Sawyer Permethrin Spray – Low Price on Amazon

Thanks for the heads up I picked up a bottle.

I love amazon prime so, so much…

I'll second that

Sawyer's is a 0.5% solution. This other stuff is 36%, and only $22/quart:

http://www.amazon.com/Permethrin-SFR-32-oz-Bottle/dp/B003IMO3I2/ref=pd_cart_recs4?ie=UTF8&refRID=1AXGWQAK3T509H3VEB30

I'm wondering whether it woud be OK to just dilute this other solution 71:1 to make it 0.5%, and spray it on your clothesthe same way?

Better yet, soak the clothes and then just let them air-dry?

I'mn ot sure what the inactive ingredients are in either solution, and that might make a difference. Then again, I'm no chemist…

Anyone?

I've used this product (just got another bottle) to use on my hiking clothes. I diluted it to the 0.5% level (don't ask me the details, I don't remember math details!), soaked the clothes, wrung them out, air dried them, and had no tick incidents with them. Can't guarantee the same for you.

Richard, I had that same question and was debating between the two until I saw the low price on the Sawyer. I'm planning to soak with mine instead of spray, which should make it last longer and make 24oz go further. I know for sure that there are ingredients in the Sawyer other than permethrin and water—at the very least, the MSDS lists petroleum distillates. I suspect these may be bonding agents of some sort.

I plan to do this as well eventually

But $12 shipped to my door for a spray that I can put on my gear or bivy in a few seconds and will last for months? I'm in.

If you make your own solutions be careful to avoid the ones with petroleum distallates because it never fully dries and you will smell like petrol. I use a product called Happy Jack kennel wash because it is water based and odorless when dry. Made my mistake once and learned the hard way. On the other hand the petrol based solution killed all the annoying sugar and invading my old apartment.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EVKCKM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2TZU8RSC0UAL5&coliid=I304MW5LW4KALM

You always pay a pretty penny for that sprayer when chemicals come prepackaged in a spray bottle. What price do you put on your convenience?

Jake, the Sawyer products do contain more than just diluted permethrin. Obviously that's the only listed active ingredient, but the inactive ingredients can still make a difference in the way it bonds to clothing. I've been trying to research this the past couple days and it doesn't seem like anybody knows for sure.

"I don't recommed buying this product to treat clothing because, after diluting 15:1, it leaves a strong odor after drying. Nevertheless, it will work for its intended usage – just not for clothing!"

From the review of that product

Have you used that brand specifically and can you attest that it dries smell-free on clothing?

I used a lot of the spray stuff to really soak the clothing that I would be wearing in Alaska during black fly season. Yes, it seemed to work on bugs. The faint chemical odor persisted for the two weeks that I was there, and that gave me reinforcement that it was probably working on the bugs as well.

–B.G.–

Mitchell: Sounds like hear-say. You yourself make two definitive statements and then say you don't actually know anything–why contribute to the problem? Which is it?

Camping stores everywhere sell little 8' rolls of rewound ducktape for $4. This isn't an unsimilar situation. Heck, pet stores will carry the exact same product at different price points in the same store because they know that concerned cat owner or reptile owner will pay more than a dog owner for the same item. Think they know that people dropping hundreds on camping gear are going to pay more for insecticide than a penny pinching farmer spraying down their barn? You betcha. :) There was something about wool and removing hiker funk from eyes.

Mag: yes I use it and it works fine for clothing. You can't trust that some web commentor got the dilution down to 0.5% correct. Also, my Dad has treated our barn with that brand for years–no unexpected smell. Gordon's is the brand to avoid for clothing because it contains petroleum distillates. Any brand containing such will list it on the package under the active ingredients. Sometimes places like farm stores will carry products like this that intentionally only appeal to farmers to keep the riff raff out–in this case people using it on hunting clothing, mostly.

for the heads up. Prime is awesome.

"for the heads up. Prime is awesome."

I got Amazon Prime with a Promo offer that came with a credit card. I'm surprised that people think it's so great. All they do is tack the price of shipping on to the cost of the product and say "free shipping". There are always a half dozen other merchants selling the same product for less. How much less? About the cost of shipping.
I certainly wouldn't pay for Amazon Prime.

Jake, there are two things I state of which I have differing credence.

1) Sawyer permethrin products contain ingredients other than water and permethrin. This much is clear from the MSDS, and I'm absolutely sure of it.

2) These ingredients may assist the product in bonding to fabrics. This one I have no sure knowledge of at all. Those other ingredients may be preservatives (unlikely, permethrin doesn't expire), they may simply be there to change the viscosity of the solution, but they also may assist the performance and longevity of the treatment. I did see one Permethrin manufacturer who specifically said on their FAQ that the farming solution was not for clothing use and they sell a different formula that works better. That could have been a marketing thing, I don't know. Sadly I can't remember where I saw that.

