Can i get poison ivy from a toilet seat?

Question

My roommate got poison ivy on her leg and it spread up into her butt. I'm worried I may get it from the toilet we share. Should i clean the toilet before I use it? P.S. im female

Answer 1

The rash itself is not contagious.  You can only get it from the plant oil.  Once she has washed all the oil off her body then you shouldn't have to worry.  Anything that may have come into contact with the plants (clothes, shoes, pets, etc.) also needs to be washed.  She could have sat on the pot after she got the oil on her and before she showered and may have transferred some of the oil onto it.  So I would just wash the toilet seat with a grease-dissolving soap (such as Dawn dish soap) or rubbing alcohol.

Answer 2

I'm pretty sure, maybe. Poisen ivy causes rashes from a certain oil on the leaves, so if your room mate didn't, like, clean up her leg after getting poisen ivy and then sat on the toilet, you should probably wipe... and just in case, wipe it before you use it, even if she has washed her leg- and butt.