The Easy Garbage Bag Hack For Pulling Poison Ivy Safely

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Pulling up weeds in your garden is one thing, but once you spot poison ivy, it can be an entirely different ordeal. Urushiol, the oil secreted from plants like poison ivy and poison oak, can cause rashes and blisters that make removal tricky. 

Rashes can appear within several hours to up to three weeks after contact, depending on whether you've had a rash from poison ivy before. These rashes may also last for several weeks. Mature vines can be super thick, which is why regular gardening gloves and tools can leave you vulnerable to exposure. Finding a method that creates a solid barrier between your skin and the plant's harmful oils is crucial. 

There's an interesting hack that you can use to remove poison ivy from your garden while limiting exposure to those itchy leaves, vines, and roots. This method involves using a sturdy garbage bag to provide full-arm protection.

To accomplish this DIY, you'll need to wear clothes that cover your arms and legs, including a long-sleeved top, pants, gardening or rain boots, and gloves. You'll also need two sturdy garbage bags with drawstrings.

Once you're suited up, open both garbage bags. Grab one garbage bag and pull the drawstring on one side of it. Place the drawstring around your neck and put your arm through the bag. This is the arm that you'll use to grab the poison ivy with. This method is meant to protect your hand and arm against poison ivy as you pull it up. Hold the other bag in your free hand and, with your bagged arm, pull the poison ivy up by the root and shove it into the other bag. When you're done, you can tug the bag off your arm to snap the drawstring.

While this DIY might seem simple enough, there are some considerations. Poison ivy likes to grow along trees and in forested areas. If your trash bag snags open while pulling up the ivy, it increases the chance of exposure. Secondly, garbage bags might make gripping the plant roots a bit more difficult. 

If the trash bag method seems too cumbersome, consider investing in a solid pair of long gloves, such as these LIICHAAO Long Waterproof Fishing Gloves. They'll give you a better grip with the same full-arm protection as a trash bag. You can wear a pair of disposable nitrile gloves beneath them, but avoid latex or rubber gloves as urushiol can penetrate these materials. 

An alternative option for dealing with poison ivy is to try using salt or RoundUp to kill the plant. This could help simplify the removal process. For the salt solution, mix 1 cup of salt with 1 gallon of water and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Pour it over the roots and leaves to dehydrate the plant. Keep in mind that RoundUp or salt can damage other plants in the treatment area. If you have to remove a large patch of poison ivy, you can use a simple fix from Pinterest: placing a black plastic sheet over the area.