Getting poison ivy off kilts? - X Marks the Scot

MacFett · #1 05-11-2010, 01:39 PM

I walk from work every afternoon and after my legs became covered in rashes decided to look at the underbrush I'm walking through. It turns out it is poison ivy.

I have 5 different kilts that I have worn through this, 2 are PV from TKN, 1 is a PV Sportkilt and 2 are Amerikilts. The Amerikilts I am tossing in the wash tonight. The PVs from TKN are the two I'm most worried about (my Heritage of Scotland I just got Saturday.) Anyone have any ideas how to get the poison ivy oils out of the kilt without destroying it?

The couple times I've washed my other one I have just put in the washer sans detergent and let it go through the wash and then hung out to try before being spun. This won't work in this case.

bchunter · #2 05-11-2010, 02:16 PM

you might read the label, but I think a product called Tec-nu will work. I know it works on skin and i think it works on clothes too. In the past I've just washed my clothes in the washer and it cleans the oils OK. You might try Ivory Snow in the wash, and before it spins take it out and rinse by hand in a large tub/sink to get the soap out. Ivory is soap and not detergent. Castile also might work.

ForresterModern · #3 05-11-2010, 02:22 PM

Fels Naptha laundry bar soap is great for scrubbing the skin after exposure as well as laundering anything that can undergo a hand washing in a sink or small tub.

cavscout · #4 05-11-2010, 02:33 PM

Unless I'm missing something, there is no reason you can't put the PV kilts in the wash same as the Amerikilts. That's the benefit to PV over wool. Just don't use fabric softener, it removes the Teflon coating.

MacFett · #5 05-11-2010, 04:32 PM

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 · #6 05-11-2010, 04:55 PM

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 · #7 05-11-2010, 08:10 PM

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 · #8 05-11-2010, 08:43 PM

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 · #9 05-11-2010, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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:

Quote:

Originally Posted by TKN Web site;

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 · #10 05-18-2010, 08:43 AM

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.