Early season means ticks and chiggers. Permethrin on your outer clothes is one of the simplest fixes, and it's cheap. It goes on clothes and gear, never on skin.

Sawyer SP657 Premium Permethrin is my early season must. The how-to and safety rules below come from Sawyer, the CDC and the EPA, linked at the end.

What permethrin is and what it does

Permethrin is a synthetic insecticide in the pyrethroid family that acts like natural extracts from the chrysanthemum flower, per the National Pesticide Information Center. The CDC says clothing treated with 0.5% permethrin repels and kills ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes and other biting pests.

How long it lasts

Sawyer says its treatment bonds to fabric for up to 6 weeks or 6 washings, whichever comes first (Sawyer SP657). Sawyer's Amazon listing adds that it holds up to sweat and water and breaks down from UV exposure and washing machine agitation. Then you retreat.

How to treat your hunting clothes

  1. Read the label first. It's a pesticide, and the label is the rule.
  2. Spray outer layers only. Pants, shirt, socks, boots and hat, the kind of outer items the CDC lists. The EPA says not to treat things like underwear.
  3. Hold the bottle 6 to 8 inches away and spray each side for about 30 seconds with a slow sweeping motion, per Sawyer.
  4. Let it dry completely before you wear it. The CDC says to treat travel clothes 24 to 48 hours ahead so they dry.
  5. Wash treated clothes separately from untreated ones, as the EPA advises.

How much you need: a 9 ounce can treats about one outfit, per the Sawyer SP602 9 oz listing at Home Depot. The 24 ounce trigger bottle goes further.

Safety rules

  • Never on skin. The CDC, the EPA and Sawyer all say permethrin is for clothing and gear only.
  • Keep cats away until it's dry. Sawyer says permethrin is toxic to cats until it has completely dried.
  • Use a skin repellent for exposed skin. The EPA says permethrin protects only the skin covered by treated clothing. A skin repellent like Sawyer 20% Picaridin covers the rest.

Small habits that help

  • Tuck your pant cuffs into socks or boots. An EPA-registered permethrin label says to do this for full protection against ticks and chiggers.
  • Treat your boots and socks. Sawyer cites a University of Rhode Island study finding people in treated shoes and socks were far less likely to get a tick bite. The CDC also lists boots and socks as gear to treat. I wear TIDEWE rubber boots.
  • Dry your clothes on high after the hunt. The CDC says 10 minutes on high heat in a dryer kills ticks on dry clothes.
  • Check yourself for ticks. The same EPA-registered label says to inspect your body daily.

Does it smell?

Sawyer says the treatment is odorless once dry. That matters if you're careful about scent control, but let it dry fully before your clothes go back in the tote.

Other good options

  • Sawyer SP602 aerosol, 9 oz. Same treatment in a smaller can, about one outfit per Home Depot's listing.
  • Factory treated clothing. The EPA notes some clothing comes pre-treated with permethrin from the factory.
  • Sawyer 20% Picaridin. For exposed skin. Sawyer lists up to 12 hours against mosquitoes and ticks.

FAQ

Can I spray permethrin on my skin? No. The CDC says never apply it to skin.

How often should I retreat? Sawyer says after 6 weeks or 6 washings, whichever comes first.

Is it safe around my dog? Sawyer says it's safe for dogs, but toxic to cats until completely dry. Follow the label.

Sources