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To lower your chance of a tick bite, combine several habits: stay on the center of trails and away from brush when possible, cover exposed skin, use an EPA-registered repellent labeled for ticks, and treat clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin or choose pre-treated items. Afterward, check your body, clothes, gear, and pets. Yard maintenance can reduce tick-friendly habitat, but no single step guarantees a tick-free outing or yard.
Before you go outdoors
Choose routes that limit contact with vegetation
Ticks may be found in grassy, brushy, or wooded places, including yards and neighborhoods as well as trails. When you can, walk in the center of a trail and avoid brushing against tall grass, brush, and leaf litter. These choices reduce contact with likely tick habitat; they cannot eliminate exposure.
Cover skin with clothing
Wear long sleeves and long pants that cover exposed skin. Loose-fitting long clothing is part of CDC’s general mosquito- and tick-bite prevention guidance. Light-colored clothing can make ticks easier to spot, but it does not repel them.
Pick a skin repellent by its label
Choose an EPA-registered repellent whose label includes tick protection and follow that product’s directions for where, how, and how often to apply it. CDC lists repellents with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone among the options. Formulations and label-stated protection times vary, so do not assume every product with the same active ingredient has identical directions. Look for the EPA registration number and read the label.
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- Permethrin spray bonds to fabric fibers for up to 6 weeks or through 6 washings (whichever comes first) won't stain or damage clothing, fabrics, plastics, finished surfaces, or outdoor gear; fragrance free
- Reduce likelihood of a tick bite by 73.6 times by treating shoes and socks with Permethrin (University of Rhode Island study - 2017); maximize protection by pairing with Sawyer Picaridin topical repellent for the skin
- Add a layer of protection to your clothing and gear with Permethrin insect and tick repellent spray — perfect for use on shirts, jackets, pants, socks, shoes, boots, sleeping bags, tents, netting, when outdoors, camping, hunting, or on travel
- Ideal for backpacking, backyard BBQs, hunting, and other outdoor activities, it's effective against more than 55 kinds of insects — from disease-spreading ticks (Lyme) and mosquitoes (West Nile, Zika, and Chikungunya) to chiggers, spiders, mites, and more
- Sawyer Permethrin stays effective despite sweat or water, degrades via UV exposure or washing machine agitation; Each 18-ounce convenient aerosol spray treats 4 outfits (EPA now reconmends 4.5 ounces per outfit consisting of shirt, pants, and socks)
- Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children younger than 3 years.
- If applying sunscreen and repellent, apply sunscreen first and repellent second.
- CDC says EPA-registered repellents are considered safe and effective when used as directed, including for pregnant and breastfeeding people.
Treat clothing and gear with permethrin—not skin
A product labeled for treating clothing and gear that contains 0.5% permethrin is an additional option for boots, clothing, and camping equipment. You can also choose pre-treated clothing or gear. Permethrin clothing treatment is not a skin repellent: do not apply it to skin. Follow the specific product’s instructions for application, drying, and retreatment. CDC’s 2026 Yellow Book advises letting treated items dry before packing; activity after laundering depends on the product instructions.
Make your yard less tick-friendly
CDC’s landscaping recommendations focus on reducing habitat and contact opportunities for blacklegged ticks around the immediate yard. Consider these practical steps:
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- DEET mosquito repellent formulated with 25% DEET
- Provides protection against ticks, biting flies, gnats, chiggers, and mosquitoes that may carry the Zika virus
- Provides tick protection against ticks that may cause Lyme Disease and also provides protection against mosquitoes
- Aerosol tick spray that allows for easy application
- Ideal insect repellent for fishing, hunting, camping and hiking
- Remove leaf litter and clear tall grass and brush around the house and along the lawn edge.
- Mow the lawn frequently.
- Keep firewood dry and neatly stacked.
- Place play equipment, decks, and patios away from yard edges and trees where feasible.
- Consider a 3-foot-wide strip of wood chips or gravel between lawn and wooded areas.
These measures can reduce favorable habitat; they do not guarantee a tick-free yard. Pesticides are an optional control measure. CDC says they may reduce tick numbers in treated areas but advises against relying on spraying alone to prevent infection. Follow all product-label directions and ask local health or agricultural officials about timing, product choice, and residential application rules.
Check for ticks after outdoor activity
When you come indoors, check your body, clothing, packs and other gear, and pets. Showering soon after being outdoors can help wash off unattached ticks and makes it easier to do a body check. Check pets because they can carry ticks inside.
