Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Information Center

Q&A Board

Tracked through home...not sure where or what to do...

Subject: Tracked through home...not sure where or what to do...
Author: Abbi
Date: 12/15/2012 6:40 pm
Views: 9278
Status: Approved
« Previous Thread
Next Thread »
Search
Back To Message List
Hello everyone :-) I was hoping to get some advice as to the best, cost efficient, and natural way to go about cleaning my home of Poison Ivy Oil. My husband was working in our woods and did not realize that he had gotten poison ivy on his clothing.

The Ivy exposure was not noticed until he developed a few itchy bumps on his hands and when I saw some on me as well. This tells me that the oils were on his clothing and his shoes and he brought it into the house. However, we do not know exactly where it had been tracked. Since I have been walking around the house with shoes on I may have even picked up the oils on my shoes now as well :( Today I am washing all of our bedding as it seems that is where I am getting the oil from BUT I am afraid that the oil has been rubbed off onto our hardwood floors and our carpet.

I am expecting to give birth to our first child here in just a couple weeks so I am in need of finding a solution as to not continue to spread the oils and give it to our newborn. I keep finding new spots almost every other day so that tells me there are oils that I continue to come into contact with.

So, I ask of you, what is the best way to go about cleaning the house. I am thinking that I should clean every surface that my husband could have come into contact with...but I do have one little issue with the hardwood floors. We are renting...there are area rugs on top of the hardwood. I am afraid to use a wet vac on the carpet as the water will go through to the hardwood and I do no the means to take the carpet out and clean it else ware. I am in a bit of a pickle.

I need help as our baby is coming soon and I really do not want to give her poison ivy. :( I am finding my exposure is in some key areas of my body where I have been using pillows so I am hoping that cleaning my bedding will help but I am afraid that she may still pick it up from the bed. (I really cannot afford to buy all new bedding right now either)

Please any advice would be helpful. Also, what are the best natural cleaning agents that I can use to ensure I do not riddle my home with chemicals before the baby comes.

Thank you everyone for your help :-)

SubjectAuthorDate
Tracked through home...not sur (Approved)Abbi12/15/2012 6:40 pm
  Re: Tracked through home...not (Approved)Angie5/15/2013 11:27 am