decontaminating gear of poison ivy

[Mike-98]

I just returned from a backpacking trip with our boy scout troop.  My son got poison ivy in a few places, as well as I have.  My question is associated with how do I best decontaminate all our gear (tents, sleeping bags, jet boil parts, backpacks) essentially everything, of the oil?  I am going out again in 2 weeks, and I know I must have it on my equipment, but some of these items are not easily decontaminated, such as a down sleeping bag, and backpack.  I have used teh commercially available Ivy block items, but I'm at a loss on how to do the big stuff like the down bag, and pack.  I welcome all advice on this, as I don't want to have another flare up after the next trip.

Sincerely
Mike

[Mike-98]

I will give it a try with the pack.  I don't have an REI close, perhaps I can find the nikwax somewhere else?  Do you think the thermorest pad could be washed in the same way in the tub?

Mike

--- In BackpackingLight@..., ed_rodriguez52@... wrote:
>
> Hi Mike, I use nikwax for my down bag (got this at REI). Note take your bag to laundry matt and use the biggest washer they have. When it time to dry it I put a shoe in the dryer. Run the dryer on the lowest heat. It will take a while before it dry. With your backpack I would think laudrey sope will do. Full your bath tub (I think more on the hot side)with water and hand wash your pack. Good luck
>

[ed_rodriguez52]

I would think it would work also Mike, a good wash should clean out most of your gear
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message-----
From: "tad800" <m.vollmer@...>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:56:12
To: <BackpackingLight@...>
Subject: [BackpackingLight] Re: decontaminating gear of poison ivy

I will give it a try with the pack.  I don't have an REI close, perhaps I can find the nikwax somewhere else?  Do you think the thermorest pad could be washed in the same way in the tub?

Mike

--- In BackpackingLight@..., ed_rodriguez52@... wrote:
>
> Hi Mike, I use nikwax for my down bag (got this at REI). Note take your bag to laundry matt and use the biggest washer they have. When it time to dry it I put a shoe in the dryer. Run the dryer on the lowest heat. It will take a while before it dry. With your backpack I would think laudrey sope will do. Full your bath tub (I think more on the hot side)with water and hand wash your pack. Good luck
>

[James D. Marco-2]

Nikwax is available online at most places like REI or EMS.
Go easy on the tent/tarp. You may want to get some silicone
to re-coat it afterwards...usually the spray on stuff is OK, but can
be long time dissipating the smell. The bag others have covered.
Again, many strong detergents, like ivory, will deplete any DWR
coating. Even Nikwax will to some degree. You may need to
re-coat it, though many DWR's are usually good for three or four
washes. Some are built in to the fabric...difficult to wash out, but
not impossible. Some are simple coatings, like a spray-on, and
wash out easily. Depends....
        I would suggest two lite washes with half the detergent
recommended. I think this will wash more surface oils out than
a single full strength washing.
        My thoughts only . . .
                jdm
At 10:23 PM 10/27/2009, you wrote:
>I just returned from a backpacking trip with our boy scout troop.  My son got poison ivy in a few places, as well as I have.

[Lawrence Brigham]

Become a REI member and receive year end dividends.

http://www.rei.com/help/membership_join.html?cm_mmc=ps_google_reibrand-_-REI
_Brand-_-REI-_-membership&gclid=CILj8N-04p0CFZQM2god0CWB5w
Or
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Larry B
Larry5925()embarqmail.com



On 10/29/09 6:17 AM, "James D. Marco" <jdm27@...> wrote:

> Nikwax is available online at most places like REI or EMS.
> Go easy on the tent/tarp. You may want to get some silicone
> to re-coat it afterwards...usually the spray on stuff is OK, but can
> be long time dissipating the smell.
>  My thoughts only . . .
>  jdm
> At 10:23 PM 10/27/2009, you wrote:
>> >I just returned from a backpacking trip with our boy scout troop.  My son
>> got poison ivy in a few places, as well as I have.
>
>  
>    
>
>

[Frank Looper-2]

Woolite or Revivex are the two I use. Both seem to work equally well.

