If you think you’ve come in contact with it, wash the area right away. Use only water—soap only spreads the oil. I found out that one the hard way. We have a large tract of land in Maryland and are constantly clearing brush, etc. Poison ivy is everywhere. Only gotten it once this year . . . so far.
Soap didn’t make it worse for me. I think that’s an old wives tale or something. Plus it gets rid of the chiggers.
Regarding ‘soap spreads the oils’.
Let me offer an alternative thought —
First put all your clothes in the washer. Then ...
When you shower (NOT BATH!!! DO NOT TAKE A BATH!!) wash yourself purposefully and carefully from the elbows down to the tips of your fingers with soap and water, twice. THEN wash yourself from head down to feet. RINSE your face very well. Do this twice.
I would offer that it is critical to use soap as the urusoil is hydrophobic (doesn’t dissolve in water) and needs a surfactant/detergent to be adequately removed from the skin, fingernails, hair, etc.
The key is to get the oil OFF your skin before it binds to the skin, because then even the soap/bleach/ 100 grit won’t help.
Much like a surgical scrub, the key is the process of cleansing, strong soap, hot water — and lather rinse repeat— in time to get it off you.
Now start the washer, and clean your clothes with hot water wash and rinse.
FWIW, I safely and judiciously use a weed-eater/bush-whackerblade/ and bush-hog on my property to keep paths, road-sides and septic fields clear of brush, including poison ivy, and I have been poison-ivy dermatitis-free for four years now.
Just my opinion, based on good experiences and chemistry ;-)
I recommend Dawn dishwashing liquid as the soap - It does a great job absorbing the oil. Most soaps tend to spread and thin the oil, but with poison ivy (and oak, and...) a little goes a LONG way!
Good luck with the new piece of land.
I always use soap - a mild soap and cool water. I work from the top down, rinsing continually, and wash three times. If you have oil on you, soap emulsifies it and lets it combine with the water and wash away. I have not gotten a rash using this method and I’m very sensitive.
Mrs VS