When I say "nobody knows," I mean nobody that I can find has any idea whether pure permethrin will bond as permanently to fabrics as the Sawyer formulations. There are a lot of armchair chemists like yourself who are quite confident that the active ingredient is all that matters, but I've never seen anybody offer evidence to back that up. Nobody has all the information needed to make an informed judgement.

Anyway, if diluting the pure stuff works for you, by all means continue. I see no harm. But for me, I don't expect to need much more than 24oz of solution in the medium term, and with the price drop on the Sawyer product it made sense to try it out. It might be better than the self-diluted stuff, and it certainly won't be worse.

Thanks for the heads up. I just picked up a bottle. I've been spraying this on my clothes for three years now with no issues.

Keep in mind that preservatives are different than stabilizers, which are another common ingredient. While the active compound may never go inactive, oxidizing or reducing forces can reduce its binding ability. There are likely several chemical stabilizers in the compound, most typically buffers (pH, EDTA, glycerol, etc). The presence or absence of these compounds may have a significant impact on the overall performance of the application.

It's also important to note that this compound is NOT oil based. Using an oil based compound on your clothes is ill advised, as it will not properly dry and adhere to the fiber (think about how long it takes for oil to evaporate).

Its back on sale at Amazon. 24 oz $8.16, free shipping with prime.

bought 2….super cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/Martins-Permethrin-10-Indoor-Outdoor/dp/B001EVKCKM/ref=pd_sbs_hpc_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=1XDX0J06Y36HQMC3KACS

You can get this and make up 2.5 gallons and soak a bunch of your clothes in it at once. from one of the reviews, apparently 4oz for 2.5 gallons, so you get 5 gallons of treatment from this.

or you can make up your own spray amount, using 1-2/3 oz./qt. of water, so this will last much longer.

Mentioned before, but…

Here's 32oz for $22

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003IMO3I2/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Just did my load of clothes. No odor once dry.

Be careful. There are different concentrations. The Martins 8 ounce bottle below is 10% permethrin. To mix up a refill for your Sawyer spray bottle, you put 1 ounce of concentrate with 19 ounces of water to make 20 ounces of .5% solution, the same as Sawyers.

The larger bottle below is 36% permethrin. That's a very different dilution rate, that I would have to commence to ciphering to figure out. It's going to be about 1/3 ounce (2 teaspoons) concentrate in 24 ounces of water. 36% permethrin is very potent.

Here's a 32 ounce bottle of 10% permethrin:

http://www.amazon.com/Martins-Permethrin-10%25-32-bottle/dp/B0088Y7PJY/ref=sr_1_13?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1405401344&sr=1-13&keywords=permethrin

I think 10% solution is all around safer and easier to measure. These bottles have built in 1/2 ounce or 1 ounce measuring spouts. Beats having to measure out a couple of teaspoons.

Good call on that. I was just listing what the reviews said and was planning on calculating the actual dilution for when I get it, but as you said, 1:20 dilution (1 part 10% permethrin to 19 parts water) is the correct dilution factor to get 0.5%.

For using the 36%, you'll need to do a 1:72, so if you wanted to make up 24oz, then you'll need 1/3oz of the 36% and the rest water to 24oz total.

For the odd fractions, one of those disposable measuring cups that come with cough medicine would work perfectly.

Hello Marc K, nice to see you again, thanks for all those NoVa tips awhile back.

Under $9 shipped for 24 oz is a great price. Walmart charges more (when they have it) and REI about 50% more than Walmart.

I can't speak to diluting formulas or home made formulas. What works for a barn may not be ideal for your gear.

I've used standard store-strength spray-bottle Permethrin for years on boots, outside of hats and other apparel where the treated surface won't be coming in direct contact with my skin. Never had any issues. But be careful applying it.

This stuff is a powerful nerve toxin. Humans aren't immune. Precautions are in order.

I apply it outside only, someplace away from a 'living' outdoors area. I don't breathe it in while spraying, & I use a disposable paper Dollar Store mask. I don't handle the wet garments or gear with my bare hands (disposable Dollar Store plastic painter's gloves). I don't let any pets/dogs/cats be exposed to it, during or after. I don't apply it to any garment that would come near my face or mouth–no bandanas, shirt collars, etc. Stuff also takes longer to fully dry than you might think.

In Northern Virginia ticks are a huge problem. Just walking the trails around Manassas Battlefield Park a couple hours you can easily come back with a dozen or more on you. Permethrin is great stuff.

Amazon raised Prime cost to $100/year. If your family buys a lot annually, and/or you like their free included unlimited video movie streaming as a Netflix alternative, Prime can make sense, esp. now that Amazon raised the minimum order for free shipping to $35.
Individual decision whether it's worth the cost.