When the DWR starts wearing off. Revivex has a spray for that as well.

On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 6:17 AM, James D. Marco <jdm27@...> wrote:

> Nikwax is available online at most places like REI or EMS.
> Go easy on the tent/tarp. You may want to get some silicone
> to re-coat it afterwards...usually the spray on stuff is OK, but can
> be long time dissipating the smell. The bag others have covered.
> Again, many strong detergents, like ivory, will deplete any DWR
> coating. Even Nikwax will to some degree. You may need to
> re-coat it, though many DWR's are usually good for three or four
> washes. Some are built in to the fabric...difficult to wash out, but
> not impossible. Some are simple coatings, like a spray-on, and
> wash out easily. Depends....
>        I would suggest two lite washes with half the detergent
> recommended. I think this will wash more surface oils out than
> a single full strength washing.
>        My thoughts only . . .
>                jdm
> At 10:23 PM 10/27/2009, you wrote:
>>I just returned from a backpacking trip with our boy scout troop.  My son got poison ivy in a few places, as well as I have.
>
>
>
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>
>
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>
>
>
>

[Edwin Morse]

ike,
I have a few thoughts in addition to what others have suggested. I am very sensitive to the stuff so I've had many years of experience.

First, do you know what poison ivy looks like? Can you recognize the plant in all stages? I don't understand how you could get it on all your gear... Do you really know all your gear is contaminated?

Second, I don't use anything other than shoes and long pants for protection. If I just walk through it I make sure to  I carry a can of hand cleaner in my Jeep. If I get my hands in the stuff I use the hand cleaner to thoroughly get clean. It is necessary to use it within avery few hours of exposure. If I were to backpack where I thought exposure likely I would carry a small tube with me. About any kind of mechanics hand cleaner will work. I prefer the Goop brand. I haven't had the rash since I started this practice.

Ed Morse


--- In BackpackingLight@..., "tad800" <m.vollmer@...> wrote:
>
> I just returned from a backpacking trip with our boy scout troop.  My son got poison ivy in a few places, as well as I have.  My question is associated with how do I best decontaminate all our gear (tents, sleeping bags, jet boil parts, backpacks) essentially everything, of the oil?  I am going out again in 2 weeks, and I know I must have it on my equipment, but some of these items are not easily decontaminated, such as a down sleeping bag, and backpack.  I have used teh commercially available Ivy block items, but I'm at a loss on how to do the big stuff like the down bag, and pack.  I welcome all advice on this, as I don't want to have another flare up after the next trip.
>
> Sincerely
> Mike
>

[Mike-98]

I spent the evening last night in the laundramat.  ~$20 later the tents and bags are clean.  Actually, my son got it on his gear, and since he is highly allergic to it, I didn't want to take any chances and thought it best to decontaminate everything.  When you are traveling in a group of 60-100 boy scouts, there is some inevitable sharing of equipment, shared sleeping arrangements, etc.  We teach them all what to look for with ivy, oak and sumak, but at some point in time they will likely stop to retie their shoes, not pay attention and lay their pack down on a leaf of it to go to the bathroom, or something to that effect.  I repeatedly tell them, just because you don't get it, don't assume the guy you are sharing a tent with tonight doesn't get it.  I suspect my son got exposed to it in a second hand manner such as this.  Today I plan to wash the packs in the bathtub, and will do the thermorests as well.  I got the nikwax tech wash and down wash at my local outfitter.  I put some tennis balls in with the down bag, but there is still some bunching of down.  Any suggestions on how to plump it back up again?  Nikwax also makes a substance you can reapply to a tent I believe, to restore water repellency if you lose it.  This is the first time any of these pieces have been thoroughly washed in this manner, so hopefully I have not damaged anything.  I used the delicate cycle and was as carefull as possible.  This stuff is too expensive to damage through carelessness.  On a related note, I ordered some oral ivy.  I expect it to arrive within a few days.  I'm a little nervous about using it, and will likely try it on myself before I let my son try it.  We have spent 2 days in allergists offices and dermatologists offices this week, only to have them tell us there is no silver bullet for ivy.  We knew that.  They put him on an oral dose of prednisone and a topical ointment of 0.1% and it is clearing up, slowly.

