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If you’re tired of the thought that you might get bitten by a tick this year (to be honest, the chances are good), now’s the time to get yourself one. A bottle of permethrin spray. Permethrin-treating your shoes and pants is an easy way to create a barrier between hungry ticks and your delicious, bloody meat.
Ticks need to spend time in dirt or leaf litter to keep them from drying out, so they hang close to the ground. They find us by climbing grass stalks and using their little feet when we walk. (They’ll settle for a deer, rabbit, or mouse instead of a person—they don’t choose.) Once they find a warm body, they crawl upward.
So if you want to avoid tick bites, the most important places to protect yourself are from the knees down. You probably only have one or two pairs of shoes that you tend to wear in tall grass (hiking boots, sneakers, maybe work boots), so applying a long-lasting layer of permethrin to your shoes will go a long way in protecting you all summer long.
You can add to that protection by using permethrin on your socks, pants, and other clothing and gear—such as tents and backpacks—if you go camping. Bug spray for your skin (containing an effective active ingredient like DEET) is a different thing, but it’s also a good defense. Bonus: Permethrin and DEET also protect against mosquitoes.
What is permethrin and how does it work?
Permethrin is an insecticide that was originally extracted from the chrysanthemum flower, but the stuff you can buy today is a synthetic version. It is safe for people and pets Unless you somehow manage to ingest, inhale or absorb a large amount of it. Please note that permethrin spray is intended for use on clothing and items, and not on the skin. It can irritate the skin, and our skin can actually break down the chemicals in the repellent, rendering it useless.
But on shoes and clothes, permethrin is great. When ticks come in contact with it, even for a very short time, they have difficulty walking and moving, and may be unable to bite. Lab tests show That ticks, usually good climbers, fall off permethrin-treated clothing. Mosquitoes, likewise, can be killed or incapacitated by permethrin on clothing.
Permethrin should not be your only defense against ticks (or mosquitoes); Repellent spray on your skin is an important second layer of protection. But it’s a big help, especially when you’re out in the backyard, or when you forget the bug spray until you’re already deep in the woods.
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How to apply permethrin to your shoes, clothing and camping gear
One of the most convenient features of permethrin is that it clings to clothing for weeks or months, even after multiple washes. You can also buy clothes that are already treated with permethrin; Just check out the camping gear suppliers.
But you can do it yourself. Buy a bottle of Permethrin spray Contains 0.5% permethrin. This is an EPA-registered pesticide, and it will come with detailed instructions on the label. Here are some options:
Basically, you want to go outside (or in a well-ventilated area) and lay your clothes out flat. For shoes, remove the laces and open the boot as much as possible. Then spray enough permethrin on the fabric to visibly wet it, and let it dry completely before you wear it. In addition to shoes and clothes, you can also treat tents, backpacks, hats and other items.
Pay attention to how long the protection will last. The label may say something like six weeks or six washes, whichever comes first. Don’t forget to reapply when the time is up.
