major detergent company )
Jeni