Is Travel Clothing Treated With Insect Repellent Safe And Effective?
You've probably been there before: The sun is shining, birds are chirping, and you're enjoying a peaceful hike through the wilderness when, all of a sudden, a horde of bugs arrives to spoil the fun. After all, no matter how much you plan or prepare, nothing (OK, almost nothing) can ruin an outdoor adventure as quickly and effectively as a relentless swarm of mosquitoes descending over your head. Or, worse, discovering that an unwanted tick has hitched a ride on your clothing when you have no way to properly remove it.
And while insect repellent might offer temporary relief in some of these cases, there's another longer-lasting solution that hikers and outdoor enthusiasts swear by to help them keep bugs away no matter where they go. Enter: permethrin-treated clothing. Available at most retailers (like L.L. Bean, REI, and even Walmart, for example), permethrin-treated clothing is infused with a synthetic version of a natural chemical that's typically found in chrysanthemum flowers.
So, how does it work? In essence, the chemical attacks insects' nervous systems as soon as they come in contact with treated fabric, quickly disabling and killing them. This effectiveness — especially when compared to traditional repellents like DEET or picaridin which only ward insects off instead of taking them out — makes permethrin-treated clothing a game-changer for preventing bug bites with little to no effort. Throw in the fact that it doesn't require frequent reapplication, even if you've been sweating or in contact with water, and you've got yourself a powerful front-line defense against all sorts of insects. And, even better, all this protection comes without risking the possibility of making a dangerous bug spray mistake that could potentially turn your outdoor adventure into a visit to the ER.
Permethrin-treated clothing helps keep the bugs away
If stocking up on permethrin-treated clothing is starting to sound like a good idea but you don't necessarily want to spend the big bucks replacing a bunch of things you already own, we have great news: Treating your existing gear at home is both easy and cost-effective. To do so, simply hang your clothes outside and apply a specialized permethrin spray (available on Amazon) in a sweeping motion from 6 to 8 inches away, making sure to cover both sides of each garment. Once you're done, simply wait for it to fully dry, and voilà — your clothing should be officially bug-resistant.
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Keep in mind, however, that permethrin should never be applied directly to the skin, so make sure to wear gloves and long sleeves to avoid any contact during application. That said, beyond the initial treatment process (which isn't that complicated either), there's no reason to be scared of wearing any properly treated permethrin-infused clothing once it's had the chance to fully dry — even if you've taken the plunge and DIYed your entire hiking wardrobe from the comfort of your own backyard.
When applied correctly, permethrin will bind to most fabric fibers and remain effective for up to 70 washes for factory-treated clothing and up to six washes for any home-treated items — which ultimately makes it a lot more durable than any other on-the-go alternative. Best of all, the treatment is also designed to be incredibly effective, with a 2020 study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology showing a 65% reduction in tick bites among outdoor workers who wore treated gear compared to those who didn't. Leaving you with one less thing to worry about while traveling in the outdoors.