Things That Make Poison Ivy Removal Worse

You saw the three leaves that gave it away. You put on your gloves. You even pulled the plant out of the ground yourself. But weeks later, you have a new rash and the poison ivy is back. What went wrong?
It may appear easy to get rid of poison ivy, but if you don’t handle it right, you could make the situation worse. We’ll go over the most common mistakes people make while trying to get rid of poison ivy and how to prevent them in this post. This way, you won’t make the problem worse.
Mistake #1: Pulling Without Any Protection
If it’s a small patch, you might want to just pull poison ivy by hand. But here’s the catch: urushiol oil, the chemical that creates the rash, is on every part of the plant and spreads quickly.
Why it’s dangerous:
- Oil gets on your gloves, sleeves, and instruments, and then it goes on your skin or surfaces in your home.
- You could get oil on your face, driving wheel, or phone after touching them.
- Even heavy-duty gardening gloves aren’t 100% safe unless you wash or throw them away right away.
The better way to do things is to wear full protective gear (long sleeves, pants, and eye protection) and wash everything, including yourself, right away after contact.
Mistake #2: Setting Poison Ivy on Fire
DON’T EVER BURN POISON IVY!!
Why? When you burn something, it releases urushiol particles into the air. If you breathe them in, they can cause major problems with your lungs, throat, or eyes. It’s a medical emergency, and it happens more often than you may imagine.
A better way: Put poison ivy in thick contractor-grade garbage bags and throw them away according to your area’s rules. In some places, it must be marked and treated as dangerous plant waste.
Mistake #3: Using the Wrong Type of Herbicide
Not every weed killer works the same way. A lot of over-the-counter sprays don’t destroy poison ivy at the root, and some even make it worse by hurting nearby plants without stopping them from growing back.
Problems that happen a lot:
- Using pesticides that kill everything in the area without picking and choosing.
- Not applying at the proper time of year (late spring to early fall is preferable).
- Not applying again after the first treatment.
Better way: Use a product that is clearly marked for poison ivy and follow the directions exactly. Or hire an expert to safely apply specific therapies.
Mistake #4: Not taking care of the roots
Poison ivy can grow again from small root pieces that are still in the ground, even if you pick up every apparent leaf and stem.
What happens is:
- Roots grow back and send up new shoots, which can be yards away from the original plant.
- You think it’s gone, but it comes back the next season.
Better way: Either dig up the whole root system or use a targeted pesticide. In very bad situations, professionals utilize instruments to pull out roots or track them down to make sure they are completely gone.
Mistake #5: Not cleaning up after yourself and your pets
What if you did everything right when you took it off, yet the rash keeps coming back? It’s probably because urushiol is still on clothes, tools, or your dog’s fur.
Where residue is:
- Gloves, shoes, backpacks, and tools for the garden
- Pet beds or dog collars
- Handles on doors, vehicle seats, or porch furniture
A better way to go about it:
- Use hot water and detergent to wash clothes that have been contaminated.
- Use isopropyl alcohol or a degreasing chemical to clean equipment and surfaces.
- Give pets a bath if they might have touched poison ivy.
👉 Want some help? This is how to clean the right way: How to Get Rid of Poison Ivy Residue
Mistake #6: Not knowing what kind of plant it is
People often pull out the wrong plant or leave poison ivy alone because they mix it up with plants that look like it, such as Virginia creeper, wild raspberry, or boxelder.
Better way to do it:
Before you touch something, make sure you know what you’re taking away. If you’re not sure, look at a picture like this one: 👉 Common Plants Mistaken for Poison Ivy
When to Get Help from a Professional
It’s time to call in the pros if you’ve already committed one of these blunders or don’t know how to safely get rid of poison ivy in your yard. Poison Ivy Free and other professional poison ivy removal treatments can:
- Find and get rid of poison ivy the right way
- Get rid of roots and leftover material
- Treat spots to stop them from growing back
- Clean up without making your space dirty
They work on homes and businesses all along the East Coast and know just what conditions poison ivy needs to grow.
Make removal a one-time thing.
Get rid of this itchy intruder so you don’t have to deal with it again. Do it perfectly the first time if you want to get rid of poison ivy, or hire professionals to do it safely and completely.
Go to Poison Ivy Free to discover more about how to remove poison ivy safely and effectively. You can also set up a meeting with their team of experts.