DH uses vinegar and dawn. For the really stubborn ones he mists them with ammonia. We've had couple really thick batches of poison ivy in our yard and use the Dawn vinegar and ammonia. DH brushed up against a small patch and didn't take him long to start itching. He immediately grabbed Dawn and started washing his hands and arms. best thing to use. Never needed the Calamine or any other lotion. [QUOTE=just_the_scraps_m'am;7160441]what bugs me the most is that there has to be a natural alternative, but apparently it doesn't make as much $$ as chemicals that kill... and if you're buying/eating organic b/c you think it's safer