Where do I buy this stuff? How do I apply it? Can I do it far ahead of time? I'm going to be really busy just before my trip...though wait, I can make my husband do it. What was I thinking? But still...I do need to put it on the shopping list. And find my clothes. Should I put it on everything, or select items, or what? Never used the stuff before....I'm kind of anti-chemical and I've just decided it's okay for my whole family. ;-) It's better than being covered in tick and bites and maybe even getting west nile or lyme's. Though I admit those chances are slim. Anyway...help with permethrin is appreciated!


PS...hope I spelled it right.

I've got a couple of pair of wool socks and a couple of shirts in which the permethrin was factory applied (Buzz Off label). Their effectiveness seems to have lasted at least three seasons.
I apply permethrin on two pair of pants about a week before entering the BW. There is a wash and an a spray, I use the spray. It is good for six weeks and six washes. Sawyer is the brand I am familiar with and use. I buy it at a local sporting goods store but I see it listed online for REI.
I have never gotten a tick in the BW.

It comes in soak, squeeze trigger bottle or spray and you can find it in places like REI, Dick's, Cabelas, GanderMtn and many others. I prefer the 24oz Sawyer squeeze trigger bottle.

Use it any time before your trip. Just soak or spray your cloths and line dry outside till dry (do not wear till dry). No need to do undergarments. At the minimum spray the bottom of pant legs, waistline, neckline and arm openings. Works also on bandannas and hats.

The stuff works great. I apply it a few weeks before the trip. It lasts for 5 washings.

Sprayed my clothes (pants, shirts and socks) with Sawyer Permethrin in April 2010. Completed 5 BWCA trips plus 2 additional trips down rivers during the 2010 season. The permethrin worked great.

Check out the Sawyer Website...This may help.
SunCatcher

Sawyer website for using permetherin

I got the gallon bottle of equine "mane and stable" spray at Fleet Farm for roughly what a 6 oz bottle normally costs. Same permethrin, same percentage. I soak all of my camping fabrics. Backpacks and stuff sacks, clothes, shoes, tarps and hammocks.
Wear gloves and hang stuff to dry. It is not the best stuff when still in liquid form, but it is inert when it has had a chance to dry.

West nile, lymes, etc are NOT exactly rare anymore. The perceived risk of exposure to permethrin (false when used correctly) pales compared to the very real risk of insect transmitted diseases. DEET works really well also, but is tough on my plastics and nylons and I don't like the feel/smell of it. I use it sparingly, take advantage of well draining campsites and wind exposure (hooray hammocks!), and a thermacell if it gets really bad (which isn't that often).
YMMV

I have posted this before but if you look at this link is the concentration that I use to make my own. (Towards the bottom of the thread) Approximately $16 at Fleet Farm.


Past Thread


Mix it up in a garbage can and allow everything to soak for a couple hours. Then I put rubber gloves on and wring it all out and hang on the clothes line to dry.
I also do my tarp and tent. If one of the little critters follows you into the tent they just magically disappear. They don’t seem to bother you under the tarp either. Much like having a screen porch.

Just got the big Sawyer squirt bottle myself. From previous threads I remembered people having trouble getting the stuff during the height of the bug season.

quote KevinL: "I have posted this before but if you look at this link is the concentration that I use to make my own. (Towards the bottom of the thread) Approximately $16 at Fleet Farm.



Past Thread



Mix it up in a garbage can and allow everything to soak for a couple hours. Then I put rubber gloves on and wring it all out and hang on the clothes line to dry.
I also do my tarp and tent. If one of the little critters follows you into the tent they just magically disappear. They don’t seem to bother you under the tarp either. Much like having a screen porch. "

When you spray your tent do you just leave it up for a couple of days to dry and do you spray the inside at all?

Nola get it. I use it every year this stuff is better than bread and butter. I use the spray on and it works really well.

JB

"
When you spray your tent do you just leave it up for a couple of days to dry and do you spray the inside at all?"


MUTZ.....I don’t spray I make up enough solution that I dip everything into it and then let it sit for a couple hours. I then put rubber gloves on and ring out as much as I can and then hang on the clothes line to dry. It will drip for awhile before drying.