Mike

--- In BackpackingLight@..., "Ed" <ed.morse@...> wrote:

>
>
> ike,
> I have a few thoughts in addition to what others have suggested. I am very sensitive to the stuff so I've had many years of experience.
>
> First, do you know what poison ivy looks like? Can you recognize the plant in all stages? I don't understand how you could get it on all your gear... Do you really know all your gear is contaminated?
>
> Second, I don't use anything other than shoes and long pants for protection. If I just walk through it I make sure to  I carry a can of hand cleaner in my Jeep. If I get my hands in the stuff I use the hand cleaner to thoroughly get clean. It is necessary to use it within avery few hours of exposure. If I were to backpack where I thought exposure likely I would carry a small tube with me. About any kind of mechanics hand cleaner will work. I prefer the Goop brand. I haven't had the rash since I started this practice.
>
> Ed Morse
>
>
> --- In BackpackingLight@..., "tad800" <m.vollmer@> wrote:
> >
> > I just returned from a backpacking trip with our boy scout troop.  My son got poison ivy in a few places, as well as I have.  My question is associated with how do I best decontaminate all our gear (tents, sleeping bags, jet boil parts, backpacks) essentially everything, of the oil?  I am going out again in 2 weeks, and I know I must have it on my equipment, but some of these items are not easily decontaminated, such as a down sleeping bag, and backpack.  I have used teh commercially available Ivy block items, but I'm at a loss on how to do the big stuff like the down bag, and pack.  I welcome all advice on this, as I don't want to have another flare up after the next trip.
> >
> > Sincerely
> > Mike
> >
>

[ed_rodriguez52]

Hi Mike, make sure that the down is dry where it is bunching up. I had the same problem when I wash my bags, what I done is use my fingers to loosen the down then stake the bag. What happen I didn't let my bag completely dry. Have fun
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message-----
From: "tad800" <m.vollmer@...>
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:14:04
To: <BackpackingLight@...>
Subject: [BackpackingLight] Re: decontaminating gear of poison ivy

I spent the evening last night in the laundramat.  ~$20 later the tents and bags are clean.  Actually, my son got it on his gear, and since he is highly allergic to it, I didn't want to take any chances and thought it best to decontaminate everything.  When you are traveling in a group of 60-100 boy scouts, there is some inevitable sharing of equipment, shared sleeping arrangements, etc.  We teach them all what to look for with ivy, oak and sumak, but at some point in time they will likely stop to retie their shoes, not pay attention and lay their pack down on a leaf of it to go to the bathroom, or something to that effect.  I repeatedly tell them, just because you don't get it, don't assume the guy you are sharing a tent with tonight doesn't get it.  I suspect my son got exposed to it in a second hand manner such as this.  Today I plan to wash the packs in the bathtub, and will do the thermorests as well.  I got the nikwax tech wash and down wash at my local outfitter.  I put some tennis balls in with the down bag, but there is still some bunching of down.  Any suggestions on how to plump it back up again?  Nikwax also makes a substance you can reapply to a tent I believe, to restore water repellency if you lose it.  This is the first time any of these pieces have been thoroughly washed in this manner, so hopefully I have not damaged anything.  I used the delicate cycle and was as carefull as possible.  This stuff is too expensive to damage through carelessness.  On a related note, I ordered some oral ivy.  I expect it to arrive within a few days.  I'm a little nervous about using it, and will likely try it on myself before I let my son try it.  We have spent 2 days in allergists offices and dermatologists offices this week, only to have them tell us there is no silver bullet for ivy.  We knew that.  They put him on an oral dose of prednisone and a topical ointment of 0.1% and it is clearing up, slowly.

