Protect

Wearing tick repellent clothing is the best— and easiest —way for people to prevent tick bites when they venture outdoors. Did you know you can turn your own favorite clothes into tick repellent clothes? Products containing permethrin kill ticks. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective through several washings.

Permethrin should never be applied to skin; use as directed on the product label. Permethrin is safe for pets when your clothes have dried, but NOT when wet for cats or small dogs. Learn more about protecting your pets from tick bites.

Learn how to get ready for time out of doors and camp by treating your clothing to help protect you from ticks.

Protect Your Skin

Add another layer of protection by applying a repellent on your skin to protect you for several hours outdoors. Choose a repellent with picaridin, DEET, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. See EWG.org for more information on choosing a repellent.

What is DEET?
DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is the active ingredient in many of the repellent products available today. It is often used to keep pests like mosquitos and ticks from biting adults and children. DEET does not kill the bugs, but instead makes it harder for pests to smell us. Check out the EPA for additional information on DEET and its uses. Always read and follow all instructions disclosed on the product label.

Protect Your Kids

photo of person spraying DEET repellent onto their hands Parents and caregivers should apply this product directly on to their children’s skin, avoiding the hands, eyes, and mouth, using repellents with a DEET concentration no higher than 30%. For detailed information about using DEET on children, see recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for information about Protection against Mosquitoes, Ticks, & Other Arthropods.

Find out ways to protect family and visitors in your yard by preventing ticks from living there on the Create a Tick-Free Yard page.