Clothes go into a garbage bag until ready to go. Tent and tarp just go into their stuff sacks. I don’t do the tent fly. I try to do all of this the last week or so before I go.

When I’m done with the solution I put the remainder in my Hudson sprayer and hit the yard with it. Works better than the stuff that they spray the town with for mosquitoes.

Fleet Farm, REI, and Gander Mountain carry Repel's version.

Looks like this: Repel Permanone

Just spray it on in a well ventilated area. Pants and socks I lay on a tarp in garage and spray one side at a time. Shirts I hang on a hanger and walk around it and spray.

I also spray around the entry and entry mesh on my tent.

quote KevinL: ""

When you spray your tent do you just leave it up for a couple of days to dry and do you spray the inside at all?"



MUTZ.....I don’t spray I make up enough solution that I dip everything into it and then let it sit for a couple hours. I then put rubber gloves on and ring out as much as I can and then hang on the clothes line to dry. It will drip for awhile before drying.


Clothes go into a garbage bag until ready to go. Tent and tarp just go into their stuff sacks. I don’t do the tent fly. I try to do all of this the last week or so before I go.

When I’m done with the solution I put the remainder in my Hudson sprayer and hit the yard with it. Works better than the stuff that they spray the town with for mosquitoes.
"

Why don't you do the tent fly?

quote LoneWolf: "Fleet Farm, REI, and Gander Mountain both carry Repel's version.


Looks like this: Repel Permanone


Just spray it on a well ventilated area. Pants and socks I lay on a tarp in garage and spray one side at a time. Shirts I hang on a hanger and walk around it and spray.


I also spray around the entry and entry mesh on my tent. "

This is what I have found at WalMart and used to spray clothes, boots, and gear.

Like boonie said, I get mine at walmart. It's the spray kind. I hang my stuff on the clothesline and spray it. Remove when dry.

A couple of things: 1) It kills all kinds of insects including honey bees and other useful little guys. That is why I keep it on the clothesline as short of time as possible. 2) It's not good for fish. Therefore do not spray swim wear or anything that goes into the water. For instance, I do not spray my boots.

It is great stuff and works very well.

I too have found it at walmart. Use it Nola. once it dries its fine. better that then lymes or west nile. lymes is very bad, especially if not caught right away.

I use the spray. Follow directions, let DRY! I then fold them and put them in a plastic bag of some sort to 'keep fresh" if I'm treating weeks before tripping. It works!

quote boonie: "

quote KevinL: ""

When you spray your tent do you just leave it up for a couple of days to dry and do you spray the inside at all?"

MUTZ.....I don’t spray I make up enough solution that I dip everything into it and then let it sit for a couple hours. I then put rubber gloves on and ring out as much as I can and then hang on the clothes line to dry. It will drip for awhile before drying.



Clothes go into a garbage bag until ready to go. Tent and tarp just go into their stuff sacks. I don’t do the tent fly. I try to do all of this the last week or so before I go.

When I’m done with the solution I put the remainder in my Hudson sprayer and hit the yard with it. Works better than the stuff that they spray the town with for mosquitoes.
"


Why don't you do the tent fly?"

Guess I don't see the need to. Could if you want, but never had any issues by just doing the tent. They just disappear if they happen to follow you into the tent.

I treat everything but underwear and swimming suit (that I bring for shorts).

I spray the inside of my tent and the fly using a garden sprayer after I have diluted the concentrated product that I get at the local farm store. I find that spraying the fly really keeps the bugs away. Spraying the inside kills any unfortunate bugs that happen to sneak inside when you enter. I just leave the tent standing until it is dry, usually overnight. Eliminates the need to keep your tent screens closed all the time -- bugs won't go in. Amazing stuff really.

If using the spray method, I like the idea of setting clothing on an erected tent and ;laid out tarp to catch the waste. Good idea.

Thanks, y'all! I'm excited to try it this year. Especially with a mid-June trip!

Just bumping this up because I just spent a bunch of time trying to find it and I want my husband to read it. ;-) He is going to do the spraying.

We were at our cabin this weekend and I found a deer tick crawling up my leg. Ewww. Did not see any wood ticks, though. The cabin is in a high lyme's disease incidence area (the BW is not, though).

