How Long Does Poison Ivy Stay Active on Clothes, Shoes, Gear, Etc.?

If you've ever experienced a poison ivy rash in all of its itchy "glory," you know it can ruin a good time, especially if you adore spending time outdoors soaking up vitamin D. Skin contact with the poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac, which all contain the same substance (toxicodendrol or urushiol), is one way to get it. However, you can also get poison ivy from touching items that came in contact with the plant, including your clothes, shoes and gear.

"The oil resin...is very contagious," says Dr. Ali Jamehdor, DO, an emergency medicine physician and medical director of the Weingart Foundation Emergency Department at Providence Saint John's Health Center. "It can remain on fabrics...and any contact with that clothing can lead to contamination."

Cue the bumps unrelated to other skin conditions like acne.

It begs the question: How long does poison ivy stay active on clothes, shoes, gear, etc.?

The answer varies (and will probably have you running to do laundry). The short of it? It can stay on poison ivy (and cause that dreaded rash) for a while. Experts shared how long poison ivy stays active on clothes, shoes and gear, plus how to get it off so you can remain rash-free.

How Long Does Poison Ivy Stay On Clothes, Shoes, Gear, Etc.?

It varies. "The oil from poison ivy can stay on close for days, weeks or months," says Dr. Benedict Ifedi, MD, a primary care doctor with Memorial Hermann. Dr. Ifedi also cites CDC reports that the oil can stay on surfaces for years until it is cleaned off using water or rubbing alcohol. To be precise: It can remain on the surfaces of objects for up to five years, according to the CDC.

And?

"The urushiol oil can remain on clothing for many years and can still be potent enough to cause skin reactions," says Dr. Amy Huang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Medical Offices of Manhattan and contributor to labfinder.com.

Contact with anything that touched the poison ivy, oak or sumac can cause a rash within 12 to 72 hours. These include pets, clothes, tools, shoes or a hiking backpack. Also, by the way, if it’s on your body, and you don’t wash it off right away and sit down somewhere, you can re-expose yourself by touching that spot weeks later. It’s not the blisters on your skin that are contagious; they are products of your own body and do not contain the poison ivy sap. The villain is the oil of the plant.

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Poison Ivy vs. Oak vs. Sumac

Your best bet is to avoid contact with all of the above. Understanding what each looks like can help you do so.

"Leaves of three, leave 'em be," Dr. Huang says. Poison ivy has three leaves (one on each side and in the center). Poison oak also has three leaflets, but they are rounder. It grows like a shrub or vine.

"Poison sumac has leaves in a cluster of seven to 13 leaflets arranged in pairs and grows on a tree," Dr. Huang says.

Poison Ivy Symptoms

Dr. Jamehdor says poison ivy red flags (pun intended) include: Redness at the contact site, swelling, itching, blisters and shortness of breath if you touched burnt poison ivy.

Any skin rash can be mistaken for poison ivy.

"The telltale signs of poison ivy are the linear streaks that form on the arms and legs that develop into blisters," Dr. Jamehdor says. "This has to do with the common way patients come in contact with poison ivy — usually walking on a hike and brushing up against the plant."

If you start noticing symptoms: "Get that body part under running water," Dr. Jamehdor says. "Wash with soap, shampoo or any detergent you might have. Getting rid of the oil early can save you a lot of headaches later."

Dr. Ifedi says symptoms generally peak within one day to two weeks of exposure to poison ivy. Generally, they'll just be uncomfortable. However, poison ivy rashes may require quick medical attention, including:

• A 100.4 °F temperature

• Pus draining from the blister or rash

• The itching gets worse despite supportive treatment, like topical or oral steroids, cool compresses and antihistamines

• The rash spreads to your eyes, mouth or genital area

• You have difficulty breathing

"The above would be reason to see your doctor immediately or visit urgent care or ER if you are not able to get in," Dr. Ifedi says.

Related: 11 Foods You Should Never Eat Past Their Expiration Date

How To Wash Poison Ivy Off Clothes

You'll want to act fast – and while wearing plastic gloves, which you should do before touching any clothes you think were contaminated. "Handle your clothes with gloves and wash on a long wash cycle with hot water," Dr. Jamehdor says.

That long cycle should be exclusive to the contaminated gear. In other words, put the clothes in their own washing machine. Use a scoop of laundry detergent and choose the hottest water and longest cycle setting.

Once the cycle is done, wear gloves when transferring clothing to the dryer. Any oil residue should be gone from the washer, but you can run the empty washer for one setting just to be safe. Once the clothes are dry, remove them, and you should be all set.

Related: Calling All Cold Plungers! These Are the 5 Biggest Benefits of Ice Baths

How To Wash Poison Ivy Off Shoes

Again, move quickly. Remove your shoes before going indoors. Wear gloves and use a brush to rub soap into the shoe. Then, fill a plastic bottle or cup with hot water and rinse the soap off the shoes. Leave shoes outside to dry and wash your hands.

How To Prevent A Poison Ivy Rash After Contact

The good news: If you’ve been strolling around poison ivy, you may be able to avoid the rash if you wash with soap and water within 15 minutes following contact. To get rid of it as soon as possible after contact by thoroughly washing everything that may have been exposed—including any part of your body and your clothing—with soap, detergents or rubbing alcohol.

If you do find yourself developing a rash, engage in some harm reduction.

"Avoid scratching or picking at the blisters," Dr. Huang says. "Take an antihistamine and see a physician if the rash becomes severe."

Up next, learn the No. 1 habit to ditch to avoid inflammation

Expert Sources

• Dr. Ali Jamehdor, DO, an emergency medicine physician and medical director of the Weingart Foundation Emergency Department at Providence Saint John's Health Center

• Dr. Benedict Ifedi, MD, a primary care doctor with Memorial Hermann.

• NIOSH Fast Facts: Protecting Yourself from Poisonous Plants. CDC.

• Dr. Amy Huang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Medical Offices of Manhattan and contributor to labfinder.com.