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Do You Show Properties That Make You Itch?

By
Real Estate Agent with Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC RB14037276

Do You Show Properties That Make you Itch?

As a Real Estate Agent, we are always showing properties to prospective Clients.  We show the insides of homes and we show the outsides.  Sometimes our buyers want to find out where boundary markers are located.  As a matter of Habit, off you go tramping though the grass, weeds, brush and the next thing you know, a few days later you have the makings of Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and even Poison Sumac, Now what do you do?  Here are some tips on what to do when you develop rashes from these poisonous plants and some ways to keep it from spreading.  Here are some tips:

 

Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac Treatments

 

Once you break out, keep the rash as uncovered as you can. The air seems to hasten healing.

  • Watch for a rash two to three days after possible exposure and begin treatment immediately. Change your shoe/boot laces once exposed to poison ivy. The oil can remain on the laces, allowing you to keep re-infecting yourself.
  • Learn to identify these plants if you're allergic. Severe allergies can cause great harm. Bring a picture along until you can spot it immediately.
  • Go home and wash all exposed skin carefully after a hike. Wash your hands first before rubbing them all over your body. Use warm water and soap. Normal bar soap will not work. You may use a kitchen dish washing liquid detergent as a degreaser, applied undiluted, and then rinse it off completely to remove the poison ivy's oil.
  • Bring a specialized soap with you and apply it immediately.

 

Be cautious when not showing properties.

Your pets can give it to you too.

 

Watch when dogs go off leash. Humans are not the only ones that are allergic to the oil on the poison ivy leaves, and you might not notice a difference on your dog's skin hidden by fur: check on the bare abdomen. Also, be careful, when you pet your dog, as you can get the oil on your skin, also. Wash your dog thoroughly, if you think they may have been exposed. To prevent any such worries, keep your dog on leash when in the woods or vined places, as you should anyway, on any public trail, out of respect for other hikers! A bad reaction and getting yourself contaminated is also possible with outdoor cats.

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If you know someone who wants to Buy or Sell a Home in Elkhart County,

St Joseph County, 

or surrounding areas, have them call me:

Larry Johnston, 574-304-7577

Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC

Elkhart, Indiana

or email larry@larry-johnston.com

Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Oh my goodness I really try not to I am very allergic  Larry Johnston  I had poison sumac one time and had to get a shot of cortisone .Not a pleasant experience

Jun 21, 2015 09:47 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Larry I break out like crazy when I come in contact with these plants.  So I have learned to identify them, and do not  come anywhere  near them.

Jun 21, 2015 10:23 AM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Larry

I try to stay away for properties make me itch . . . . That being your tips are right on point on what to do . . . . when we show properties that made us itch.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Jun 21, 2015 10:25 AM
Karen Winters, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Koenig Rubloff Realty Group - Chicago, IL - Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL

Very educational.  I never thought about removing shoe laces after possible exposure or using dishwashing liquid as a degreaser.  

Jun 21, 2015 11:00 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Thankfully, knock on wood, I have never come in contact with any of these items.

Jun 21, 2015 11:32 AM
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

I itch even thinking about this Larry. I think not.

Jun 21, 2015 11:43 AM
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

Hello Larry Johnston 

Great tips to avoid the itch of summer!

Jun 21, 2015 11:54 AM
Nicholas Crane
Woodland Companies - Cadott, WI
Managing & Appraising Forest Land

Larry Thanks for the great info.  Sorry to hear that you got itchy from a showing.  I have had to try many of the itch-away remedies and found that avoidance is the only one that works really well. 

Jun 21, 2015 12:08 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Good warnign Larry, I do a good job of avoiding this stuff though I do work in it often.  Watch where you sit, or lean and you will generally be ok.

I did have one incident about 15 years ago in upper Michigan during February while wading though 4 feet of snow, I must have encountered a strong batch of it that I did not see and me and my wife (who did my laundry) both spent a night in the hospital.

Jun 21, 2015 12:11 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I see that this is a members only, this would be a good warning for the public, and a good one to reblog too.

 

Jun 21, 2015 12:13 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

I always used a  brown soap, which does have some lye in it to wash after I have been near anything questionable. I have had poison ivy a few times and it s not peasant

Jun 21, 2015 12:31 PM
Sussie Sutton
David Tracy Real Estate - Houston, TX
David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers

I use to be immune to poison ivy and such. As a kid I could handle these plants with out any repercussions. Not so much now.... it took me three months to get rid of an out break last year. I had to have a series of shots it was just bad.  

Jun 21, 2015 12:56 PM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Another one, Larry, can be hogweed, which often is mistaken for Cow Parsnip and Queen Ann's Lace--can be lethal to kids, I believe...it causes ALL kinds of problems!

Excellent post and about the dogs/cats, an added important piece of advice that I wasn't aware of.

 

Jun 21, 2015 01:34 PM
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Bob Crane ,  Thanks for reminding me to make this one public.

Jun 21, 2015 01:47 PM
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

Hi, Larry...this is great advice. I'll have to remember it. I haven't had this come up yet. We don't have too many of these plants in my area, but there is a bit of poison ivy, so it could happen. 

Jun 21, 2015 02:09 PM
Alan Kirkpatrick
Austin Texas Homes - Round Rock, TX
Alan in Austin

Larry Johnston 

 

Had to read this one. lol. Hope you have a wonderful week. 

Jun 21, 2015 02:24 PM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

My husband and I both kept getting sumac and boy was it itchy. It would show up days after working in the yard. I didn't know dish detergent would help or using a special soap. I would cover up like it was winter to avoid being touched but that too didn't always work. Good post with lots of good tips.

Jun 21, 2015 10:56 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I have to admit your headline took me to an entire different mindset than the poison oaks, ivy and sumac... my mind went to fleas.  Multiple times in my career have I ended up covered with fleas at a property. 

Fortunately I can identify the plants and am pretty careful. (looking for something wood to knock on now)

Jun 23, 2015 01:54 PM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Very nice post!  I have never heard of removing the oil of poison ivy, but it makes so much sense.  I don't have to worry about it in Arizona, but when I go back to Alabama, I'll remember the degreaser comments!

Jun 23, 2015 03:53 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I have been in REO properties that were infested with fleas. 

Jun 27, 2015 01:06 AM