While I hadn’t had an issue with poison ivy in several years, that changed. Ever since I got a product called Tecnu Poison Ivy and Oak Scrub I had kept it at bay. That changed last week. While the large maple tree I’ve been cutting after taking it down because it was leaning towards the sugarhouse, I’ve gotten poison ivy on my stomach. While there were no poisin ivy vines nor remnants of them on the trunk of the tree, I had to lift it off the ground a few times to minimize the risk of hitting dirt as I cut blocks off. Since my 36 HP tractor with loader or forks couldn’t lift it, I used the 8800 lb pull logging winch on the back of the tractor. To do that I had to put a logging chain around the log, winch the log up and slide a 4×4 under it and my guess is that’s where I made a mistake. While there is no evidence of poison ivy on the trunk (it often grows up trees and the vines can remain for many years) my guess is different this time. There is plenty of poison ivy at many spots within 100 feet, up to thousands of feet from where the log lays after being cut down. I believe some critter walked on the log after walking thru poison ivy and deposited some of the oils from the poison ivy on the log, then as I leaned on the log while putting a logging chain around it, I got a dose of the oils. While most times I get it on my hands or arms and use the Tecnu soon after, this time I failed to recognize it soon enough. Now I’ll need to deal with it until I can get it cleared up. Yesterday I first decided it’s poison ivy, about 4 and 5 days after I lifted the log after putting a chain around it. I washed it with Tecnu last night and will every night until it’s gone, but because it’s a large rash area, it might take a while. When I get it on my hands or arms I use the Tecnu soon after either exposure or after a reaction first shows or is felt and it’s gone in a day or two.
Next time I go to cut more blocks, I’ll be carefull not to lean on it, too late for this time. The oils from poison ivy can remain on surfaces for years, when I split the blocks into firewood I’ll try to remove the bark.
Lesson learned!
Update, I forgot to post an update on my poison ivy. It took about 3 days to get rid of it, I used the Tecnu daily for 5 days just to be sure. Then later on I was mowing an aisle between some black berries and a row of blueberries, and I noticed some poison ivy under the blueberries. I then washed my hands with the Tecnu when I got home, 3 days later I noticed one poison ivy blister on one finger, I used the Tecnu again and it cleared up.
Over the years I’ve used a load of different treatments, for me this Tecnu is by far the best.