Permethrin treating clothing

[Tall Paul]

While I am far from an expert on Permethrin, a little internet search shows that it comes in different FORMULATIONS.

Permethrin may be Permethrin.

But as I understand it, and I may be wrong, they formulate it different ways.  One way is a petroleum base, which is used to treat cattle, horses, etc. Thats not the stuff to put on your clothes.

But theres another formulation that made to stick to clothing. Thats what Sawyers uses.

Don't get me wrong; I think its great stuff and is a lot safer than tick bites and all the nasty stuff they carry.  I'm going to buy some Sawyers this weekend at Dicks Sporting Goods.

I'm just saying that if you're gonna mix up your own stuff, don't use the animal formulation.  Besides, you don't want your hunting clothes to smell like petroleum anyway.

I read earlier on the internet (the source of all wisdom and never incorrect) that it is a carcinogen.  I could be wrong.  I just know that if a tick crawls on treated clothing, that its not repeled, it DIES.  Thats some deadly stuff.  Half the folks in this country have cancer as it is.

[Sam McMichael]

I have seen the spray under the trade names of Permanone and Duranon. It is quick and easy as well as being effective. It is in potencies appropriate for human use. Don't leave home without it.

[rbcorbitt]

Sooo..., possibility of cancer, or possibility of Lymes, Lone Star, Rocky Mounted Spotted Fever, et al....

I'll take my chances with the Permethrin!

Hate those blood sucker!!!

[halfseminole]

Permethrin isn't per se dangerous to humans, but it can kill your cats.  

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permethrin

Use ONLY pharmaceutical grade for this and it should be just fine.  Otherwise, your pets might pay as much as you.  

Caught Lyme already this year, will be treating mine ASAP.

[Tall Paul]

No one is saying "don't use permethrin".

[halfseminole]

And neither am I.  In fact, I very much endorse permethrin, but I have two cats that I would be heartbroken if they died from it.  There's very little a vet can do if one is poisoned.  I'm genuinely sorry if I came across saying something different.

[Tall Paul]

I'm sorry halfseminole; I wasn't replying to you. I was referring to the post by rbcorbitt where he seems to think you have to choose between cancer and ticks.

But I think Permethrin, if not used correctly, is definitely dangerous to humans.

[Kudu Kid]

I believe Permethrin can also be used to treat wool clothes for moths.

Keith

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Permethrin is good stuff to keep the ticks away, for sure!  Read about the mode of action - it IS really deadly stuff BUT primarily to cold blooded organisms (ie insects, fish), not nearly as potent to warm blooded animals (except cats).  Read the instructions and make your choice, be careful.  I just bought a qt. of the 10% from TSC for animal use.  Diluted up a 0.5% solution (1 to 20) in a hand pump sprayer to knock down ticks and fleas in the dog pen.  Also sprayed my log cabin down to control the carpenter bees (as they say "with extreme predjudice"    ).  Then I put a pair of pants and a long sleeved shirt on the fence and sprayed it down, let it dry in the sun, viola - tick free woods gear.  Not much odor that I can tell - but where I hunt you don't deal with ticks during deer season much anyway - more of a spring/summer thing.

Read the instructions and make your choice.  I work with chemicals for a living and I feel confident in my choice.

High concentrations of this stuff used inappropriately can be dangerous, but so can high concentrations of donuts used inappropriately - use common sense!

This is the best stuff ever for ticks, and with todays tick diseases you cant be to careful.

R

[Zbone]

Ryan - What is the trade name of the stuff at TSC?

Thanx

[Brock]

I have used Permethrin since we first got it in military in early 90s....biggest learning curve was making sure my troops sprayed it on their clothes and let it dry and did not think it was same as deep woods off.

it is the best thing to keep ticks, fleas, biting flies, etc off your body besides the Thermacell in my opinion.

I can treat my pants, shirts, and hats in Summer....and it will typically last the entire early season with our deer season starting 15 August.  No smell once dry....take off, air and sun clean and wear again.  Will even last through a couple washings if needed.

Here in Lowcountry if you dont use something...you will be carried away.  

[TSP]

Based on the TSC brand of 10% permethrin (which is advertised for barnyard use, not for people use) the dilution factor for spraying (not dipping) appears to be 8 oz./6.25 gal. of water.  That translates to 1.28 oz. per gal. of water (thats 1.28 oz. per 128 oz. of water) or 1 oz. P per.78 gals. of water.  Even if this stuff is safe for humans (which is still in doubt) the dilution rate that some of you folks use seems to be WAY over what would be recommended, even for barnyard use.  

Neurotoxins are nothing to fool with and based on a past study have reportedly had some connection to development of Parkinson's Disease, though not totally verified.

If planning to use the TSC-type barnyard permethin it's probably best to call the manufacturer (# is on the product) and ASK if using it to treat people clothing is safe.

[KSdan]

So with all the discussion and possible dangers I am not sure why guys just don't buy the Clothes spray-on stuff.  Its not that expensive, works great, and rarely do you get anything that lasts most of the needed season for $10-15.  Gosh- you and a buddy can spend that much on one trip to McDs.

[gregg dudley]

Shaun, all the Walmarts down here sell it.

[Zbone]

Except for fireman_3311 picture, you guys have me confused... Don't know what brand of Permethrin, at what store (whether TSC or Walmart) to buy now...

[Doc Nock]

I've been watchin this thread. Swear by all the commercially available sprays and have watched ticks crawl the advertised 6" over my pants and just fall off dead.

Bought the TSC stuff...some thread last year said 1oz to 32Oz of water...uh-huh-uh!    :eek:  

The commercial pump or pressurized spray cans area .05% solution. Some math whiz shared that is 1 TEASPOON to 32 oz spray bottle of water! NOT 1 oz if you want .05% from a 10% solution.

I had made a solution 5X the recommended .05% using a petroleum based carrier product for barns and farm animals!

My skin reeked even after letting it dry well but I sweat doing some work on friend's land! I showered quickly!

Used that solution to kill ants around the house! Dead bang!

There is some solution for humans, but with the S&H off one of the big market sites, it gets pricey.  What I have even diluted to .05% still STINKS!  Even dried outside for 24 hrs!

I'll use it for summer work, but I'm buying the pre-mixed commercial stuff to hunt. That dries odorless which I want for deer hunting. The health side of it is still a question with the TSC stuff, but I'm not a fan personally... that petroleum smell tells me all is not as it should be!

FWIW...

this is what i have and use,......
 

 

 
 lost my instructions, so had to look up mixing ratios, this tme i wrote on bottle. but i mix closer to 2 oz. per gal.

[Brock]

I use the Sawyer Duranon Permethrin in spray...works great with little to no odor.

   

  http://duranon.com/  


0.5% solution used for human clothing....97% effective on mosquitoes and 100% effective on ticks.

Use with confidence....

 http://www.scs-mall.com/Coulston-Duranon-Odorless-Tick_Mosquito-Repellent/productinfo/DTRS/

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Doc nock - every bottle of commercial clothing spray I've looked at said 0.5%, not 0.05%...see Brocks post about Sawyer.

I do my own math      


R

[dougedwards]

Went into a Southern States store and asked the clerk if they had any Permethrin and she asked me what it was used for.  I told her that it is a tick repellent and you can even wash your clothes in it to repel ticks.

She just looked at me with a blank stare and said that she had never heard of it.

 Doug