Permethrin Clothing Treatment for Ticks and Mosquitoes

⚖️ Educational use only. Always read and follow the full product label — the label is the law under FIFRA. Full disclaimer → | ⚗️ Mixing Calculator →

Target Pests

Ticks (kills on contact in 30-60 seconds - the gold standard for Lyme prevention), mosquitoes (kills and repels), chiggers, mites, biting flies, fleas. The US military has treated uniforms with permethrin since the 1990s for protection against disease-vectoring arthropods in the field.

Products and Brand Names

Sawyer Permethrin Spray (0.5% - the most popular DIY product), Repel Permanone, Ben permethrin spray, Insect Shield (factory-treated clothing - lasts 70 washes), ExOfficio BugsAway clothing line, LL Bean No Fly Zone clothing, REI Co-op permethrin-treated gear. US military ACUs are factory-treated.

Safety and Precautions

Permethrin is safe on clothing but should NOT be applied to skin (unlike DEET). Once dried on fabric (2-4 hours), it is not absorbed through skin in any meaningful amount. The EPA has concluded that wearing permethrin-treated clothing poses negligible risk to human health.

The CDC-recommended combo: DEET or picaridin on exposed skin + permethrin on clothing = the maximum protection strategy for tick-borne disease prevention. This combination is recommended by the CDC, US Army, and every major tick research institution.

Cats: Wet permethrin is toxic to cats. Treat clothing outdoors and allow to dry completely (2-4 hours minimum) before bringing inside. Once dry and bonded to fabric, treated clothing is safe around cats. Do NOT spray permethrin near cats or allow cats to contact wet-treated items.

Pro Tips

How to treat clothing: Lay garments flat outdoors on a surface you do not mind getting sprayed. Spray Sawyer Permethrin evenly on both sides until lightly damp (not soaking). Treat: pants, socks, shoes, shirt, hat, and backpack. Let dry completely (2-4 hours). Wear normally. Effective through 6 washes or 42 days of sun exposure.

What to treat: Focus on the items ticks contact first: socks, shoes/boots, pant legs, and gaiters. These are the front line of defense. Also treat shirts, hats, and backpacks for mosquito protection.

Factory-treated vs DIY spray: Factory-treated clothing (Insect Shield, ExOfficio BugsAway) lasts 70+ washes and is more evenly distributed. DIY spray (Sawyer) lasts 6 washes but costs less and lets you treat any garment. Both are highly effective.

The 30-second tick kill: In lab studies, ticks placed on permethrin-treated fabric become disoriented within seconds and die within 30-60 seconds. They literally cannot survive contact with properly treated clothing. This is why the military has mandated permethrin treatment for decades.

🐛 Pests This Treats — Learn More

Click any pest to view its full identification guide, biology, and treatment options.

🐛 Ants → 🐛 Chiggers → 🐛 Fleas → 🐛 Flies → 🐛 Mites → 🐛 Mosquito → 🐛 Scales → 🐛 Ticks →

🌿 Environmental & Ecological Impact

🐝 Bees / PollinatorsHIGH

🐟 Fish / Aquatic LifeVERY HIGH

🐦 BirdsLOW

🐕 Mammals / PetsLOW

🦐 Aquatic InvertebratesVERY HIGH

💡 Highly toxic to cats when wet. Extremely toxic to fish and aquatic life.

🔄 Alternatives & Related Products

Same chemical class or different approaches to the same pests.

🔄

Bifenthrin
Same class: Synthetic Pyrethroid

🔄

Cypermethrin
Same class: Synthetic Pyrethroid

🔄

Deltamethrin
Same class: Synthetic Pyrethroid

↔️

Pyrethrin
Different approach: Botanical Pyrethrin

↔️

Boric Acid
Different approach: Inorganic

Example

0.5 oz

per gallon

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is permethrin safe for pets?

Safe for dogs once dry, but acutely toxic to cats when wet. Never allow cats to contact wet permethrin.

Q: Can I use permethrin indoors?

Check the specific product label — formulations vary. Baits and dusts often have indoor labeling; concentrates and granulars are typically outdoor.

Q: How long does permethrin last after application?

Residual varies by formulation, surface type, weather, and UV exposure. Indoor applications last longer than outdoor. Check the product label for re-application intervals.

Q: What should I do if exposed?

Remove contaminated clothing, wash skin with soap and water. For eye contact, rinse 15–20 minutes. For ingestion or severe symptoms, call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222). Have the product label available.

📋 Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

📋

Permethrin Clothing Treatment for Ticks and Mosquitoes — Safety Data Sheet

View the official SDS document for this product directly on the CDMS label database.

📄 View SDS on CDMS → 🏛 Search EPA Label Database →

Permethrin Clothing Treatment for Ticks and Mosquitoes Safety Data Sheet page 1

📄 Permethrin Clothing Treatment for Ticks and Mosquitoes — Safety Data Sheet · View the complete SDS document above or download below

📄 CDMS Label & SDS Database 📄 EPA Label Search

Did you know? The US military treats over 2 million uniforms with permethrin annually. During field testing in the 1990s, soldiers wearing treated uniforms reported 99.9% fewer tick bites compared to untreated uniforms. This led to the Department of Defense mandating permethrin treatment for all combat uniforms.

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Reviewed by Derek GiordanoContent reviewed by a licensed pest management professional. Last reviewed: April 2026.