Clothing

Ticks can't get to skin they can't reach. The right clothing choices cut your exposure before you even apply a repellent.

Long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes cut the opportunity for a tick to find skin significantly. Even lightweight long pants help a lot in tall grass or brushy areas.

Tuck your pants into your socks when you're walking through grass or brush. It looks ridiculous. Do it anyway. A tick that grabs your sock and finds fabric tucked into your boot is a tick that never finds skin.

Wear light colors. You will not feel a tick on you. They're too small and they move slowly. Light fabric is the only way to spot one before it attaches.

Permethrin-Treated Clothing

Permethrin-treated clothing is one of the most effective options available. You can buy pre-treated gear or treat your own with a permethrin spray. It bonds to fabric fibers and survives multiple washes. Some treated clothing is rated for up to 70 washes before retreatment.

Do not apply permethrin directly to skin. It's a clothing and gear treatment only. See the acaricides page for more on how permethrin actually works at killing ticks on contact.