I just got a bottle of Equine Fly Spray from Fleet Farm. A qt on sale for $4.

http://www.fleetfarm.com/catalog/product_detail/horse-supplies/fly-pest-control/sprays/farnam-bronco-e-equine-fly-spray-plus-32-oz


It's citronella scented, hopefully that is good too. I dunno. For $4 I thought I couldn't go wrong. Spraying boots, pants, hat, etc....

Croixboy

quote croixboy96: "I just got a bottle of Equine Fly Spray from Fleet Farm. A qt on sale for $4.

http://www.fleetfarm.com/catalog/product_detail/horse-supplies/fly-pest-control/sprays/farnam-bronco-e-equine-fly-spray-plus-32-oz



It's citronella scented, hopefully that is good too. I dunno. For $4 I thought I couldn't go wrong. Spraying boots, pants, hat, etc....


Croixboy "

I'll have to look at this if the smell is better. Two of us had treated our clothes and wore them on the way up to BWCA last year and I think the smell almost killed our car mates.

quote Humdinger: "I'll have to look at this if the smell is better. Two of us had treated our clothes and wore them on the way up to BWCA last year and I think the smell almost killed our car mates."

Once my sprayed on permethrin dried I don't remember any smell or have heard comments on it. Anyone get a smell from theirs?
Humdinger, what type were you using?

Left my pants and tent out overnight after spraying both...Gave em a pretty good soaking and there is a very faint citronella smell left but it is barely noticeable. As long as this stuff works for the bugs, looks like I am set!

I also sprayed my hammock, my boots, my pack (why not?), my hat, and Iam also wondering what else I can spray? Hankerchief?

I guess after one more night outside, there will be no smell at all.

Croixboy

quote boonie: "

quote LoneWolf: "Fleet Farm, REI, and Gander Mountain both carry Repel's version.



Looks like this: Repel Permanone



Just spray it on a well ventilated area. Pants and socks I lay on a tarp in garage and spray one side at a time. Shirts I hang on a hanger and walk around it and spray.



I also spray around the entry and entry mesh on my tent. "

This is what I have found at WalMart and used to spray clothes, boots, and gear."

I looked for permethrin at WalMart and they told me they didn't have it. Did you find the Repel in the sporting goods section?

Croixboy -- Socks. Keeps the ticks off your legs.
Any overshirt or fleece jacket can be sprayed, too.
Don't use on t-shirts, underwear or sleepwear, but just about anything else seems OK.

quote jjjds1999: "

quote boonie: "

quote LoneWolf: "Fleet Farm, REI, and Gander Mountain both carry Repel's version.

Looks like this: Repel Permanone

Just spray it on a well ventilated area. Pants and socks I lay on a tarp in garage and spray one side at a time. Shirts I hang on a hanger and walk around it and spray.

I also spray around the entry and entry mesh on my tent. "

This is what I have found at WalMart and used to spray clothes, boots, and gear."

I looked for permethrin at WalMart and they told me they didn't have it. Did you find the Repel in the sporting goods section?
"

I looked again this year at Walmart and didn't find it. At Fleet Farm they were out, and I did get it at Gander Mountain. However, they had switched over to the Ultrathon brand.

quote LoneWolf: "

quote Humdinger: "I'll have to look at this if the smell is better. Two of us had treated our clothes and wore them on the way up to BWCA last year and I think the smell almost killed our car mates."

Once my sprayed on permethrin dried I don't remember any smell or have heard comments on it. Anyone get a smell from theirs?
Humdinger, what type were you using?"

I think it was a Coleman product (green can, definitly not sawyer or repel) I bought at mills fleet farm. I have to treat my clothes again for next weeks trip so maybe the new can won't smell as bad.

I think it smells.Some of it disappears when dry.

I should mention that I was in the woods just northwest of Mille lacs Monday.No spray or other protection on. Walked a total of 60 feet into woods and ended up with around 50 deer ticks. They are terrible in north central Minnesota. I do wear knee high rubber boots they do help. I now sprayed them also with permethrin and am going to designate a pair of pants for woods trekking and treat them with permethrin. It is a shame we did not have deer ticks prior to 1991 on the west side of Mille lacs.