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- REPELS MOSQUITOES: Repels mosquitoes, including those that may transmit the Zika, West Nile, Dengue and Chikungunya viruses.
- CONTAINS 98.11% DEET: Formulated for protection in severe insect conditions.
- PROTECTS FOR UP TO 10 HOURS: Provides long-lasting protection, so you don't have to limit your family’s adventure because of mosquitoes.
- ALSO REPELS TICKS, GNATS, BITING FLIES, CHIGGERS & FLEAS: Repel these annoying bugs that can spoil the outdoors.
- PUMP SPRAY: Perfect for outdoor travel – the compact size stores perfectly with whatever adventure gear you're taking that day.
- For dry clothing, CDC says a tumble dryer on high heat for 10 minutes kills ticks. Damp clothing may need additional time.
- If clothes need washing first, use hot water; cold and medium-temperature water will not kill ticks, according to CDC.
- If you find an attached tick, remove it promptly rather than waiting for symptoms or a clinical appointment.
If a rash or fever develops in the days to weeks after a tick bite—or after being in an area with ticks—seek medical care promptly. A bite or outdoor exposure does not by itself establish that you have a tickborne illness.
How to compare tick repellents and clothing options
For a skin repellent, check the EPA registration, confirm that the label covers ticks and the intended use, and follow its age and application directions. Compare products using their label-stated duration and reapplication instructions rather than assuming an ingredient alone determines how long protection lasts.
Rank #4
- Permethrin spray bonds to fabric fibers for up to 6 weeks or through 6 washings (whichever comes first) won't stain or damage clothing, fabrics, plastics, finished surfaces, or outdoor gear; fragrance free
- Reduce likelihood of a tick bite by 73.6 times by treating shoes and socks with Permethrin (University of Rhode Island study - 2017); maximize protection by pairing with Sawyer Picaridin topical repellent for the skin
- Add a layer of protection to your clothing and gear with Permethrin insect and tick repellent spray — perfect for use on shirts, jackets, pants, socks, shoes, boots, sleeping bags, tents, netting, when outdoors, camping, hunting, or on travel
- Ideal for backpacking, backyard BBQs, hunting, and other outdoor activities, it's effective against more than 55 kinds of insects — from disease-spreading ticks (Lyme) and mosquitoes (West Nile, Zika, and Chikungunya) to chiggers, spiders, mites, and more
- Sawyer Permethrin stays effective despite sweat or water, degrades via UV exposure or washing machine agitation; Each 18-ounce convenient aerosol spray treats 4 outfits (EPA now reconmends 4.5 ounces per outfit consisting of shirt, pants, and socks)
For clothing and gear, decide whether you want to treat existing items or buy pre-treated ones, then follow the relevant product instructions. Check whether the directions cover the items you plan to use—such as boots, clothes, or camping equipment—and whether retreatment is required. Products and treatment methods are not automatically interchangeable.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why prevention is worth the routine
CDC estimated in a 2026 release that 31 million people in the United States are bitten by ticks each year and that 476,000 patients are treated for Lyme disease annually. These are national estimates, not a prediction of an individual’s risk. Layering avoidance, clothing, repellent, gear treatment, and post-outdoor checks is more useful than relying on any one measure.
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- Natural Bug Repellent Spray for Ticks That Performs Without DEET: Plant-based Geraniol, Lemongrass, and Peppermint oils repel ticks for up to 8 hours and mosquitoes for up to 6 hours, longer than other natural repellent players.
- Ticks Climb, So Cover Your Clothing Too: Apply to exposed skin and spray directly onto pant legs and sleeves where ticks enter. Non-toxic organic formula for camping, hiking, yard work, and all outdoor activity.
- DEET-Free Tick Repellent for Kids and the Whole Family: Dermatologist-tested, non-irritating, powered by plant-based essential oils. Non-greasy, won't stain fabric or gear. Safe for kids when applied by an adult. Not for use on pets.
- Easy-to-Use Repellent Ready for Any Adventure: Shake well, hold 4 to 6 inches from skin, spray and rub in. Reapply every 8 hours. Apply to hands first for face use. 4 oz bottles, 2 per pack.
- Grandpa Gus's Pest Control, Built the Right Way: Powered by plant-based essential oils, built on old-fashioned values from a working farm, and honest results you can trust. Safe for your family, backed by our Old-Time Handshake Guarantee.
Sources
- CDC tick bite prevention guidance
- CDC Yellow Book 2026: Ticks
- CDC 2026 release with national tick-bite and Lyme disease estimates
- CDC: After a tick bite
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