this post was submitted on 02 Jun 2025
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Use DEET or picaridin on skin.
Use Permethrin on your gear.
DEET will melt a lot of other synthetic stuff too like tents, tarps, watch straps, etc.
Outdoor equipment companies and DEET bug spray manufacturers must be superb partners! LOL
People who are into outdoor gear either know or find out soon that DEET is bad for synthetics lol
It's also worth noting that permethrin treatments can last through multiple washes.
Interestingly, at least in Canada, I can only find permethrin treated clothing, but nothing I can spray myself... except for actual insecticide products that use the same ingredient.
It should come as a spray or wash-in. You might be able to use the insecticide but you'd want to make sure it doesn't have anything harmful/destructive in it and that the strength was suitable for treating gear/garments.
Not sure about Canada, but in the US they usually label the other ingredients in percentages. You could try finding the "purest" and then dilute to the desired concentration before spraying the clothes. Not sure what % permethrin you need tho.
And I imagine most high concentration sources are probably regulated