Mike

--- In BackpackingLight@..., "Ed" <ed.morse@...> wrote:

>
>
> ike,
> I have a few thoughts in addition to what others have suggested. I am very sensitive to the stuff so I've had many years of experience.
>
> First, do you know what poison ivy looks like? Can you recognize the plant in all stages? I don't understand how you could get it on all your gear... Do you really know all your gear is contaminated?
>
> Second, I don't use anything other than shoes and long pants for protection. If I just walk through it I make sure to  I carry a can of hand cleaner in my Jeep. If I get my hands in the stuff I use the hand cleaner to thoroughly get clean. It is necessary to use it within avery few hours of exposure. If I were to backpack where I thought exposure likely I would carry a small tube with me. About any kind of mechanics hand cleaner will work. I prefer the Goop brand. I haven't had the rash since I started this practice.
>
> Ed Morse
>
>
> --- In BackpackingLight@..., "tad800" <m.vollmer@> wrote:
> >
> > I just returned from a backpacking trip with our boy scout troop.  My son got poison ivy in a few places, as well as I have.  My question is associated with how do I best decontaminate all our gear (tents, sleeping bags, jet boil parts, backpacks) essentially everything, of the oil?  I am going out again in 2 weeks, and I know I must have it on my equipment, but some of these items are not easily decontaminated, such as a down sleeping bag, and backpack.  I have used teh commercially available Ivy block items, but I'm at a loss on how to do the big stuff like the down bag, and pack.  I welcome all advice on this, as I don't want to have another flare up after the next trip.
> >
> > Sincerely
> > Mike
> >
>

[Elizabeth Young]

tad800 wrote:
>  On a related note, I ordered some oral ivy. I expect it to arrive
>  within a few days. I'm a little nervous about using it, and will
>  likely try it on myself before I let my son try it. We have spent 2
>  days in allergists offices and dermatologists offices this week, only
>  to have them tell us there is no silver bullet for ivy. We knew that.
>  They put him on an oral dose of prednisone and a topical ointment of
>  0.1% and it is clearing up, slowly.

Next time you're in the doc's consider asking about combined
antihistamines - my doctor had me use benadryl, tagament (which has
antihistamine effect), and zyrtec since all three do their antihistamine
magic on different histamine receptors. At least that's the way she
explained it to me. Made my poison oak attack more tolerable and did not
need prednisone (which makes me nuts nuts nuts and messes with my blood
pressure).
I would be really really really careful with "oral ivy" since it seems
to be a desensitization method. The allergy shots (for seasonal
hayfever) I got as a child were also a desensitization method (you get
small doses of what you are allergic to in hopes it will make you less
sensitive) and randomly caused me severe histamine reactions (swelling
face, wheezing, severe itching and so on - like, hello - I nearly died)
that were many times worse than the hayfever itself. It got so that I'd
go get my shots and then sit in the Dr's office waiting to have an
attack. I quit taking them after the third close call.

liz young

[James D. Marco-2]

