You have a 15-20 minute grace period to wash off the oil from poison oak. Soap and water should work, but alcohol
might be a little more thorough. The problem with alcohol is that it also removes the oil on the skin which gives a slight
bit of protection to the poison oak and until the oil is replenished you will be slightly more susceptible to getting a rash if you brush against any clothing or pets that have been in the poison oak

From a Lane County, Oregon, web site:

"An ounce of prevention: Smooth on a barrier cream, such as IvyArmor or IvyBlock, which contain chemicals to trap or
block urushiol, preventing it from penetrating the skin. Wear long pants, long sleeves and boots during tromps in the woods.
Launder clothes immediately upon return. Don gloves for yardwork. Wipe garden tools with rubbing alcohol.

Spring is a great time to kill new starts, says Pollyanna Lind of the Eugene-based Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to
Pesticides. Wear protective clothing. Then grub starts out when the soil is soft, getting as much root as possible. Rake up the
plants, bag in plastic and dispose. Do not compost; they'll grow there.

Then keep starts at bay by covering the area with a piece of carpeting and mulch. You need to plant something in its place or
poison oak will re-establish itself. This process may need repeating for a few years.

Wait until leaves have dropped in the fall or winter to deal with larger, more robust poison oak.

Both the coalition and OSU Extension Service suggest fencing the affected area and letting a goat graze there for several
years.

The Extension Service says two herbicides are effective against poison oak: triclotyr and glyphosate. Triclotyr can be
purchased under several trade names, including Crossbow. Use it on a day when the temperature is 70 degrees or cooler.
Glyphosate is also sold under multiple trade names, including Roundup. It is most effective in late summer or fall.

Tip: Roundup kills grass; Crossbow does not."

Reply

Quote Reply

Digg It

Del.icio.us