Tripped between Hog Creek and the S. Kawishiwi River Thursday-Sunday. I had soaked my pants and shirts, and sprayed my boots and jacket. My grand total of ticks: 0. Both my tripping buddies had untreated clothing. Their combined grand total: 0.

My problem with the permethrin was that although I line dried all treated clothing for nearly 4 days in hot sunlight, and popped them in a dryer for a cycle, I still noticed a distinct greasy feeling when wearing them, and when I stepped into the water to pick up or put down the canoe after the portages, I could see a little oil slick spreading out from my legs. I felt awful about that part, and uncomfortable with the greasy feeling. I did seem to attract a lot fewer mosquitos and black flies though.

I had also sprayed the tent, and have to say I am impressed with the performance there. We left the tent door wide open whenever we weren't sleeping in it, and had zero insects bugging us when we headed to bed, even in fairly buggy campsites.

With soaking you may get more bang for your buck, but spraying is much simplier and seemed just as effective.

Just my 2¢.

Just sprayed my stuff last night. Bought the 3M brand at REI. Going into Kawishiwi Lake Sunday for the 8 day test of the stuff. Never thought of treating the tent though. Glad I read this today.

3M brand same concentration 0.5%?

Yes, the 3M Ultrathon is the .5% concentration.
Also, the description under REI's "Specs" on this is WRONG. It says it's active ingredient is DEET. However, just pan over the label with the zoom tool and you can see the "Permithrin.........0.50%"
REI Ultrathon link.

I think 3M made a big error labeling this stuff the same as the Ultrathon. people might mistake this for the Deet variety. I hope not, but sometimes people do not take time to read the label well.

quote serenityseeker: "I think 3M made a big error labeling this stuff the same as the Ultrathon. people might mistake this for the Deet variety. I hope not, but sometimes people do not take time to read the label well. "

I think you're right. When I was looking for something with Permithrin at Gander the salesperson had to point it out to me because I assumed it was regular Ultrathon.

I've used Sawyer's. I've found it at Dick's, Gander Mtn, and other places which carry a decent amount of camping/hunting gear.

OK, so I have been reading about this chemical that you put on your cloths. I have heard great things about it. However, I have to wonder, has anyone had any reactions to it? I would sure hate to be in the BW with some kind of weird rash.

Lone Wolf is correct. 3M brand is .5%. I was looking them over and comparing the two when an REI rep finally walked over. Knew a lot about the Permathrin, however, knew nothing of the 3M brand. He and another rep both stated that it was new to REI this year. Yes, just read the labels.
I have not heard of it causing any reactions to anyone from the people I have spoke with. Just don't breath the mist in and wash it off your skin if the liquid gets on you. Supposed to be non-tox to humans after it has dried.
I have looked into the Mills Fleet Farm stuff. They do have the better bargain by buying the type used in barns and stables.

+1 for Fleet Farm Equine Fly Spray

$4 a quart. Can't beat that.

croixboy

I live in Missouri (Southern Missouri is the worst area for ticks in the US by a large margin) and am accustomed to ticks eating me. I have been getting ticks crawling into my house this spring but since I sprayed Permethrin around the house I haven't seen one, and actually a huge decrease in all bugs.

I hear all these stories about people going up there and finding 10 ticks over a weeks time when not using permethrin. I don't mean to be a story-topper but last May during a morning turkey hunt (6 hours or so) I found 46 ticks on me. And that is after I started counting. about 30-35 of which were attached. The worst part is that I had a really bad reaction to about 10 of the bites and still have itchy, hard bumps from it more then a year later.

Anyway, with that said, I am soaking all my cloths and tarps in Permethrin this year (debating on the tents). I will also be using a thermacell for the first time and bringing plenty of Deet. Never been up there in July but I planned to be prepared for battle.

what tick species?

Here, the vast majority are either the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, or the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis.

++++ RANT ALERT ++++++

Recently bought a new blue can of Coleman permenthrin spray and treated my clothes tonight and got major frustrated. The spray can dribbled out worst than the worst shaving cream can I have ever used and it wouldn't spray. I used a green can last year with luck and the blue can is terrible. Wonder if anyone else had similar luck with the coleman product or I should switch to another brand.

Never tried Coleman. I've always used Sawyers. Thanks for the heads up. I'd return it to where you got it because that's just not right.