Permethrin is a highly effective insecticide that can be applied to clothing and Gear to kill ticks and other disease bearing pests you find in the woods. Pretty much mandatory if you do any hunting, fishing or foraging.

Warning

Most formulations for livestock contain petroleum products, which stink like gasoline and aren’t suitable for human use.

Note

Sunlight & oxygen degrade the effectiveness - store treated gear in black plastic bags

Method

Permethrin is relatively safe, but wear PPE and don’t handle the wet solution directly. Spray items outdoors in a well ventilated area. Beware that it is toxic to cats.

Soak

Info

Lasts a season, or at least a dozen washes.

For soaking small items, an efficient way to do it is in large ziploc bags.

For a large amount of clothing or gear like tents, use a 5 gallon bucket.

Spray

Info

Lasts about 6-8 weeks and 4-6 washes

For spraying gear, you want to attempt to soak it heavily.

For outerwear, spray both the inside and outside.

Dilution

Info

TLDR: For a 26oz spray bottle, add 1.3oz of 10% permethrin

Permethrin can be bought in 10% concentrate.

For safe application to clothing, it needs to be diluted to 0.5%

Math

C_1 V_1 = C_2 V_2

Where:

$C_1$ = initial concentration (10%)
$V_1$ = volume of initial solution to use (unknown)
$C_2$ = final concentration (0.5%)
$V_2$ = final total volume (26 oz)

Plug in the values:

10\% \times V_1 = 0.5\% \times 26\,\text{oz}

V_1 = \frac{0.5 \times 26}{10}

V_1 = \frac{13}{10} = 1.3\,\text{oz}