Mike,
        As Ed was saying, the bag was likely not quite dry.
I would suggest dropping it in your dryer with a few tennis balls.
Low heat is best for the fabric. Down itself can tolerate anything up
to "steam" heat....I used to revive my older fishing flies by holding
them (with a hemostat) in steam from boiling water. The heat will
not bother the down. The nylon, pertex, or whatever is a different
story, though. Drying it doesn't take a commercial dryer, your home
dryer (anything over 4 cuft) will do fine.  However, every 10 minutes
it helps to reverse the footbox and hood.  You can actually do this
a lot with no ill effects. I think WM recommends every trip.
Hmmm....
http://www.westernmountaineering.com/index.cfm?section=Product%20Tips%20and%20Care
I think they go a bit overboard, but they are the experts....
        No. You are not damaging anything. Any bag after a long
period of "fluffing" as Ed recommends, or, running for a couple
hours in a dryer will generally fluff better...more loft, more insulation,
hence more warmth. As good as new, minimally.  (Down is often
compressed for shipping.)
        Of course, if it has too many body oils and other stuff on it, this
could also be the problem with matting. But after a washing, I don't
think this is your problem. I actually do my bags here at home (as
posted earlier this year,) with half the recommended Nikwax
detergent, but on full load.  There was a longish thread here on
washing earlier in the year. Water does the washing, the detergent
only combines with the oils, allowing them to mix with water, and be
carried away. 2-3 rinses are usually needed. Lots of water means a
cleaner bag with no scents...well, just water, which animals *can*
smell, and the things the bags were made from.  
        I avoid washing mine more than once or twice per year. A
simple washing in warm water (not hot) does not hurt, but bags
can have a DWR coating. Again, some bonded in the fabric, some
is simply added on. Anyway, I have retreated it with spray-on
but dislike the idea of using aerosols. (Sometimes I am stuck, soo,
I do what I have too.)  Soo, I have a can that I use and have used, for
about 5-6 years. I have been using Colemans Camp-Dry, but will
likely switch to Revivex in the future...when I run out.
http://www.mcnett.com/ReviveX-Air-Dry-Water-Repellent-P177.aspx
        A !light! coating is what I use.... 2-3 seconds on the outside, only.
Zip the bag up first. Cinch the hood around some rolled newspaper
next. Lay it on the ground and smoothly spray the top, then turn it over
 and spray the bottom. 1 coat. Then hang it to dry for a day, preferably
outside.  Waterproof? No. But water resistant is what I am after. It will
stay dryer with than without this. Dryer means better loft. You want to
restore an existing coating, not create a new coating....  
        If you were still washing, you could also spray Revivex on just
before drying:
        http://www.mcnett.com/ReviveX-Soft-Shell-Water-Repellent-P172.aspx
This requires heat to set it, though. Again, watch out for heat and shell
material. They say medium heat....I would not attempt it, myself.
Commercial medium heat is more like my home "high" setting. Good for
Revivex, bad for nylon (won't hurt down.) This is likely better, iff you can get
the heat adjusted properly...hot enough to set the Revivex, cool enough for
the nylon to survive. Overall, I would suggest avoiding the risk.  
        Either will work on a tent, too. Again, if it is nylon or any UL synthetic,
use caution with the heat setting.
        Another technique is to paint on clear silicone sealant on a tent.
Dilute it with mineral spirits, about 15-20parts mineral spirits to 1 part
GE Clear Pure Silicone calk. (Both gotten from a hardware store.) Mix
for about 3 minutes. You want to restore a potential leaking tent, not
waterproof it. Do the bottom and wait about 15 minutes. Set up the tent,
and do the inside and outside.  Let it dry overnight for a day or two. You
might notice a slight change of color.  Quite the messy job, generally.
You will only add an ounce or so to the whole tent.    
BTW: a 50/50 mix will do a good job of removing any slipperiness
from a tent floor, per this list!
        Anyway, Good job! I agree with Ed, it sounds like the bag
needs more drying. Down takes a LOT of drying....more than what
you would expect. It should all fluff...like new.  
        My thoughts only . . .
                jdm    
At 09:14 AM 10/31/2009, you wrote:
>I spent the evening last night in the laundramat.  ~$20 later the tents and bags are clean.  Actually, my son got it on his gear, and since he is highly allergic to it, I didn't want to take any chances and thought it best to decontaminate everything.  When you are traveling in a group of 60-100 boy scouts, there is some inevitable sharing of equipment, shared sleeping arrangements, etc.  We teach them all what to look for with ivy, oak and sumak, but at some point in time they will likely stop to retie their shoes, not pay attention and lay their pack down on a leaf of it to go to the bathroom, or something to that effect.  I repeatedly tell them, just because you don't get it, don't assume the guy you are sharing a tent with tonight doesn't get it.  I suspect my son got exposed to it in a second hand manner such as this.  Today I plan to wash the packs in the bathtub, and will do the thermorests as well.  I got the nikwax tech wash and down wash at my local outfitter.  I !
 p!

> ut some tennis balls in with the down bag, but there is still some bunching of down.  Any suggestions on how to plump it back up again?  Nikwax also makes a substance you can reapply to a tent I believe, to restore water repellency if you lose it.  This is the first time any of these pieces have been thoroughly washed in this manner, so hopefully I have not damaged anything.  I used the delicate cycle and was as carefull as possible.  This stuff is too expensive to damage through carelessness.  On a related note, I ordered some oral ivy.  I expect it to arrive within a few days.  I'm a little nervous about using it, and will likely try it on myself before I let my son try it.  We have spent 2 days in allergists offices and dermatologists offices this week, only to have them tell us there is no silver bullet for ivy.  We knew that.  They put him on an oral dose of prednisone and a topical ointment of 0.1% and it is clearing up, slowly.
>
>Mike
>
>--- In BackpackingLight@..., "Ed" <ed.morse@...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> ike,
>> I have a few thoughts in addition to what others have suggested. I am very sensitive to the stuff so I've had many years of experience.
>>
>> First, do you know what poison ivy looks like? Can you recognize the plant in all stages? I don't understand how you could get it on all your gear... Do you really know all your gear is contaminated?
>>
>> Second, I don't use anything other than shoes and long pants for protection. If I just walk through it I make sure to  I carry a can of hand cleaner in my Jeep. If I get my hands in the stuff I use the hand cleaner to thoroughly get clean. It is necessary to use it within avery few hours of exposure. If I were to backpack where I thought exposure likely I would carry a small tube with me. About any kind of mechanics hand cleaner will work. I prefer the Goop brand. I haven't had the rash since I started this practice.
>>
>> Ed Morse
>>
>>
>> --- In BackpackingLight@..., "tad800" <m.vollmer@> wrote:
>> >
>> > I just returned from a backpacking trip with our boy scout troop.  My son got poison ivy in a few places, as well as I have.  My question is associated with how do I best decontaminate all our gear (tents, sleeping bags, jet boil parts, backpacks) essentially everything, of the oil?  I am going out again in 2 weeks, and I know I must have it on my equipment, but some of these items are not easily decontaminated, such as a down sleeping bag, and backpack.  I have used teh commercially available Ivy block items, but I'm at a loss on how to do the big stuff like the down bag, and pack.  I welcome all advice on this, as I don't want to have another flare up after the next trip.
>> >
>> > Sincerely
>> > Mike
>> >
>>
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>
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James Marco
Computer Operations Manager, Desktop Support
Biomedical Engineering and
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Cornell University
B78A Olin Hall,
Ithaca,  NY  14853
Office: 255-7312

[William Comer]

Mike a logging supply company named Bailey's (sp?) has a ton of ivy
decontaminants available. Mirazime might work I think McNetts makes it. The
shower advise with a hosed shower head seems the best method for the pack
and although a little tough I have washed several sleeping bags in the bath
tub and it works fairly well. With the addition of the shower head to help
rinse things out right I think you would be in good shape.

On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 9:23 PM, tad800 <m.vollmer@...> wrote:

>
>
> I just returned from a backpacking trip with our boy scout troop. My son
> got poison ivy in a few places, as well as I have. My question is associated
> with how do I best decontaminate all our gear (tents, sleeping bags, jet
> boil parts, backpacks) essentially everything, of the oil? I am going out
> again in 2 weeks, and I know I must have it on my equipment, but some of
> these items are not easily decontaminated, such as a down sleeping bag, and
> backpack. I have used teh commercially available Ivy block items, but I'm at
> a loss on how to do the big stuff like the down bag, and pack. I welcome all
> advice on this, as I don't want to have another flare up after the next
> trip.
>
> Sincerely
> Mike
>
>  
>